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Spy chiefs say threats from China and Russia threaten U.S. primacy, and a war in Gaza could escalate security instability.
US intelligence agencies have warned that the country faces an “increasingly fragile world order.”
The alert was sent through the 2024 Annual Threat Assessment Report, published on Monday. The Global Threats to US National Security document warns that China, Iran and Russia are challenging the current international rules-based order.
The report brings together insights from the U.S. intelligence community and says the country “faces an increasingly fragile world order, fueled by heightened tensions due to great power competition, transnational challenges, and regional conflicts.” Says.
The report focuses on threats from China and Russia, with reference to the latter’s invasion of Ukraine. It also points to the risk of wider conflict related to Israeli operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which have been since an Oct. 7 attack by the Iran-aligned movement that rules the enclave.
“An ambitious but anxious China, a rival Russia, some regional powers such as Iran, and more capable non-state actors are challenging the long-standing rules of the international system and the primacy of the United States within it. ”, the report states.
China’s war support
According to the report, China provides economic and security aid to Russia in its war in Ukraine and supports Russia’s industrial base.
The report notes that trade between China and Russia is increasing, with China’s exports of products with potential military use more than tripling since 2022.
Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines urged lawmakers to approve more military aid to Ukraine in testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee in Washington, D.C.
He said it was difficult to imagine “how Ukraine could hold on to the territory” it had regained from Russia without further support from the U.S. government.
The report also warned that China could try to use technology to directly destabilize the United States.
“[China] They may seek to influence the 2024 U.S. election in a desire to eliminate critics of China and widen divisions in U.S. society.”
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, an ally of former President Donald Trump, has so far refused to vote on a bill that would provide an additional $60 billion in aid to Ukraine. The bill passed the Democratic-run Senate.
William Burns, director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, told the Senate that continuing support for Ukraine would send a message to China about its invasion of Taiwan and the South China Sea.
“Generational influences on terrorism”
Haines raised concerns that the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip could escalate global instability.
“The Gaza crisis is a clear example of how regional developments can have broader and even global impacts,” she said.
“Although it is too early to tell, the Gaza conflict is likely to have a generational impact on terrorism. [ISIS]”Inspired by Hamas, it directed its supporters to carry out attacks against Israeli and US interests,” she added, also referring to attacks on ships by Yemen’s Houthis.
Haines, who is scheduled to report to Congress as soon as Tuesday, added that U.S. intelligence assesses that Hezbollah and Iran “do not want an escalation of the conflict that would draw us or them into an all-out war.”
Burns was asked about children in the Palestinian enclave after protesters interrupted the hearing calling for the need to protect civilians in Gaza.
“The reality is that there are children who are starving. They are malnourished because humanitarian aid is not reaching them. Unless there is a ceasefire, it will be very difficult to effectively distribute humanitarian aid. ” he said.
Regarding Israel, the report said, “Prime Minister Netanyahu’s continued leadership potential and his ruling coalition of far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties pursuing hard-line policies on Palestinian and security issues may be at risk.” ” he pointed out.
“Distrust in Prime Minister Netanyahu’s ability to govern has deepened from an already high level before the war and is spreading throughout the population, and large-scale protests demanding his resignation and new elections are expected. There is a possibility that another government will be formed.”
Emotions ran high during the hearing as some senators discussed migrants crossing the border with Mexico, which President Trump has made a focus of his campaign to defeat Democratic President Joe Biden in the November election.
FBI Director Christopher Wray said there has been an increased threat to Americans inspired by insurgents and other foreign fighters since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, noting that there are “potential targets targeting border vulnerabilities.” expressed concern about the impact of terrorism.
“The threat has reached a whole new level,” Ray said.
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