The Western and Russian officials have always been at odds over the NATO alliance. EU governments have called for a military coalition in the continent for several decades. As tensions escalate in Ukraine, the US and UK governments warn about a Russian invasion and demand the NATO union.
The UK, US Hit by 7 Percent Inflation
Western officials and media have been magnifying the ongoing developments in Ukraine. The US and UK governments have emphasized on dreadful consequences of a Russian invasion more than the other Western countries. Both Britain and the US are suffering economic hits and are struggling to handle domestic issues. Amid the cost of living crisis, the UK inflation increases to a 30-year high to more than 7 per cent. US inflation will rise to a 40-year high to more than 7 per cent, and voters in both countries are angry. As both powers are recovering from coronavirus pandemic impacts, prices of foods, houses, transportation, energy, and services are rising. The Bank of England has raised interest rates, and the Federal Reserves has intended to introduce them to control inflation.
Emphasizes on a Russian Invasion Belittled Domestic Issues
Households feel pressure across the UK, and thousands of campaigners took to the streets in the “Can’t Pay” protest. Those people complained about the soaring cost of living, which has become intolerable for many families. The US and UK governments have exaggerated the potential danger of a Russian invasion to hide their economic struggles. Russia has consistently denied plans to invade Ukraine, but the US and UK governments have kept predicting Russian offensives.
The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned of the possibility of a Russian invasion in a few hours. US President Joe Biden also made the exact prediction and has warned of a Russian attack in a few days. The US and UK governments have magnified the Russian invasion to keep the media busy with exaggerating a probable world war.
The US, UK Warned of Prolonged Crisis
More than 100 thousand Russian troops massed on the border of Ukraine for military exercises throughout recent weeks. Western countries warned of Vladimir Putin’s military mobilization and Russian provocation. The US and UK governments agreed on a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis. Biden and Johnson held talks to discuss any possible Russian invasion. They stressed that any incursion into Ukraine would result in Russia’s protracted crisis.
Politicians and military officers of both countries followed the same paths as their leaders and have kept commenting on Ukraine. The British Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss had already warned that a Russian invasion of Ukraine would become a ‘long-running conflict’. While the Chief of Staff of the US Army Mark Milley has warned Russian aggression would cause significant casualties.
Western Media Occupied by Ukraine News
While Ukraine developments cause turmoil in global markets, the US and UK leaders pursue their domestic and geopolitical goals. They keep talking about a Russian invasion, perhaps to keep the public busy with a broad and severe war. If they occupy mainstream media with a probable Russian attack, it distracts the public from domestic matters to security concerns.
Talks and agreement between the two leaders imply the urgency for the Western powers to confront a Russian invasion. In a forty-minute call, leaders of the US and UK governments have highlighted that the situation remained fragile. Both leaders, however, emphasized that a crucial window has remained for diplomatic talks with Russia. Biden and Johnson agreed that western countries need to stay united as Russian threats escalate in Eastern Europe.
London, Washington Support NATO
The US and UK governments take advantage of Europe’s fear of a massive war by their anti-Russian rhetoric. The British PM has warned that Europe will experience the most significant security crisis over Ukraine and suggested a military resolve. In a joint news conference with the NATO chief, Jonson said Europe had faced decades of the most potent security crisis. British officials have kept commenting on Ukraine and held talks with other countries to ‘resolve’ the issue.
The US president also expressed American support of NATO allies as Ukraine’s border with Russia intensifies. Biden reiterated the US commitment to NATO territory and Ukraine’s territorial integrity. The US has also discussed the deployment of American troops to Eastern Europe with other NATO members. The military forces are on higher alert to help NATO deter any Russian invasion.
EU Army Vs NATO
The US and UK governments have exaggerated the danger of Vladimir Putin to stress the importance of NATO. This is a clever reaction against the calls for a European military alliance to form EU Army. Such association would automatically put Brexit Britain and the non-European US out of military cooperation. In 1998, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and France’s President Jacques Chirac declared that the EU must have its army.
Biden’s predecessor was unkind to NATO and wanted to cut American contributions to NATO’s collective budget. In 2018, President Donald Trump privately said he preferred to withdraw from the transatlantic alliance. The formation of the AUKUS defence pact between the US and UK governments, plus Australia, angered pro-EU Army France. Moreover, hasty American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 revived the idea, and French President Emmanuel Macron recalled it.
Conclusion
As tensions between Russia and the West escalates, the US and UK governments are trying to mislead the media narratives. Keeping crisis intense in Eastern Europe will benefit the Brexit UK and the non-European US. Inflation has been soaring higher in both countries, partly as a result of coronavirus’ global impact on trade and workforce. Dissatisfied citizens are protesting against unaffordable living costs, and both nations will experience a year of high inflation.
The UK is out of the EU and turns away from the bloc towards the US. Nevertheless, both the US and UK governments prefer to prevent the EU from forming an independent army. The recent US presidents undermined the value of NATO, so they revitalized the idea of European independent army forces.
Ukraine is between Russia and NATO countries, and Vladimir Putin does not want Ukraine to join NATO. Russian military activities near Ukrainian borders are a good opportunity for Britain and the US leaders. They can take advantage of the situation to divert the public attention from economic fears to security anxieties. They also want to empower NATO to keep the EU’s attention from an independent army. If Russia invades Ukraine with any pretext, the EU will use punitive measures against Russian aggression. But the US and UK governments’ comments on a Russian invasion is for achieving domestic and geopolitical goals at once.