The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan has strengthened Russia in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine, according to Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas).
On Sunday, the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan has strengthened Russia in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine according to rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas).
McCaul’s Insights Towards the US Withdrawal
McCaul’s views on the US withdrawal during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” told host Jake Tapper that the key to preventing a Russian invasion into Ukraine is deterrence. Moreover, McCaul is a high-ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said that the US needs to display strength following its moment of weakness last year when Biden withdrew an Army from Afghanistan and the Taliban quickly get hold of control of the country.
According to McCaul the world leaders from Russian President Vladimir Putin to North Korea’s Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping all see it as a moment of weakness. McCaul has been one of the most vocal opponents of the Afghanistan withdrawal. During a committee hearing in November, he described the frantic final days as a “stunning failure of leadership.”
Furthermore, the U.S. and its NATO allies held several meetings with Moscow last week in an attempt to de-escalate the ongoing conflict with Russia and Ukraine.
Read Also: US, Russia Set To Hold Strategic Conversation Amid Tension Over Ukraine
Putin is Sensing Weakness
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Tex.) told CNN’s that Putin smells weakness here because he knows that if he’s ever going to invade Ukraine, now is the time but McCaul is hoping that Putin will not do the miscalculation, but the fact is if Putin will do invade Ukraine, “What is the United States doing and what is our commander-in-chief prepared to do to stop it?” according to McCaul.
While refusing to meet the demands, the U.S. threatened to halt vital technology deliveries to Russia and equip militants in eastern Ukraine. The remarks come after the tense negotiations between the US and Russia last week failed to yield a breakthrough on the Ukraine crisis. Biden officials threatened harsh sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine, while Moscow wanted a guarantee that Ukraine would never be allowed into NATO.
Related Article: Fears Grow For US Officials As Russia Threats War Against Ukraine
