Trump Sparks a Note‑On‑The‑Arms‑Race Buzz
After a stint at the G‑20 summit in Argentina, President Donald Trump sent his eyebrows up toward the sky. Over the weekend he hinted at a future chat with Chinese President Xi and Russian President Putin—“for a meaningful halt to the roaring, out‑of‑control arms race,” he asserted. In a quick recall, he blasted the US defense budget, calling the 716 billion‑dollar spend this year “crazy.”
Why 716 Billion—
- US$716 Billion approved for 2024—about S$979 Billion for the Singaporean fiscal perspective.
- Major new weapons, military tech upgrades, and an unbending “no‑Chinese‑investment‑in‑US‑tech” clause.
- Bonus points: an intensified push for missile defence systems.
Military Focus: China and Russia Lead the Game Plan
In a rapid pivot, Washington moved its strategic spotlight onto East‑European rivalry. Military jets, troops, and advisers are now being redirected to counter Chinese naval expansion and Russian ground power in the Black Sea area. This means fewer boots in distant regions—print‑sized away from emerging hotspots.
INF Treaty—The One‑Way Ticket to Strategic Chess
The International nuclear‐Ballistic missile, or INF, treaty scenario is on the brink.
- No longer a 1987 anchor that banned short‑ and intermediate‑range land‑based missiles in Europe.
- Europe’s fingers point to a potential nuclear battlefield if Washington lands new missiles behind the Iron Curtain, while Russia might peck back at Kaliningrad.
- Russia’s warning? If the US walks past the treaty line, the Russian reply will be swift and equaled.
China’s 8.1 % Defense Jump—“Just a Step, Not a Leap”
The Chinese Ministry pressed numbers: a 8.1 % rise, the loudest in three years. Is it an arms race, or a calculated modernization?
- In Beijing’s words: proportionate, low, and not a response to US aggression.
- Defense budget still just under one‑quarter of the US’s.
- Strategic undertones: stealth fighters, aircraft carriers, and anti‑satellite missiles are on the deck.
Why It Matters
These intertwined moves are more than budget paper—each dollar and missile tells a story about global balance. If the US and Russia now walk away from the INF treaty, and China pushes its military chin up a notch, then the world’s geopolitical chessboard could see a new set of bold moves. Will Europe stride into the center stage of a fresh nuclear drama? Only time will reveal the trick shots.
