Gen. C.Q. Brown, Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, expressed cautious optimism about former President Donald Trump’s promise to end the Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours but emphasized the risks of halting U.S. support for Ukraine. Speaking at the Aspen Security Forum, Brown highlighted the importance of continued support to uphold U.S. and NATO credibility and prevent broader conflicts.
Content: ASPEN, CO — Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. C.Q. Brown addressed the potential implications of former President Donald Trump’s campaign promise to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict within 24 hours. Speaking at the Aspen Security Forum, Brown acknowledged the benefits of a swift resolution but underscored the dangers of withdrawing support for Ukraine.
“If he can get it done in 24 hours, that’d be great,” Brown stated in response to a question from Fox News reporter Jennifer Griffin. “It stops the conflict … and then we get back to more global security.”
However, Brown expressed concerns about the broader implications of such a move. He warned that if the U.S. and its allies were to abruptly cease support for Ukraine, it could lead to a victory for Russian President Vladimir Putin and set a dangerous precedent on the global stage.
“We have credibility that’s at stake … it’s not just the United States, but NATO, the West, if we just back away. And that opens the door for [Chinese leader] Xi Jinping and others that want to do unprovoked aggression,” Brown explained.
He emphasized the importance of sustained support for Ukraine to prevent the conflict from escalating further and to maintain strong leadership in international affairs. “It’s important that we continue to provide support to Ukraine so it doesn’t go into a broader conflict as well. Hard leadership matters,” Brown added.
The discussion at the forum also touched on concerns about President Joe Biden’s mental acuity. Brown responded by affirming Biden’s engagement and decision-making capabilities. “All the times I’ve engaged with the president, he’s been engaged,” Brown said. “He’s asked us, you know, asked very pointed questions, and made decisions and, I mean, I’ll just leave it at that.”
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