United States - Profiteering or Protecting?
Russo-Ukrainian war, on 24th February 2023 completed its one year of devastation. The reasons for such an escalation are discussed multiple times in the mainstream media. Here, in this article, we shall talk about the country which is the highest supplier of weapons to Ukraine. The name is not difficult to guess. The United States (US) is the largest supplier of military assistance to Ukraine. The assertion here is based on the statistical study conducted by Kiel Institute for the World Economy. Aid to Ukraine by the United States from January 24, 2022, to January 15, 2023, can be divided into a few prominent categories: humanitarian, financial, security, weapons and equipment, and grants and loans for weaponry. Apart from humanitarian and financial assistance, the rest categories belong to military aid. It is astounding to note here that total military aid stands at 46.6 billion dollars, which is 61% of the total aid provided. Humanitarian and financial assistance make up only 5% and 34% respectively. It is pertinent to note here that a major chunk of assistance has gone into providing weapons to Ukraine.
ARGUMENTS IN FAVOUR OF THE UNITED STATES
Western analysts opine that the United States’ aid played a significant role in enabling Ukraine to defend itself against Russia. Western experts term Russia’s escalation in Ukraine an atrocious and illegal act, which if not countered would annihilate the lives of millions of Ukrainians. Another assertion given is that it is important to provide military aid to Ukraine to at least slow down, if not completely blow away the expansionist policy of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Some echo that if Russia is not dealt with counter-offensive acts, then countries like China would also indulge in such revanchist acts. On request by Ukraine of certain highly advanced military equipment like fighter aircraft, the United States is still reluctant because it could further deteriorate and escalate the ongoing war. Also, if such advanced military equipment is handed over to Ukraine, it would directly pull the United States into the war, thereby raising the apprehension of nuclear war.
ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES
Although the United States claims to turn down Ukraine’s request to provide more sophisticated weaponry, it has, as the war progressed, given away reservations to arm Ukraine with more sophisticated military equipment. The United States has either provided or agreed to provide assets like Abrams battle tanks, coastal defence ships, anti-aircraft missiles, and top-notch surveillance and radar systems. Ukraine has successfully gained access to the United States’ sophisticated arsenal. The military assistance rendered by the US to Ukraine is by far the largest amongst other countries receiving US military aid like Israel, Afghanistan, Egypt, etc. On the same footing, support for Ukraine from countries like the United Kingdom and other 41 countries faded before the aid by the US. Many experts view the US’s assistance as using Ukraine to target its rival Russia. Certain war analysts express that the US is intentionally keeping the war factors vague.
Certain US allies and former governmental officers of the US have already started to express apprehensions concerning providing more assistance to Ukraine. But the USA’s vice president Kamala Harris has reiterated support to Ukraine to defeat Russian aggression. Last year in December 2022, European officials alleged that the Biden administration was profiteering from the Russo-Ukrainian war and that the European nations were at the receiving end of the war. The officials from Europe accused the US of multiplying profits by selling energy and weapons at inflated prices while inflation and high cost of living mar the European nations. Whether Europe’s frustration makes the US step back from war would be worth seeing in the coming days of the war.
