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US News

NATO members vow to counter threats from China, Russia

By
Mark Moore
Published June 14, 2021
Updated June 14, 2021, 4:55 p.m. ET

​NATO members vowed to engage with China to counter Beijing’s expanding military might around the world and warned Moscow there will be no return to “business as usual” as long as it continues to violate international norms and threaten members of the 30-nation alliance.

The communique released at the close of the NATO summit in Brussels, Belgium, on Monday that was attended by President Biden and a host of world leaders emphasized that the alliance would challenge China’s increasing influence militarily, economically and politically.

“China’s stated ambitions and assertive behavior present systemic challenges to the rules-based international order and to areas relevant to alliance security,” the 79-point communique said.

The NATO nations said they were concerned by China’s military cooperation with Russia, as well as its “lack of transparency and use of disinformation.”

“China is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal with more warheads and a larger number of sophisticated delivery systems to establish a nuclear triad. It is opaque in implementing its military modernization and its publicly declared military-civil fusion strategy,” the communique said.

“We call on China to uphold its international commitments and to act responsibly in the international system, including in the space, cyber, and maritime domains, in keeping with its role as a major power​,” it continued. ​

In a communique issued by NATO, the alliance emphasized it would challenge China’s increasing influence economically, militarily and politically.
China’s military cooperation with Russia have left NATO members concerned. AP

As for Russia, NATO noted that it has worked for more than 25 years to build a partnership with Moscow but that Russia “continues to breach the values, principles, trust, and commitments outlined in agreed documents that underpin the NATO-Russian relationship.” ​

“Until Russia demonstrates compliance with international law and its international obligations and responsibilities, there can be no return to ​’​business as usual​.’​  We will continue to respond to the deteriorating security environment by enhancing our deterrence and defense posture, including by a forward presence in the eastern part of the Allianc​e,” the communique said.

“NATO does not seek confrontation and poses no threat to Russia​,” it continued. ​

The members also said Russia’s expanding military presence on NATO borders, the build up in Crimea, military cooperation with Belarus and “repeated violations of NATO Allied airspace” threaten the security of the Euro-Atlantic area and contribute to instability. 

Biden called out China and Russia during a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

“There is a growing recognition over the last couple years that we have new challenges,” Biden said. “We have Russia, which is acting in a way that is not consistent with what we had hoped, and we have China.”

NATO's communique read that the alliance will "defend against any threat to the safety and security of our populations."
NATO’s communique read that the alliance will “defend against any threat to the safety and security of our populations.” POOL/AFP via Getty Images

And Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel said NATO must keep an eye on China as a potential threat, as well.

“If you look at the cyber threats and the hybrid threats, if you look at the cooperation between Russia and China, you cannot simply ignore China,” Merkel told reporters. “But one must not overrate it, either – we need to find the right balance,” said Merkel, who attended her final NATO summit before stepping down in September.

The alliance also reaffirmed its commitment to Article 5, the collective defense pledge that considers an attack against one NATO member and attack on all members.

“The greatest responsibility of the Alliance is to protect and defend our territory and our populations against attack, as set out in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty. No one should doubt NATO’s resolve if the security of any of its members were to be threatened. Faced with a highly diverse, complex, and demanding international security environment, NATO is determined to maintain the full range of capabilities necessary to deter and defend against any threat to the safety and security of our populations, wherever it should arise,” the communique said. 

The NATO allies said they would work to counter the “evolving challenge” present in the cyber and ransomware attacks that have targeted the private and public sectors, including in the US.

“Reaffirming NATO’s defensive mandate, the Alliance is determined to employ the full range of capabilities at all times to actively deter, defend against, and counter the full spectrum of cyber threats, including those conducted as part of hybrid campaigns, in accordance with international law,” the communique said.