In a stark warning, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the United States of pursuing global dominance “at any cost,” citing America’s increasingly aggressive actions as a destabilizing force in the world. Speaking at the launch of Ocean-2024, Russia’s largest-ever maritime military exercise, Putin emphasized the escalating geopolitical tensions and the US’s strategic maneuvers, which he believes threaten both global security and the existing balance of power. This joint naval exercise with China, running from September 10 to 16, reflects Russia’s growing focus on bolstering military ties with allies as it confronts what it perceives as Western efforts to contain both Moscow and Beijing.

The launch of the drills came as Putin delivered a clear message to the international community, warning that the US would stop at nothing to preserve its dominant position in global affairs. “The United States is doing everything to hold on to its global military and political dominance, no matter the cost, by utilizing Ukraine and seeking to inflict a strategic defeat on our country,” Putin stated during a video conference attended by top military officials, including Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov and the Russian Navy’s top commanders.

The Ocean-2024 military exercise symbolizes more than a mere display of naval power. It is a strategic move by Russia to signal its preparedness for a prolonged standoff with the West, especially as the US ramps up its military activities in multiple theaters, from Europe to the Pacific. The exercise includes the participation of four Chinese vessels and 15 aircraft from the People’s Liberation Army, reinforcing the growing military cooperation between Moscow and Beijing. Admiral Aleksandr Moiseev, the acting commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy, detailed the significance of this partnership, highlighting the importance of enhancing military ties with “friendly nations.”

Putin stressed that such exercises are crucial in the context of what he described as the US’s relentless pursuit of global supremacy. The Russian president warned that Washington’s policies risk destabilizing not just Europe but the Asia-Pacific region as well, with potentially devastating consequences for global peace.

Putin’s remarks also touched on Washington’s military strategies, particularly its efforts to build up a presence in Europe, the Arctic, and the Pacific, using the pretext of the so-called “Russian threat” and the “China containment policy.” The Russian leader noted that the US and its allies have been transparent in their plans to deploy intermediate and shorter-range missiles in strategic areas of the Western Pacific, including nations and islands within the region.

This deployment, according to Putin, is intended to provoke a new arms race, potentially leading to a dangerous destabilization of the security architecture in the Asia-Pacific region. The US’s actions, he argued, demonstrate a willingness to jeopardize the security of its own allies in Europe and Asia, all for the sake of maintaining its global dominance.

“Washington is seeking to provoke a new arms race, with no regard for the security of its allies in Europe and Asia,” Putin said. This, he warned, could lead to a crisis similar to what Europe has already been witnessing in Ukraine, but on a much larger and more dangerous scale in the Asia-Pacific region.

These developments are taking place against the backdrop of increasing tensions between Russia, China, and the West. The US and its Western allies have long designated Russia and China as their primary security threats, and this adversarial dynamic has been particularly evident in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. In a joint op-ed published in the Financial Times last week, American and British intelligence chiefs reiterated their view that Russia and China pose the greatest challenges to the status quo, calling them the main threats to global stability.

Russia, for its part, views the ongoing conflict in Ukraine as a proxy war between Moscow and the West, with Ukraine serving as a battleground for a broader confrontation between Russia and NATO. Belousov, Russia’s Defense Minister, recently echoed these sentiments, stating that the war in Ukraine is not just a localized conflict but a clash between Russia and Western powers, spearheaded by the United States. He also argued that the root cause of this major security crisis lies in the US’s refusal to acknowledge a multipolar world order, one in which no single nation holds absolute power.

“The US and its allies are clinging to global domination and are not ready to accept a multipolar world order,” Belousov said. This, he argued, has led to a situation where tensions between major global powers are at an all-time high, threatening to spiral into broader confrontations.

China’s participation in Ocean-2024 is a clear indication of the deepening military cooperation between Moscow and Beijing, as both nations face mounting pressure from the US and its allies. As Washington seeks to strengthen its alliances in the Asia-Pacific region, including the potential deployment of missile systems, Russia and China are positioning themselves as key players in opposing what they see as Western encroachment.

The Asia-Pacific region is becoming an increasingly important theater in the global power struggle, with the US, Russia, and China all vying for influence. The deployment of intermediate-range missiles by the US in the region is seen by Russia and China as a direct threat to the balance of power. Putin warned that such actions could spark a crisis not just in Europe, but also in the Asia-Pacific region, where tensions are already high due to territorial disputes and military posturing.

As geopolitical tensions continue to rise, Putin emphasized the need for Russia to be ready for any potential developments. The Russian Armed Forces, he said, must be able to defend the nation’s sovereignty and interests, and to fend off any potential aggression. “We must reliably defend both our sovereignty and interests, as well as be prepared to fend off any aggression,” Putin stated.

The Ocean-2024 exercise is part of this broader strategy of ensuring that Russia remains militarily prepared for future confrontations. It also serves as a warning to the West that Russia is not isolated and continues to strengthen its alliances with other global powers, particularly China.

Putin’s remarks, coupled with the launch of Ocean-2024, underscore the growing sense of urgency in Moscow as it faces what it perceives as an increasingly aggressive US-led push for global dominance. As the geopolitical landscape continues to shift, with rising tensions in both Europe and the Asia-Pacific, the stakes are higher than ever. The actions of the US, Russia, and China in these regions will likely have profound implications for the future of global security and the balance of power.

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