US military move to fuel the fire in Ukraine

Staff members work at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, March 24, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]

This is an editorial from China Daily.

It is the relentless eastward expansion of NATO that worsened the geopolitical situation in Eastern Europe and ultimately sparked the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as it continually eroded the buffer zone between NATO forces and the Russian border.

Heedless of this, the United States has provocatively deployed more forces on the edge of NATO territory. In its most recent move, about 4,700 soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division have been deployed to NATO's eastern flank.

Known as the "Screaming Eagles", division commanders told CBS News that they are there to defend NATO territory, and if the fighting escalates or should there be an attack on NATO, they're fully prepared to cross the border into Ukraine. Statements that are provocative in themselves as Russia has made it clear it is not seeking a war with NATO.

But it is also clear, that the deployment is intended to send a message to Russia. With the conflict showing no signs of abating, the deployment of one of the US military's most celebrated units reinforces a point made in a commentary article in The American Conservative magazine published on April 14, which made clear that the purpose of the US provision of weapons and other military assistance to Ukraine: "Washington will fight Russia to the last Ukrainian".

But as Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic warned the international community, the deployment "sharply aggravates the situation" and the world is approaching a "perfect storm".

Actually, the US had already made it evident that it wants Russia to bleed in Ukraine, and for that purpose Ukraine will have to bleed as well.

Peace is definitely not what the 101st Airborne Division, or any other US military unit, is bringing to the Ukraine people.

In a commentary piece in April, The American Conservative said that "Most disturbing is the apparent failure of the allies to support what the Ukrainian people need most, peace."

The deployment of more forces to Europe shows the US has no intention of allowing that until Russia's status and influence are profoundly diminished.

According to Pentagon reports, the US has committed to providing approximately $2.6 billion in military aid to Ukraine since the start of the conflict, which in addition to the pre-conflict assistance given to the country by the Joe Biden administration totals more than $3.2 billion. The conflict and the militarization of Europe are veritable gold mines for the Pentagon and US military contractors.

The National Security Strategy recently released by the Biden administration prioritizes maintaining an enduring competitive edge over China and "constraining" Russia. The dictionary definition of constrain is "to compel or force someone to follow a particular course of action". Despite all the high-sounding rhetoric from the administration, the conflict is fundamentally the result of and is being fueled by Washington's insistence it hear the words "Yes, master" from Moscow.