Mission Essential Conversations: Great Power Competition – Russia

HERNDON, Virginia, October 28, 2020 – Mission Essential premiered part two of a four-part discussion between General Tony Thomas, the 11th Commander of US SOCOM, and Major General Clay Hutmacher, who served 40 years in uniform before becoming the President and Chief Executive of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

Throughout the series, the decorated duo discussed the U.S. strategy orientation often referred to as a “2+3” strategy – a strategy for countering two primary global powers – China and Russia – and three additional challenges – North Korea, Iran, and extremist groups. General Thomas describes the current positioning with these powers as “arguably the most strategically challenging moment in my lifetime, if not the history of our country.”

In part two, General Thomas explored Russia, a military and historic superpower. The discussion covered Russia’s rise to power, their partnership with China, and much more.

During the conversation, General Thomas made sure to point out that each Great Power in the strategy is interwoven with each other. For example, Russia’s current partnership with China. “[Russia and China] are melded together with one advisory, the United States,” said General Thomas. “Do I think this deal will last for long? No. In fact, I think China is using Russia as a springboard and will leave them in the dust as they continue to climb.”

Join Mission Essential next week for Part 3 & 4 of the Great Power Competition: DPRK & Iran and Extremists groups.

This interview is a part of a larger webinar series, Mission Essential Conversations: A SITREP to trending matters of language and intel affairs.

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Mission Essential, founded by U.S. Army SOF veteran and current Chairman Gregory K. Miller, is a trusted partner to the Defense and Intelligence Communities, and a leading provider of language and cultural advisory services, intelligence analysis and operations support, ISR solutions and technology, and cyberspace superiority. Mission Essential executes prime contracts with numerous Intelligence Community members, as well as with the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force; U.S. Central, European, and Africa Commands; and the State Department.