WASHINGTON: NATO leaders on Thursday looked to bolster ties with Asian partners after slamming China as a “decisive enabler” of Russia’s war, before holding talks with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky at the end of a summit in Washington.
The 32-nation alliance has used the pomp-filled set piece in the US capital to showcase its resolve against Moscow and backing for Kyiv.
The three-day gathering has been overshadowed by political uncertainty in the United States as President Joe Biden — who will give a press conference Thursday — fights for his own political survival. After spending the bulk of the summit focused on bolstering Ukraine, NATO shifted attention eastwards by welcoming the leaders of Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea.
A strongly-worded declaration from NATO released Wednesday called Beijing a “decisive enabler of Russia’s war against Ukraine” through its supplies of dual-use goods such as microchips that can help Moscow’s military.
China “cannot enable the largest war in Europe in recent history without this negatively impacting its interests and reputation,” NATO leaders said. Beijing hit back by warning NATO to “stop hyping up the so-called China threat and provoking confrontation and rivalry.” China presents itself as a neutral party in the conflict, but it has however offered a critical lifeline to Russia’s isolated economy, with trade booming since the conflict began.
The United States has been pushing its European allies for years to pay closer attention to the challenges posed by China.
The Washington summit is the third such gathering attended by leaders from the four Asia-Pacific partners.
Diplomats said several initiatives with the partner countries were due to be announced, including bolstering cooperation against cyberattacks and disinformation, and providing Ukraine non-lethal help.
But the Pacific leaders’ presence is more about signaling NATO’s greater interest in the region at a time of growing competition between Washington and Beijing.
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