2017 Defense Budget: Will The Next War Be In Europe? $3.4B Request Highlights Russian Threat

Russia’s ominous moves in Eastern Europe since the annexation of Crimea in March 2014 and the ensuing war in eastern Ukraine that's left more than 9,000 people dead has forced the Pentagon to refocus on Europe, with funding for the European Reassurance Initiative quadrupling from $789 million to $3.4 billion. The initiative was launched in 2014 with the stated goal to “reassure allies of our solemn commitment to their security and territorial integrity as members of the NATO alliance.” 

After Carter’s remarks Tuesday, Russian state-sponsored media outlets were quick to point out the amount of military equipment the U.S. and its allies have in Europe. The U.S. budget is expected to upset the Kremlin, as Russian President Vladimir Putin has in the past accused NATO of encroaching on his sphere of influence.

DYI Comments:   Putin is correct NATO is encroaching on Russian influence with the ultimate goal of breaking the mother land apart.  The U.S./U.K./NATO/ EU alliance is systematically chipping away of Russia's influence as recently illustrated by bringing in a former ally Montenegro into NATO.

One of the secondary goals is to chase the Russian navy out of the Black Sea by tying up human and material assets for their army and air forces defending their immediate borders.  This leaves very little for force projection which is the realm of navies which is reserved for the U.S. and staunch ally England.

The ultimate goal since the end of WWII is for Russia to lose the Caucasus, the Laplands to the north and the natural resource prize all lands east of the Urals.

 

These new countries will need the technological assistance to develop their natural resources. Companies such as Total, BP, Royal Dutch Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron, all under the control of the U.S. alliance.  Since 1945 the Soviets were contained, then finally collapsed in 1991, with NATO growing eastward ever since.  Will the alliance be successful?  Yes.  May take another 20 to 30 years but in the end Russia will be a much smaller country and who knows they could become a NATO member as well.

DYI