==Defense spending==
In 2015 renowned Vietnam war era journalist John Pilger warned: "In the last eighteen months, the greatest build-up of military forces since [[World War Two]] — led by the United States — is taking place along Russia’s western frontier,” Pilger wrote. “Not since [[Hitler]] invaded the [[Soviet Union]] have foreign troops presented such a demonstrable threat to Russia.”
“Ukraine — once part of the Soviet Union — has become a [[CIA]] theme park,” wrote Pilger. “Having orchestrated a [[coup]] in [[Kiev]], Washington effectively controls a regime that is next door and hostile to Russia: a regime rotten with [[Nazi]]s, literally. Prominent parliamentary figures in Ukraine are the political descendants of the notorious [[OUN]] and [[UPA]] [[fascist]]s. They openly praise Hitler and call for the persecution and expulsion of the Russian speaking minority.”
“In [[Latvia]], [[Lithuania]] and [[Estonia]] — next door to Russia — the US military is deploying combat troops, tanks, heavy weapons,” Pilger said. “This extreme provocation of the world’s second nuclear power is met with silence in [[the West]].”
“What makes the prospect of [[nuclear war]] even more dangerous is a parallel campaign against [[China]],” Pilger continued. “The United States is encircling China with a network of bases, with [[ballistic missile]]s, battle groups, nuclear-armed bombers. This lethal arc extends from [[Australia]] to the islands of the [[Pacific]], the [[Marianas]] and the [[Marshalls]] and [[Guam]], to the [[Philippines]], [[Thailand]], [[Okinawa]], [[Korea]] and across [[Eurasia]] to [[Afghanistan]] and [[India]]. America has hung a noose around the neck of China. This is not news. Silence by [[media]]; war by media.”<ref>[https://johnpilger.com/articles/a-world-war-has-begun-break-the-silence- A world war has begun. Break the silence.] John Pilger, 20 March 2016</ref>
==Foreign Policy==