A former national security adviser has warned the globe ‘could be on the cusp of another World War.’
General H.R. McMaster, who served as a special adviser to former president Donald Trump, urged Washington and the UK to increase their defense spending in anticipation of the global conflict.
He cautioned that a series of ‘cascading crises’ such as Israel‘s war on Hamas and the Russian invasion of Ukraine could spell disaster.
McMaster advised the White House to increase defense spending to 4 percent of GDP – twice as much currently required of NATO nations. The money should be spent on high-tech missile systems such as Israel’s Iron Dome, according to the geopolitical expert.
‘We could be on the cusp of another World War,’ he told British broadcaster LBC Radio’s Andrew Marr. ‘I know that sounds dramatic, but I think we have to take it seriously so we can prevent that from happening.’
Former national security adviser H.R. McMaster has warned that ‘we could be on the cusp of another World War’
He cautioned that a series of ‘cascading crises’ such as Israel’s war on Hamas and other conflicts could spell disaster. Pictured: Damage in Gaza on April 7
The former adviser to Donald Trump warned that Vladimir Putin’s ongoing occupation of Ukraine shows now signs of abating as he is not ‘interested in a deal’. Pictured: Ukrainian soldiers on the frontline, March 6
Firefighters fighting a blaze at a home after Russian strikes, in the town of Derhachi, Kharkiv region, amid the Russian invasion in Ukraine on April 26
McMaster added that a 4 percent defense spend would still be ‘a historic low relative to Cold War levels.’
‘It’s a heck of a lot cheaper to prevent a war than to have to fight,’ he said. ‘I think that every country is going to have to develop these kinds of defenses and long-range missiles, hypersonic missiles are important.
‘Maybe [former US President] Ronald Reagan had it right with Star Wars, with space-based capabilities as well.’
He explained the conflicts unfolding around the world pose ever increasing threats to the West.
As well as Gaza and Ukraine, unrest has bubbled over in places such as Haiti, Venezuela and Sudan.
Renewed military activity in Taiwan has also reignited fears of a future invasion by Beijing.
McMaster advocated for the White House to increase defense spending to 4 percent of GDP and invest in long range missiles or system’s similar to Israel’s Iron Dome
Other threats to Western stability include the gang warfare unfolding in Haiti (pictured) following the resignation of its Prime Minister
A woman carrying a child runs from the area after gunshots were heard in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on March 20
The Venezuelan crisis also continues to pose safety concerns for the US. Pictured: A rally for Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina on May 2
When grilled on how his former boss would deal with the global turmoil if re-elected in November, McMaster stood by Trump, stating he was right to call for NATO nations to increase defense spending.
‘We know for sure Trump will demand burden sharing and reciprocity, but I think Europe is on board with that now,’ he said, adding that he expected the former president to stand with besieged nations ‘when presented with the facts’.
He praised Trump for calling out Germany’s ‘unwise decision’ to become over reliant on Kremlin gas exports via Nord Stream 2.
However, he criticized his ex-boss for ‘gullibility’ in thinking he could ever strike a deal with Vladimir Putin and made a jibe about ‘useful idiot’ Tucker Carlson following his interview with the autocrat.
‘Putin is not interested in a deal,’ McMaster explained. ‘Putin wants to drag everybody else down, under the theory that he can be the last man standing and he can restore the Russian Empire.
‘He’s been quite clear about that when he did the interview with that useful idiot, Tucker Carlson.’
McMaster slammed Trump for misunderstanding Putin’s aims and branded Tucker Carlson a ‘useful idiot’ after he sat down for an interview with the autocrat earlier this year
His comments come after Taiwan reported renewed military activity near the island by China, reigniting fears of an invasion by Beijing
His comments come after US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy Dr. John Plumb revealed that Russia is developing a nuclear anti-satellite weaponry.
Recently, France’s President Emanuel Macron stated he would be willing to send troops to Ukraine if Putin’s forces break through to the frontline.
The suggestion has been rebuffed by the US government, but Putin warned that a direct conflict between Russia and NATO states would arise if allied forces are sent to Ukraine.
