25th Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum – Nation State Risk and the Future Influence in Security From China, Russia And North Korea
Honorable Nathan Sales commenced by expressing gratitude to the organizers, moderators, and colleagues, underscoring the pivotal juncture in Russia’s aggressive conflict with Ukraine. He emphasized the paramount significance of precise terminology, categorizing the war as a war of extermination, and highlighted the widening chasm between Western rhetoric and tangible support for Ukraine. Sales criticized the United States for the delayed provision of essential weapons, including Stinger missiles, Highimars, tanks, and F-16s, asserting that Ukraine’s offensive progress is hindered by the insufficiency of these tools.
He addressed two prevalent misconceptions in Western discourse: first, that robust support to Ukraine poses a risk of escalation with Russia, and second, that Ukraine diverts attention from countering China. He contended that the escalation risk is exaggerated, as Putin responds to weakness rather than strength, citing Ukraine’s strikes on Russian territory without precipitating a broader conflict. Regarding China, he emphasized that Ukraine’s success deters both Russia and indirectly China, thereby bolstering Western credibility and global deterrence.
Sales further elucidated that the U.S. and Western costs have been relatively modest, with $44 billion in military aid primarily replenishing stockpiles, while inflicting substantial losses on Russian forces, resulting in over 300,000 casualties and significant equipment destruction. He underscored the dual advantages of supporting Ukraine: preserving NATO security and sequencing threats to prioritize Russia while preparing to deter China. Finally, he noted that the war revealed vulnerabilities within the Western defense industrial base, presenting an opportunity to reconstruct supply chains to safeguard future security.
