Former NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has argued that the past three US presidential administrations are partly to blame for the current global conflicts.
rasmussenon It broke down on Tuesday He spoke to Politico's National Security Daily Newsletter about why he believes recent administrations have laid the groundwork for continued concerns about conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
“Recent global events in the Taiwan Strait, the Middle East, Ukraine, etc. are all a result of the United States' reluctance to actually lead,” Rasmussen told Politico.
Rasmussen led NATO for five years from 2009 to 2014, after serving as Denmark's prime minister for more than seven years.
The former NATO chief said the Obama administration began “withdrawing” in the Middle East, a trend that continued in the Trump and Biden administrations.
Regarding the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, Rasmussen said European and U.S. actions were too weak, prompting Russian President Vladimir Putin to launch a war against Kiev, Politico reported. said.
“We see it time and time again… If the United States is not showing global leadership, bad actors will take advantage of the situation,” Rasmussen said. “If America leads, the bad guys will leave.”
The Biden administration sought to show earlier this week that it is taking action on these conflicts. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that the United States is “not looking inward.”
“So in the face of naked attack, we will not turn inward. Under President Biden's leadership, we are rallying a global response to push back.” Sullivan said. He went on to elaborate on U.S. actions in Ukraine, the Red Sea, Israel, and Gaza.
Rasmussen has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
Last year, he warned that a Republican nomination of former President Trump would be a “geopolitical disaster” that could affect foreign affairs, including the Russia-Ukraine war. Rasmussen argued at the time that Trump's nomination could undermine Republican support for continued U.S. aid to Ukraine.
Politico reported It was announced Wednesday that Rasmussen is pushing Democrats to strike a border security deal with Republicans this week to secure aid to Ukraine and other U.S. allies.
“When Democrats ask me what to do, my advice is to incorporate the Republican perspective on the border issue and create a package that includes four elements: support for Ukraine, support for Israel, support for Taiwan, and resolution of the border issue,'' Rasmussen said. Ta. he told Politico.
Several House Republicans have vowed to vote against more foreign aid unless it is combined with stricter border policies. The back-and-forth across the aisle has been going on for months, resulting in a stagnation in aid to countries in conflict.
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