BEIJING (dpa-AFX) - Russia, China, Iran, North Korea and violent extremism are the five biggest threats to the United States' national security, according to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Four are nation states that can cause varying degrees of concern. The fifth threat, terrorism, can flare up in any part of the world, Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford told the new class at the National Defense University Tuesday.
Dunford said he's concerned about Russia's behavior, including its annexation of Crimea, its actions in Eastern Ukraine, it threats to Georgia and Moldova, and its aid to Syria.
China is a bit more opaque, Dunford said. China has invested significant sums in building up its military, including its nuclear enterprise. Its actions in the South China Sea are cause for concern to the United States, the chairman said.
Meanwhile, Iran is trying to spread its influence across the Middle East, he said, and must be carefully monitored. And, the chairman said, North Korea is still building nuclear capabilities and intercontinental missiles and is the most unpredictable nation on the list.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX