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Madrid (AP) — NATO faced criticism from Moscow and Beijing on Thursday after declaring Russia is a “direct threat” And said China “raised a serious challenge To global stability.
The Western military alliance closed the summit in Madrid. It issued a harsh warning that the world has entered a dangerous stage of competition and myriad threats between great powers, from cyberattacks to climate change.
NATO leaders also formally invited Finland and Sweden to join the alliance after overcoming opposition from Turkey. If the accession of the Nordic countries is approved by 30 member states, it will give NATO a new 800 mile (1,300 km) border with Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that if a Nordic pair allowed NATO and military infrastructure to enter their territory, he would respond in kind. He said Russia “must create the same threat to the areas where the threat to us was created.”
Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said Putin’s threat was “not new.”
“Of course, we have to expect some surprises from Putin, but I don’t think he’s attacking Sweden or Finland directly,” said Crow, who arrived at the summit’s conference center. “Cyber attacks are definitely seen. Hybrid attacks are seen and information warfare is happening. But normal wars are not seen.”
China has accused the alliance of “maliciously attacking and desecrating” the country. Its mission to the European Union stated that NATO “argues that other countries pose challenges, but it is NATO that is causing problems around the world.”
NATO leaders turned to the final summit session on Thursday, focusing on the Sahel region of Africa and the Middle East. There, political instability exacerbated by climate change and food instability caused by the war in Ukraine is driving large numbers of migrants to Europe.
“It is in our interest to work with close partners in the South to work with common challenges,” said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
However, it was Russia that dominated the summit. Stoltenberg said Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine has resulted in “the greatest review of our collective defense since the end of the Cold War.”
The aggression shattered European peace, and in response NATO poured troops and weapons into Eastern Europe on a scale not seen in decades. Member States have provided billions of military and civilian aid to Ukraine to strengthen Ukraine’s resistance.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who addressed the summit at the videolink, called for more. He urges NATO to send a modern cannon system and other weapons, and they either have to provide Kieu with the help they need, or “face a delayed war between Russia and yourself.” I warned the leader that there was.
“The question is who’s next? Moldova? Or the Baltic states? Or Poland? The answer is all of them,” he said.
At the summit, NATO leaders agreed to dramatically expand their troops along the eastern side of the alliance, where countries from Romania to the Baltic states are concerned about Russia’s future plans.
They have announced plans to increase the size of the alliance’s rapid reaction from 40,000 to 300,000 by next year. The army is based in its home country, but will focus on certain eastern countries where the Alliance plans to increase its inventory of equipment and ammunition.
US President Joe Biden, whose country provides most of NATO’s firepower, Significant increase in US military presence in EuropePoland’s permanent US military base, two Navy destroyers based in Rota, Spain, two British F35 squadrons
This expansion will leave an army of 100,000 in Europe for the foreseeable future, from 80,000 before the war in Ukraine.
Biden believed that NATO members would split after Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, but Russian leaders said they had opposed.
“We will achieve NATO in Europe, which is exactly what he does not want, but it is necessary to ensure the security of Europe,” Biden said.
Still, tensions emerged among NATO allies, as the costs of energy and other necessities soared, in part, due to war and severe Western sanctions against Russia. There are also tensions on how the war will end and, if any, what Ukraine should concede.
Money is still a delicate matter. Only nine of NATO’s 30 members are now meeting the organization’s goal of spending 2% of GDP on defense.
Britain, one of nine, announced an additional £ 1 billion ($ 1.21 billion) in military assistance to Ukraine on Thursday.
What Stoltenberg called the “transformative” summit, the leaders announced NATO’s new strategic concept, its once-in-a-decade set of priorities and goals.
The last such document in 2010 called Russia a “strategic partner.” NATO is now accusing Russia of using “force, destruction, attack, annexation” to expand its reach.
China was not mentioned in the 2010 document, but the new document addressed the expansion of Beijing’s economic and military scope.
“China is not our enemy, but we need to look clearly at the serious challenges that China represents,” Stoltemberg said Wednesday.
NATO warned of its close relationship with Moscow, stating that China “is striving to overturn the rule-based international order, including the space, cyber and maritime territories.”
However, the alliance said it remained “open to constructive engagement” with Beijing.
China counterattacked NATO as the cause of instability and vowed to protect its interests.
“NATO positions China as a” systematic challenge, “so we must take great care and work together. We will take a firm and strong response to acts that undermine China’s interests. “
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