Today NATO’s second in command, Alexander Vershbow, declared that Russia is now to be categorized as an enemy.

“Clearly the Russians have declared NATO as an adversary, so we have to begin to view Russia no longer as a partner but as more of an adversary than a partner,” said Alexander Vershbow, the deputy secretary-general of NATO.

This statement comes as China and Russia announced that they will be carrying out joint Naval drills in the South China Sea. This show of unity sends a message on multiple levels.

Last week the Obama administration vowed to defend Japan against China in their territorial dispute over the Senkaku islands.

Our commitment to Japan’s security is absolute and article five [of the security treaty] covers all territories under Japan’s administration, including the Senkaku islands,” Obama said during a joint press conference with Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe.

China, is obviously not happy about that. Nor are they happy about Washington’s overall push to contain them militarily in the region. Though the Obama administration publicly denies that the recent drive to shore up alliances with China’s neighbors is geared towards containment, no one is fooled (especially not Beijing).

Russia’s show of military solidarity obviously can’t be separated from the Ukrainian crisis. This week China made a number of statements criticizing the latest round of ‘sanctions’ against Russia.

We believe that sanctions are inconducive to the solution of problems. On the contrary, they will escalate tensions,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said on Monday.

So if NATO has declared Russia to be an enemy, and the U.S. is openly provoking China by injecting itself into territorial disputes, and beefing up its military presence in the South China Sea, how long until we start hearing the official war mongering rhetoric expanded to encompass all parties in the ‘axis of evil’? Answer: ASAPE (As Soon As Politically Expedient).