WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter listed Russia among the top five global strategic challenges for the security of the United States, the US Department of Defense (DoD) said in a statement.
"Carter listed Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, and terrorism as the five evolving strategic challenges that are driving the DoD's planning and budgeting," the statement published Thursday reads.
The defense secretary deemed Russia and China most "stressing competitors" that have both advanced and continue to develop military systems that intend to threaten US global advantages.
Carter’s comments were voiced during a hearing of the US Senate Armed Services Committee on adopting the 2017 defense budget.
