NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, on Monday called on China, during a visit to Washington, to pay the price for its support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Speaking from the Oval Office before a meeting with US President Joe Biden, Stoltenberg also confirmed that 23 allied countries will spend 2% or more of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defence this year, meeting the minimum threshold set by the 32-member western military alliance.
This financial commitment will lead to an 18% increase in defence spending by NATO members this year. This is the most significant rise in decades, and it is largely due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Record-breaking NATO commitment
President Biden praised the commitment, calling it record-breaking.
Just four months ago, Biden's Republican rival, Donald Trump, had caused panic in Europe by threatening to withdraw protection from NATO countries. Trump had said in February that he would allow Russia "to do whatever the hell they want" with Europe if NATO members failed to meet defence spending targets.
Stoltenberg, who is stepping down as NATO Secretary General in October, was in Washington to prepare for the upcoming NATO summit - coinciding with its 75th anniversary - from 9 to 11 July in the US capital.
Speaking at the Wilson Centre, a think tank in Washington, he criticised China while urging the western military alliance to supply more arms to Ukraine. “It may seem like a paradox, but the path to peace is through more arms to Ukraine,” Stoltenberg said.
China fuelling Europe's biggest war since WWII
The NATO Secretary-General noted Chinese President Xi Jinping’s attempts to appear uninvolved in the conflict in order to bypass sanctions and maintain trade.
However, he noted that China fuels the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II, while intending to maintain good relations with the West. At some point, unless China changes course, the allies must impose a cost, he added, stating that there should be consequences.
Led by the United States, NATO has increasingly criticised China and its industries for supporting Russia’s war effort, providing components and equipment to the Russian weapons sector, thus affecting the battlefield in Ukraine.
Ensuring military aid flows to Ukraine even if Trump wins
China refutes claims of directly supplying arms to Russia.
The NATO Secretary General also highlighted the fact that NATO is now leading the military support for Ukraine, previously led by Washington, to ensure long-term support regardless of the forthcoming US elections and a possible Trump victory.
According to NATO diplomats, this strategy aims to ensure the continual flow of military aid to Ukraine, even in the event of a Republican win in the November election, as the former President has expressed his intent to end the war.
