Global Courant
The Joe Biden government is closely following the crisis. Urgent meetings and appeals to Europe. The dangers to Washington.
The United States is following the events in Russia with extreme attention: senior officials canceled international trips planned these days at the last minute and barricaded themselves with President Joe Biden first in the White House and then in the Camp David residence to assess the explosive situation, while there is great concern over control of the Russian nuclear arsenal.
Earlier this Saturday, President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were informed of the advance of the Wagner paramilitary group on Moscow.
Immediately there was a meeting of the high command in the White House with the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, General Mark Milley, who canceled a trip to the Middle East due to the events in Russia.
In addition, the Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin; National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan; Secretary of State Antony Blinken; CIA Director William Burns and Director of Intelligence Avril Haines Blinken.
Biden spoke by phone with the heads of government of France, Germany and the United Kingdom about the crisis, in a conversation in which they agreed to maintain the allies’ unconditional support for Ukraine. Biden later moved to Camp David along with his Sullivan Security Advisor to continue monitoring the situation.
A Wagner mercenary, in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, this Saturday. Photo: REUTERS
Experts consulted by Clarín warn about the danger of the fate of the Russian nuclear arsenal, in the midst of this explosive and uncertain situation, something that worries the US government.
Possible scenarios
Joshua Shifrinson, a professor of International Relations and Security at the University of Maryland and an expert on US-Russia relations, said the situation in Russia holds both promise and danger for Washington.
“On the bright side of the agenda, internal unrest is likely to turn Russia’s war in Ukraine upside down by distracting the Russian military and political leadership. This may increase the chances for Ukraine to regain its territory, ”she noted.
He warned that “however, there are other dangers. First, if this rebellion gains momentum, Putin and his team may feel cornered and, if threatened enough, escalate further in Ukraine (perhaps through the use of nuclear weapons). Second, even if Putin is deposed, it is quite possible that whoever seizes power in Russia will continue the war against Ukraine.”
Wagner group militiamen, in front of the Rostov-on-Don military command, this Saturday. Photo: REUTERS
“Lastly, and above all, Russia remains a heavily armed nuclear power and the United States has a deep interest in the security and stability of Russia’s nuclear arsenal. Unrest or civil war in Russia could jeopardize Russia’s existing nuclear deals and this may give Washington reason not to want Russia’s internal situation to unravel further,” he noted.
The expert does not believe the United States helped spark the rebellion as tensions between Putin and Prigozhin have been growing for some time, largely for reasons related to the war in Ukraine.
Joseph Hage, a US political analyst and security expert, stated that “the events surprised Westerners and intelligence agencies in particular” and also warned of the atomic danger.
“A success by a group like Wagner has to worry the US and its allies about Russia’s nuclear arsenal and how control over these deadly weapons will be managed. In fact, Putin government sources began to assume that a Putin defeat would jeopardize control of Russia’s nuclear arsenal,” he warned.
For this expert, Washington’s position is delicate. “USA. and her allies are in a position to monitor what is happening without comment to avoid accusations of possible Western ties to the Wagner group.
However, he believes that “there are no indications that the US or its allies are involved in events in Russia, although I exclude British intelligence.”
Washington, corresponsal
CB
