NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg and Japanese premier Fumio Kishida pledged on Tuesday to strengthen ties in the face of a “historic” security threat, stating that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its expanding military cooperation with China had produced the most tense security environment since World War Two.
The remarks were made in a statement released during Stoltenberg’s visit to Japan, which came after a trip to South Korea, when he pushed Seoul to boost military assistance to Ukraine and expressed same cautions about escalating conflict with China.
The two leaders declared in the statement that “the world is at a historical inflection point in the most severe and complicated security climate since the end of World War II.”
Additionally, it sparked worries over North Korea’s nuclear weapons development, combined military exercises between China and Russia close to Japan, and Russia’s nuclear threats.
A Russian win in Ukraine, according to Stoltenberg, would give China more confidence at a time when it is bolstering its military, “bullying its neighbours, and threatening Taiwan,” he told reporters.
“This war is not simply a European crisis, but a threat to the global order,” he continued.
Beijing is paying careful attention and picking up lessons that could affect its future choices. Today’s events in Europe could have an impact on East Asia tomorrow.
An inquiry for response to Stoltenberg’s most recent statements was not immediately answered by China’s foreign ministry.
China stated on Monday that it was a partner to nations, not a problem, and that it did not pose a threat to any country’s security or interests. This was in response to similar remarks made by Stoltenberg during his visit to Seoul.
Stoltenberg has stated that although the North Atlantic Treaty Organization unites 30 nations in Europe and North America, its members are nonetheless vulnerable to external threats.
Last year, Kishida and Yoon Suk-yeol, the president of South Korea, were the first heads of state from their nations to participate in a NATO meeting as observers.
NATO’s attempts to strengthen its partnerships in Asia have already drawn criticism from China. Russia has frequently portrayed NATO’s growth as a threat to its security, referring to its invasion of Ukraine as a “special operation.”
Japan published sweeping defense-strengthening plans in December, developments that were previously unimaginable for a pacifist nation and which will elevate Japan to the third-largest military spender after the United States and China.
It will be easier to adapt to the shifting strategic environment by strengthening its cooperation with NATO in fields including maritime security, arms control, cybersecurity, and misinformation, according to the statement.
The gathering takes place as Japan gears up to host the annual Group of Seven (G7) summit in May, which is anticipated to centre heavily on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
According to domestic media, Kishida is thinking about travelling to Kyiv in February to reaffirm his backing for Ukraine in the crisis.
