Former NATO Commander Predicts China Unprepared for War with U.S. for a Decade

Retired U.S. Navy Admiral James Stavridis, the former supreme allied commander Europe of NATO, shared his perspective during an interview on The Michael Medved show, suggesting that China may not be prepared for a potential war with the United States for approximately a decade. (Photo: Navy Times)

Retired US Navy Admiral James Stavridis Warns of 10-Year Window for U.S. and Allies to Prepare Amidst Rising Tensions

Retired U.S. Navy Admiral James Stavridis, the former supreme allied commander Europe of NATO, shared his perspective during an interview on The Michael Medved show, suggesting that China may not be prepared for a potential war with the United States for approximately a decade. Stavridis emphasized the importance of a 10-year “grace period” for the U.S. and its regional allies to ready themselves for the possibility of a conflict with China, particularly concerning tensions related to territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

The recent increase in military operations in the critical Taiwan Strait region has heightened tensions between the United States and China. China’s assertion of control over the strait and a large portion of the South China Sea, in defiance of international maritime laws and the opposing positions of numerous other nations, has added to the growing apprehension.

Stavridis noted that despite China’s aggressive actions and construction of a substantial fleet, they are currently not fully prepared for a potential conflict with the U.S. and its treaty allies, including Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand.

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Highlighting the potential magnitude of such a conflict, Stavridis underscored the collective military firepower and the involvement of treaty allies sworn to partake in any military campaign against China. He estimated that China would not be sufficiently mature in its preparedness to confront the U.S. for at least a decade.

This estimation provides a window of opportunity for the U.S. and its allies to bolster their military capabilities, preserve deterrence, and explore diplomatic and other non-military means to defuse tensions in the U.S.-China relationship.

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