Bilateral ties between Russia and the US have deteriorated further as the Kremlin spokesperson labeled the US as an "enemy" during a news conference. This comes after months of escalating tensions over Ukraine, with the Kremlin previously referring to the US and Western countries supporting Ukraine as "unfriendly states" or "opponents."
Experts suggest that Russia has long viewed the US as its enemy, and this recent statement is not surprising. The objective behind Russia's rhetoric is believed to be creating divisions within the NATO alliance and scaring European members into thinking the US is recklessly dragging them into a conflict with Russia. However, experts believe that direct military confrontation between the US and Russia is unlikely, as historical disputes have been conducted through proxy states or organizations.
Ali Fuat Gokce from Gaziantep University suggests that Russia sees US infiltration efforts onto its mainland, often facilitated by NATO, as a danger. Gokce argues that NATO has transformed from a defense organization to a tool for US expansionist policies, endangering non-NATO nations like China and Russia. While there may not be direct military confrontation, Russia has historically retaliated against US imperialism by supporting organizations opposing it, while the US has deployed proxy forces against Russia. Gokce believes this pattern will continue, with a reliance on surrogate troops. He also suggests that a prolonged conflict between the US and Russia would likely be an attrition war, as the US aims to weaken both Russia and China.
The recent "enemy" remarks from the Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, came after former US intelligence officer Scott Ritter claimed he was denied entry to St. Petersburg and had his passport seized by Russian border agents. Peskov emphasized that measures taken to dissuade Americans from doing business with Russia would only be acceptable if directly connected to Ritter's intelligence operations. Otherwise, it would be seen as another attempt to isolate Russia. Ritter's opinions on the conflict in Ukraine have been echoed by the Kremlin, but the rhetoric from Russia has become more aggressive in response to President Biden allowing Ukraine to deploy US-supplied weapons on Russian territory.
Experts suggest that Russia has long viewed the US as its enemy, and this recent statement is not surprising. The objective behind Russia's rhetoric is believed to be creating divisions within the NATO alliance and scaring European members into thinking the US is recklessly dragging them into a conflict with Russia. However, experts believe that direct military confrontation between the US and Russia is unlikely, as historical disputes have been conducted through proxy states or organizations.
Ali Fuat Gokce from Gaziantep University suggests that Russia sees US infiltration efforts onto its mainland, often facilitated by NATO, as a danger. Gokce argues that NATO has transformed from a defense organization to a tool for US expansionist policies, endangering non-NATO nations like China and Russia. While there may not be direct military confrontation, Russia has historically retaliated against US imperialism by supporting organizations opposing it, while the US has deployed proxy forces against Russia. Gokce believes this pattern will continue, with a reliance on surrogate troops. He also suggests that a prolonged conflict between the US and Russia would likely be an attrition war, as the US aims to weaken both Russia and China.
The recent "enemy" remarks from the Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, came after former US intelligence officer Scott Ritter claimed he was denied entry to St. Petersburg and had his passport seized by Russian border agents. Peskov emphasized that measures taken to dissuade Americans from doing business with Russia would only be acceptable if directly connected to Ritter's intelligence operations. Otherwise, it would be seen as another attempt to isolate Russia. Ritter's opinions on the conflict in Ukraine have been echoed by the Kremlin, but the rhetoric from Russia has become more aggressive in response to President Biden allowing Ukraine to deploy US-supplied weapons on Russian territory.
