Mitch McConnell on the US stakes in the Russia-Ukraine War
Mitch McConnell made a notable public statement about aid to Ukraine:
The Republican leader offered significant backing to the White House’s $106bn request, including $14bn in assistance to Israel, $60bn in aid to Ukraine and another $14bn to improve security on the US Mexico border. …
“I view it as all interconnected,” he said during the interview. “If you look at the Ukraine assistance, let’s – let’s talk about where the money is really going. A significant portion of it’s being spent in the United States in 38 different states, replacing the weapons that we sent to Ukraine with more modern weapons. So we’re rebuilding our industrial base,” he said.
He added: “No Americans are getting killed in Ukraine. We’re rebuilding our industrial base. The Ukrainians are destroying the army of one of our biggest rivals. I have a hard time finding anything wrong with that. I think it’s wonderful that they’re defending themselves.”1 [my emphasis]
He is stating things that are obviously so. But not often described so bluntly. Yes, the increased US spending on weapons assistance to Ukraine is mostly money that is spent by the government to buy weapons from various companies of the military-industrial complex. And, yes, that does boost the US economy via what is sometimes called “military Keynesianism.”2
McConnell there also refers to a key difference between the US stakes in the Russia-Ukraine War. Ukraine is fighting for its territory and to protect its citizens either living under Russian occupation or who are threatened with it.
The US and the Biden Administration would like to see Ukraine gain control over all its territory. It also wants to limit the potential for escalation to a broader conflict with Russia. And Ukraine is not a NATO member. The US has no formal treaty to defend Ukraine as it does with all NATO members.
But the US does also have the interest that McConnell bluntly states there, “The Ukrainians are destroying the army of one of our biggest rivals.” That goal of the US would be served by a long-term continuation of this war into another “forever war.” But every day the war continues kills Ukrainians and damages its economy in serious ways. A “forever war” is not in their interest. But Russia obviously has a major say in how long it continues.
Here is McConnell making a similar point earlier this year3:
Levine, Sam (2023): Mitch McConnell backs Biden’s $106bn aid request for Israel and Ukraine. The Guardian 10/22/2023. <https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/oct/22/mitch-mcconnell-israel-ukraine-biden-aid> (Accessed: 2023-24-10).
Toporowski, Jan (2023): The War in Ukraine and the Revival of Military Keynesianism. Institute for New Economic Thinking 01/09/2023. <https://www.ineteconomics.org/perspectives/blog/the-war-in-ukraine-and-the-revival-of-military-keynesianism> (Accessed: 2023-24-10).
McConnell Praises Ukraine Military Aid As A Cheap Way To 'Degrade Russia's Ability To Threaten'. Forbes Breaking News YouTube channel 06/12/2023. (Accessed: 2023-24-10).