Top US General Expresses Concern over Growing Partnership between China, Russia, Iran

General Mark Milley, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, has told lawmakers that China, Russia and Iran will be a problem for the United States “for many years to come” as the three countries are working more closely together.

Addressing the House Armed Services Committee on March 29, Milley said Moscow and Beijing were “getting closer together.”

“I wouldn’t call it a true full alliance in the real meaning of that word, but we are seeing them moving closer together, and that’s troublesome,” he said, adding, “And then…Iran is the third. So those three countries together are going to be problematic for many years to come I think, especially Russia and China because of their capability.”

Tensions between the United States and the three countries have been on the rise in recent months and even weeks.

The United States continues to arm Ukraine against Russia, whose unprovoked invasion in February 2022 “in and of itself is a war crime,” Milley said.

Tensions with Beijing rose as a suspected Chinese spy balloon’s travel over the continental United States earlier this year. It was ultimately shot down by the US military in early February.

Last week, the US military launched air strikes against Iran-aligned groups in Syria after a suspected Iranian-made drone killed an American contractor and wounded another along with five service members. Following the US strikes, additional rocket and drone attacks targeted US and coalition personnel in Syria.