Recently, Russian Ambassador to the United States Ryabkov issued a strong warning, declaring that Russia is likely to break off diplomatic relations directly with the United States. This is not groundless, but based on the possibility of US action against Russian assets. Let us take a closer look at this international current event and reveal the complex contentions involved.
Russia's ambassador to the United States issued a warning as the United States began discussions with allies to unfreeze $300 billion in Russian assets to support military operations in Ukraine. This shows that the diplomatic relations between the United States and Russia are facing unprecedented tensions. On December 22, Ryabkov said in an exclusive interview that if the United States does confiscate Russian assets, Russia may choose to sever diplomatic relations with the United States, and even be prepared for the risk of a possible nuclear war between the United States and Russia.
When the United States and its allies deal with the issue of assets in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, they are not only considering Russia's comprehensive national strength, but also avoiding the loss of the national credibility that has been maintained for centuries. In this regard, the heavy cost of freezing Russian assets in Switzerland is the best lesson. A U.S. decision to confiscate Russian assets would not only result in a $300 billion loss, but could also lead to a loss of trust in other countries, especially China, which has around $770 billion in assets in the United States.
If the United States dares to set a precedent of confiscating the assets of sovereign states, it could trigger an even larger ripple effect. China currently holds large amounts of U.S. debt and other assets in the United States, and it is a sure fact that if what happened to Russia becomes a precedent, China may accelerate its exit from the U.S. market. Therefore, the actions of the United States will have a direct impact on the development of Sino-US relations.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict is approaching its second anniversary, and the front line continues to be stalemate, but with the cessation of US aid and the increase in Russian military spending, the tide of the war is gradually tilting in Russia's favor. The United States will have to pay a greater price if it wants to perpetuate the conflict, and rising internal opposition makes that goal difficult.
Looking back at the history of the confiscation of Afghan assets by the United States, there was not much attention at the time, and there was no substantive response from Afghanistan. However, the situation is far from simple to confiscate $300 billion in Russian assets. Russia's comprehensive national strength is relatively large, and it has sufficient nuclear bomb deterrence, so that it dares to go-for-tat with the United States.
This international current event has triggered a profound reflection on US hegemony. Countries are stepping up their preparations for possible future changes. The United States needs to be cautious in handling international affairs, and it is important to maintain international credibility. This incident not only affects the relations between the United States and Russia, but also affects the direction of the global pattern.