US predictions that Wednesday would be the date of a Russian military campaign against Ukraine didn’t materialize as of press time, but that hasn’t seemed to stop the US from issuing war-related warnings aimed at further inflaming regional tensions.

It is rather clear that both Russia and Ukraine have no intention of eagerly going to war, but Washington, with its dramatic warnings and performance art, has still been trying to make the world believe that World War III is imminent. That only makes sense if the US has much to gain from such a dire scenario, and it does indeed.

Behind the US’ hysteric hype about a potential war in Ukraine are its intentions of satisfying the voracious appetite of its military-industrial complex, which stands to gain the most from a potential war. That’s why US officials are sparing no efforts in misleading Russia and Ukraine into a military conflict.

If a war breaks out, the Russian economy would face enormous sanction pressure from the West, while Ukraine would also suffer. And the US would end up being the biggest beneficiary of the war. Particularly, US defense contractors and arms makers stand to gain the most from any conflict in Europe.

Even if the Ukrainian war doesn’t break out, vested interest groups in the US defense sector have still got business opportunities from regional tensions. They don’t even care to hide their greed. For instance, Raytheon CEO Greg Hayes said in late January he saw a potential war over Ukraine and security risks as “opportunities for international sales.”

Beyond the boost for a US arms sales, even though a war has not occurred as the US repeatedly warned, continuing tensions in Europe have already precipitated capital outflows to the US financial market, which is of great help for the US economy, which is grappling with a series of self-inflicted woes.

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