Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a prominent Republican from Kentucky, has labeled China, Russia, and Iran as the new “axis of evil” in the context of ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Israel. During an interview on “Fox News Sunday” with host Shannon Bream, McConnell expressed his concerns about the current state of the U.S. budget deficit and its implications for foreign aid, emphasizing that this fiscal issue had been a concern during the prior Trump administration as well.
The senator’s main focus, however, was on the global security landscape, which he described as more perilous than ever before. He raised the alarm about the interconnected challenges posed by China, Russia, and Iran, highlighting the importance of addressing them as a collective threat to the United States. McConnell asserted that the Iranian government presents a significant danger to U.S. interests, and he underscored the urgency of addressing the combined menace of these three nations.
McConnell went on to express his belief that the world is facing a complex confluence of challenges, including great power competition, ongoing terrorism threats in the Middle East, and the conflict between Israel and Hamas. He criticized the Biden administration for its handling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, which he saw as a signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin to become more assertive in Ukraine. McConnell argued that Iran, a key sponsor of terrorism, was supplying drones to Russia and supporting groups like Hezbollah and Hamas in their attacks on Israel, thus illustrating the interconnectedness of these crises.
In response to the proposed budget supplemental, McConnell made it clear that Senate Republicans would seek measures to enhance border security. He stressed the importance of safeguarding American interests while providing support to allies. Although some Republicans, such as Senator JD Vance of Ohio, criticized President Biden for tying Ukrainian aid to events in Israel, McConnell contended that these conflicts are intertwined and cannot be treated in isolation.
The senator also highlighted the global implications of the situation. He emphasized that the actions of China in relation to the Israel-Hamas conflict were of concern and suggested that this should be viewed as a worldwide issue.
🇺🇸🇨🇳🇷🇺🇮🇷 “China, Russia and Iran pose an immediate threat to the United States”
— Mitch McConnell
🤷‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/Pebao9P8JT
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) October 23, 2023
Furthermore, McConnell pointed out the economic benefits for the United States when it provides older equipment to Ukraine, as it helps rebuild the country’s industrial base and creates jobs in 38 states. He argued that this assistance is not only beneficial to Ukraine but also serves to strengthen the United States in the face of more significant challenges in Asia.
As Russia’s President Putin visited China last week, McConnell addressed concerns about the diversion of U.S.-designated artillery shells to Israel and the challenges in fulfilling equipment requests from Taiwan. He underlined the importance of these actions for rebuilding the U.S. industrial complex and responding to the evolving geopolitical landscape.
