US-Russia or US-China war could start at any moment - Head of US Air Force

The secretary's warning came as Russia and China, two of nine nuclear-armed nations, are increasingly aligned with each other. The White House prioritizes maintaining a sustained competitive edge over China while also deterring the highly dangerous Russia.

In his speech before cadets at the US Air Force Academy, Kendall stated that his most important task as head of the Air Force Department is to instill a sense of urgency regarding the need to prepare for the next war, one in which we may have to participate.

He added that China possesses weapons designed to defeat US forces in the western Pacific, including Taiwan and the South China Sea, which are key national priorities.

Kendall also pointed out that while Russia has shown its willingness to use force against neighboring countries, it has seriously considered the possibility of deploying nuclear weapons, particularly against Ukraine.

"The potential for nuclear weapon use became as real as I've ever experienced," he said.

Additionally, the minister warned the cadets that they would be tasked with preventing the greatest conceivable catastrophe in human history. This is due to Russia's increasing reliance on nuclear weapons, while China is building a nuclear arsenal that is becoming comparable to those of the US and Russia.

According to Kendall, the belief that nuclear states will not wage war against each other because they haven't in the past is very dangerous. He acknowledged that after the collapse of the Soviet Union, he naively hoped it would end the threat of nuclear conflict.

"The threat of nuclear war has returned, in what may be even more dangerous forms," he concluded.