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Trump could end the Ukraine war, but a larger threat still looms
President Donald Trump wants a Ukraine ceasefire. Even if Putin agrees, America wont be safer.For the Ukraine war has also turned the China-Russia alliance into the greatest military danger America faces.The China-Russia alliance has grown by leaps and bounds since Trump last met with Putin in 2019 on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan.China gave Russia the greenlight to try to take over all of Ukraine in 2022.China and Russia engage in high-stakes military exercises and tech deals. Both are sprinting ahead on new nuclear weapons and missiles. Dont forget Iran and North Korea, junior partners whose drones and troops have added to the bloodshed.So while Trump looks Putin in the eye at Joint Base Elmendorf, he will also weigh how close Putin really is to Chinas Xi Jinping.Its a scary scenario.FROM TALK TO TACTICS: TRUMP PIVOTS ON RUSSIA STRATEGY TO END WARChina counts on Russia as a partner in global confrontation."Grynch," NATOs new commander Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, United States Air Force, is widely known by his callsign from his days as an F-16 and F-22 pilot.He recently said he worries that China could synchronize an invasion of Taiwan with a new Russian attack on the Baltics or another part of Europe.This is the big one a potential two-front crisis with Russia and China, and allies around the world cowering at the implications.Make no mistake.On the economic front, Russia is pretty much a vassal state to China.Everybody knows China buys 47% of Russias oil.But Russias war machine is also dependent on China.During the last four years of war, Putins Russia has "refashioned its military, economic, and social structures to sustain what it describes as a long-term confrontation with the West,"notedoutgoing SACEUR Gen. Christopher Cavoli.Putin cant afford to slow down the massive rearmament that is keeping Russias economy afloat. Russia spends 40% of its federal budget on weapons and is on track to replace all the tanks, artillery, and equipment lost in Ukraine.Close ties with China are essential to keeping the factories running and preserving Putins hold on power.China sells DJI drones for "civilian uses" to Russia.Russia also gets vital rare earth strategic minerals germanium and gallium from China. Worse, Russianimportsof Chinese nitrocellulose, an explosives precursor, have soared from zero to 1300 tons in 2023.Beyond supporting the Russians in the Ukraine war, Chinas military partners with Russia to expand its reach and master new tactics for global military operations.China has no recent combat experience (fortunately) so they are making up for it with a surging tempo of military exercises. Here, Russia is often the teacher.China-Russia joint military exercises went from just two in 2012 to 14 in 2024.From Aug.1-Aug. 5, Russias navy ran submarine drills with China in the Sea of Japan. This time last summer, two Russian Tu-95 Tupolev bombers were patrolling off Alaska along with two Chinese H-6 nuclear-capable bombers. A recent reportfrom Defense Newssuggests Russia was tutoring Chinas bomber force in nuclear triad operations.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONWashington, DC has been slow to accept the full dangers wrought by Putin and Xi.Bidens distracted approach to foreign policy didnt help, but it all started to go wrong in the Obama administration. Remember when Obama took then-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev out forcheeseburgersin Arlington, Virginia in 2010?Yes, the same Medvedev whose recent threatening remarks about nuclear "dead-hand" strikes prompted Trump to move two nuclear submarines to "appropriate positions" on Aug 1.The vaunted Russia "re-set" took place between Moscow and Beijing instead.Coordinated U.S. military and economic power is essential to face down this pair.Bring on those secondary sanctions!Alaska is a strategic bastion filled with U.S. F-22s and F-35 stealth fighters, the Ground-Based Missile Defense interceptors at Fort Greeley, and more. Hence the summit is also an opportunity for Trump to remind Putin that the U.S. military wont be pushed around, even by the ugly duo of China and Russia.Trump may bring the killing to an end in Ukraine. But his biggest challenge in making America safer still lies ahead.
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