WASHINGTON - Russia and China, not the United States, appear to be the main beneficiaries of the current U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran, according to The Washington Post.

„Disrupting oil supplies benefits Russia, as does less US aid to Ukraine. And Iran distracts from China,“ uvádí článek.

According to the newspaper, the administration of the US president Donalda Trumpa military operation against Iran despite what he said was no „imminent threat“ to the United States. The newspaper also warned that military operations could make it difficult for the United States to „to compete with much more significant adversaries, especially Iran's allies Russia and China“.

The newspaper believes that Russia has started to benefit from the conflict since its beginning, as oil prices have been rising rapidly and on 8 March crossed the $100 per barrel mark. In response, President Donald Trump was forced to announce the easing of sanctions on India for its purchases of Russian oil.

In addition, the United States is rapidly depleting its ammunition stockpile and it will take some time to replenish it, according to the paper. The paper also points out that „all the energy and attention the US is now devoting to the Middle East is another distraction from the growing economic and military challenge from China“.

gnews.cz - GH