“While the Pentagon has identified China as the greatest threat to the United States and its allies, Russia is a key immediate problem, said Elbridge Colby, who served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy and force development until 2018.

“’The Russian threat, while definitely more limited and more circumscribed, is more pointed right now primarily because it’s a land border, there’s no natural topographical division between Russia and NATO territory,’ said Colby, who is now at the Center for a New American Security. By contrast: ‘The Chinese have to launch an amphibious invasion to get after American forces or Taiwan.’

“Colby said the increased rotational presence may be a better fit than a large, fixed base for the threat from Russia as it appears more ‘combat credible.'”

Read the full article here: