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The war in Ukraine has potentially widespread consequences that will reach across into the Indo-Pacific, according to US Pacific Fleet Commander Navy Admiral Samuel J Paparo.
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One of the most important things the United States can do to promote peace in the Indo-Pacific is to support Ukraine in its battle against Russia, the US Indo-Pacific Command commander told a Senate armed services committee.
“Instead of seeing the Ukraine conflict and deciding this is too hard, (the Chinese) intention … is to take note of the actions of Russia in order to effect a short, sharp conflict that presents a fait accompli to all of the world,” he said when asked what Russia’s war on Ukraine could mean for actions by the People’s Republic of China in the Indo-Pacific.
“(China) is doubling down on their ability to shrink strategic, operational, and tactical warning and act quickly.
“(Russia’s failure in Ukraine is) a deterrence in the western Pacific and directly reassures partners.
“The most decisive thing we can do at the moment, is to pass the supplemental (budget) that would fund capabilities for Ukraine to defend itself.”
More than $110 billion in aid for both Ukraine and Israel under the supplemental budget is currently on hold after disagreements arose between the US Congress and the White House.
The United States must work with allies and partners to maintain regional stability in the consequential theatre of Europe and safeguard the sovereign rights of nations through force posture, dynamic operations, and exercise, according to Navy ADM Paparo.
“Our joint and combined operations are increasingly frequent, complex, multilateral, interoperable, and interchangeable,” he said.
“We must never consider ourselves ready enough, we must always be improving our position. If confirmed, I pledge to work with this committee to ensure that we meet the top defence priorities in the national defence strategy, and most especially deterring conflict (with China).
“We’ll work closely with our interagency teammates and our allies and partners, as we also face the challenge of Russia, of North Korea, and violent extremist groups.”
Paparo has previously spent 37 years in the Navy as an aviator, as well as a variety of positions such as commanding the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan, serving in an exchange program, and flying Air Force F-15C fighters in Saudi Arabia and Iceland.
“I’d like to thank the senior non-commissioned leaders, the chief petty officers, the sergeants major, the gunnies and the first shirts,” he said.
“The senior NCO corps is the strength of the joint force and is the asymmetric advantage of the American joint force.”
