NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has issued a stern warning to China, stating that if the country is unwilling to change its stance on the Ukraine war, it should be prepared to face consequences for supporting Russia. In an interview with the BBC, Stoltenberg criticized China’s approach, asserting that Beijing is “trying to get it both ways” by simultaneously backing Russia’s military operation in Ukraine while maintaining relationships with European allies. He emphasized that this dual strategy “cannot work in the long run.”
Stoltenberg’s comments come amidst ongoing concerns within the US regarding China’s alleged provision of military parts to Russia, which have been crucial in sustaining the conflict now in its third year. While Beijing has consistently denied these accusations, Stoltenberg stated that NATO members are actively engaged in discussions aimed at imposing sanctions on China due to its support for Russia. He highlighted that China has been “sharing a lot of technologies, [like] micro-electronics, which are key for Russia to build missiles, weapons they use against Ukraine”. He further emphasized that at some point, “we should consider some kind of economic cost if China doesn’t change their behaviour.”
Stoltenberg also expressed concerns about Russia’s deepening ties with other authoritarian regimes, including Iran, China, and North Korea. He observed that Russia is “aligning more and more with authoritarian leaders,” a statement that coincides with President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming trip to North Korea for the first time in 24 years. The NATO chief linked North Korea’s actions to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, stating that “North Korea is helping Russia to conduct a war of aggression against Ukraine” by supplying artillery shells to Moscow.
Meanwhile, a significant development within NATO indicates that 23 of the alliance’s 32 member nations are meeting the defense spending target set by the Western military alliance. This surge in defense spending has been attributed to the heightened threat posed by Russia’s war in Ukraine and the potential for conflict expansion in Europe. Stoltenberg commended this progress, stating that it is “good for Europe and good for America, especially since much of this extra money is spent here in the United States.”
