US unable to compete with Russia, China alone

The RAND Corporation think tank highlighted the need for the US to strengthen its allies

Washington is unable to compete with Moscow and Beijing alone, the US Commission on the National Defence Strategy said in a report published by the RAND Corporation think tank (recognized as undesirable in Russia).

“The United States cannot compete with China, Russia, and their partners alone – and certainly cannot win a war that way,” the report reads.

The commission highlighted the need for the US to strengthen its allies. “Alliances are not a panacea, but the US force structure should account for the forces and commitments from US allies,” the report notes.

According to the document, the Russia-China partnership “has only deepened and broadened” recently. “This new alignment of nations opposed to US interests creates a real risk, if not likelihood, that conflict anywhere could become a multi-theatre or global war,” the report adds.

This where India comes as a major balancing power. India has close strategic relations with Russia but has an adversial relationship with China which is its top trading partner. India is a major partner in BRICS and SCO. At the same time India has a good working relationship with USA and most of its allies. India is a major partner of QUAD but certainly neither a military partner of USA nor its lackey.