I would categorize General Joseph Dunford's speech before the Brooking's group last Wednesday, May 29, 2019 as a recapitulation of items in the Republican Foreign Policy agenda where US military action might occur in the near future. He is the Chairman, Joint Chief of Staffs of the United States military.
Missing were items pertaining to Venezuela. which I understand a regional conference is attending to, and Syria, where President Trump has already declared victory over Al Qaeda. There was no relevance to the negotiations of a pending US-China Trade Agreement. But be it noted that the Republicans have always been leery of helping a Communist nation gain prominence on the world stage. Specifically, it has never been happy about the US trade with China, I contend. (Even less happy has been the Christian Right as it witnesses the many conversions to Christianity in China today.)
General Dunford was asked the question by the event's moderator Mr. Michael O'Hanlon of Brookings, How has the world changed since 2015, when you became Chairman?
He noted that relations with Russia have become less of a military problem, since NATO has become involved in Ukraine's sovereignty. The relatively recent issue of the capture of the boat and sailors from Ukraine by Russia on open waters was not mentioned. I suppose they will never be heard of again. Nor the presence of Russian troops in eastern Ukrainian territory. Nor did he mention that apparently China is prepared to resurrect a port in the Crimea for Russia that illegally occupies the land.
But he said that Georgia seems better able to deal with Russia, today.
On Korea, Munford argued that the fleet exercises between S. Korea and the US are not being scaled down but becoming less visible and dominating. Training and readiness are being achieved between their coordination.
The South China sea situation seems stable. Munford didn't mention any problem with the navigational shipping lanes in that region, despite China's dominance in that geographical area. Munford emphasized that the rule of law must be maintained in determining regional control of the South China Seas; and I am sure he would also include a factor of competency and ability to maintain a military presence to assure trade and the free-flow of shipping and vessels. The controlling fleet must be assertive.
The intentions of Iran in waters near it seemed unclear to Munford; and he is prepared to do an investigation to determine how ships in the area have come under attack with artillery and explosive devices in that part of the world. One questioner from the audience raised the possibility that some group wishing to start hostilities between the US and Iran may be responsible. Munford assume this person that he will do a thorough investigation and determine the culprits. Be it relevant, still, that the US has been opposed to the Iranian regime in power since 1979. Its current sanctions against Iranian industry and government bespeaks its hostility to that regime today. And the Iranians no doubt are mad that since Trump has pulled out of the nuclear agreement with it, the sanctions have remained in place, when seemingly there are no dealings between these two countries. The US nonetheless wants its partners to honor the sanctions, to this day.
Peace talks in Afghanistan with Kabul and the Taliban are continuing--seemingly, will go on and on.
He appreciated the 2020 military budget that the Trump administration is proposing.
And that seemed to be it! The world is a safe place because US military might is keeping war to a planet's minimum!
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