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A top US General has warned that the United States must be prepared to face simultaneous military threats from both Russia and China by 2027.
Some shit you should know before you read: It’s no secret that China and Russia’s growing strategic partnership and military cooperation have raised significant concerns among US officials. In the last decade, the two nations have deepened their ties through joint military exercises, coordinated naval patrols (including operations near Alaska’s coast), and increased diplomatic alignment on key global issues. This relationship has alarmed US defense planners, who see the potential for a unified front against the US. Back when Biden was in office, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley told US lawmakers that a simultaneous conflict with both China and Russia would present an enormous challenge for the US, stretching its military resources. He also explained that until recently, military planners had not planned to fight two major contingencies at the same time, which has since been changed.
What’s going on now: While speaking at a conference of military and defense industry leaders in Germany, US European Command’s Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich warned that NATO must urgently prepare for the possibility of simultaneous wars involving Russia and China, identifying 2027 as a potential flashpoint. “If China makes a move on Taiwan, they’re likely to do that in coordination with Russia,” he said. “That, to me, means that both of these things could happen together.” Grynkewich also stressed that the alliance must treat these threats as interconnected rather than isolated. “Each of these threats that are out there cannot be viewed, in my estimation, as discrete challenges. We’ve got to think about how all of them are aligning,” he stated.
He highlighted the urgency of building up NATO’s arsenal and readiness, warning that allies have “little time to prepare.” “We’re going to need every bit of kit and equipment and munitions that we can in order to beat that,” Grynkewich said, stressing that deterrence and rapid mobilization are key to preventing escalation.
Grynkewich also called on NATO to maintain momentum following recent pledges to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP. “The challenge now isn’t the commitment, the challenge is taking that commitment and turning it into real capability and capacity on the battlefield,” he said. Reflecting on NATO’s historical turning points, he described the present moment as another decisive period that demands bold leadership and action.
This all comes as Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered his military to be ready for a potential invasion of Taiwan by 2027, a directive that has sparked serious concern among US and allied defense officials. Xi has repeatedly framed the “reunification” of Taiwan with mainland China as a historical mission and a core national goal. In recent years, China has intensified its military preparations, including large-scale exercises simulating amphibious assaults and joint force operations (key components of a potential cross-strait invasion). The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has also been expanding its fleet of landing ships, amphibious vehicles, and invasion barges designed to transport troops and armor across the Taiwan Strait.
