The fallout from the Chinese president's visit to Moscow continues to worry US officials and push them to talk about a new era in which there is no place for calm, while anger is simmering within Russia in response to President Vladimir Putin's recently issued arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court.

Speaking to the Senate, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the post-war status quo no longer existed and that there was a stiff competition underway to determine what was to come.

In his speech to Congress, Blinken stressed that Washington wants a free and prosperous world to take shape.

"Our meeting today comes at a pivotal moment. The post-cold-war world is gone and there is intense competition underway to determine what comes next. The United States has a positive vision for that future. It is a free, open, safe and prosperous world."

3 Priorities for Washington

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the Chinese president's visit to Russia sent a very worrying signal. China is a growing challenge for his country, he said.

Austin said at a Pentagon budget debate held by the House Appropriations Committee that Washington is investing in a more flexible Indo-Pacific force position while increasing the scope of exercises with its partners.

"Our budget is driven by strategy and the seriousness of our competition with China. This budget will help us continue to implement the 2022 National Defense Strategy and the President's National Security Strategy."

"I now have 3 key priorities at the Pentagon: defending our nation, taking care of our outstanding forces, and succeeding through teamwork. China is our accelerating challenge, and we are striving to meet it."

The language of power

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia's Security Council, said the next ten years would not be quiet because of the West's desire for hegemony.

Medvedev, known for his "frankness and modesty diplomacy," spoke of the details and the moment when things might spiral out of control in the Moscow-West conflict.

Medvedev stressed that some countries only understand and listen to the language of force, "so there is no point in agreeing with them."

Medvedev also warned that arresting Russian President Vladimir Putin abroad is tantamount to declaring war on Russia.

"All of a sudden they are making a decision against the Russian president, but let's imagine that the head of a nuclear state arrived in Germany and was arrested. We know this will never happen."

But the former Russian head of state and government spoke directly about how his country would respond if Putin were arrested:

"This step would be a declaration of war on Russia. In this case, all our means, missiles and others, will fly directly to the German chancellor's office."