Is the West actively pushing for a direct war with Russia?

[Mark]

We are not pushing for a direct war with Russia but Russia is certainly pushing for one with us. Seems like Putin the Mad wants to go out with a Big Bang!! I've read, and I agree, that people think he is hanging on for Trump to be elected so he is given a free hand to deal with Europe without any US interference. Putin would probably settle for Europe and let China take the Far East. They would leave the Muslim Middle East to Iran and divvy up Africa and South America between them with China taking the most valuable bits. The US would then fall under the combined thumbs and become a backwater as it loses all its world trade.

You have a very vivid imagination Ken.....

Putin isn't going to 'take' Europe... They're struggling enough as it is fighting Ukraine and even if they were to overpower them, NATO is still in tact if he's stupid enough to venture any further... Even if Trump wins the next election, he wouldn't be allowed to pull the US out of NATO, despite what he says...

China really wants Taiwan, and periodically flexes its muscles with others in the region, like the Philippines... but Japan, South Korea, India act as a bit of a counter-balance.... Would be interesting to see whether the US would step in and protect Taiwan if Trump wins the election...

China might also be eyeing some Russian territory in the east, especially as the demographics are changing..., if Russia gets significantly weakened, Putin might end up in a different war in his back yard, which might be interesting.....

There are x2 'brands' of Islam - Shia & Suni - Saudi Arabia would never let Iran have a free hand in the ME. They act as counter-balances to each other. Iran is surrounded by enemies and doesn't have limitless resources...

Africa and South America are always being exploited by somebody for their resources. At the moment it's the big corporations - personally, I don't see that changing anytime soon....

[RenewableCandy]

I read somewhere that lots of Chinese people are quietly moving to Russia's far east - the draw being local women who prefer sober husbands(!)

How long before China feels the urge to 'step in to protect our maltrated minorities abroad' a la putin?

[adam2]

LATEST, Poland warns that Europe is unprepared, and that if russia conquers Ukraine, then "nobody will be safe"
I agree.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68692195

[UndercoverElephant]

I believe we should be preparing for war with Russia. This has looked like the beginning of WW3 to me for at least a year now. Putin isn't going to stop until he's dead. He's committed to what he is doing, with absolutely no way back or out. This war will not end until either Putin is dead or Russia is conclusively defeated. This is why support for Ukraine needs to be cranked up, with no fear of risking escalation. I see no way of avoiding a bigger confrontation between Russia and NATO, and we must operate on the assumption that this outcome is likely.

[northernmonkey]

Oh yes, we should trust NATO, that organ of peace that is only ever dragged into conflicts by (insert latest bogyman here).

[UndercoverElephant]

Oh yes, we should trust NATO, that organ of peace that is only ever dragged into conflicts by (insert latest bogyman here).

NATO is the only game in town. NATO is us.

[invalid]

NATO is the only game in town. NATO is us.

Article 13

[UndercoverElephant]

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-to-o ... an-threat/

A leaked consultation document appears to suggest that the Royal Navy will now order a third Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier in response to a resurgent Russia.

Sources in the MoD stress that the new ship, HMS Princess Diana, will incorporate lessons learned in the design and build stages of the first two vessels of the class.

[Ralphw2]

Err, April the first?

[BritDownUnder]

There's always one who falls for it. Princess Diana was a bit of a giveaway.

If they did have three aircraft carriers it might increase the number of carriers available to one and a half.

[clv101]

It's telling that the mere concept of building another aircraft carrier is April Fool fodder.

[UndercoverElephant]

My bad for not actually reading the link...