President Joe Biden used his first participation in the NATO summit to call on Russian President Vladimir Putin to renounce provocative acts against the United States and its allies. NATO leaders have joined forces with the United States to formally accuse Moscow and Beijing of malicious actions.
Mr. Biden, with a NATO coat of arms on his collar, said that in his talks with the Allies before his meeting with the Russian leader on Wednesday, everyone expressed support for his plans to make them pressure Russian leaders to stop cyber-attacks originating in Russia and targeting objects and systems vital to the West, as well as to stop suppressing political opponents and interfering in other countries’ elections.
“I will make it clear to President Putin that there are areas where we can cooperate, if he is ready. “If he prefers not to cooperate, if he acts in the same ways as before regarding cyber attacks and other actions, we will respond with the same currency,” said the president.
Mr Biden is on an eight-day visit to Europe to try to make sure the West speaks with one voice in the face of Russia and China.
NATO leaders responded by issuing a statement calling China an ongoing security challenge that seeks to undermine the rule-based international order.
They expressed concern about what they described as “pressure policies” by China as well as non-transparent practices in efforts to modernize its armed forces and the spread of misinformation.
The Allies also condemned Russia’s provocative military activity and destabilizing maneuvers near the borders of NATO member states.
“Until Russia proves that it is respecting international law and its responsibilities, there will be no return to normal relations,” they said.
Meanwhile, the new Brussels communiqué states that NATO countries “will engage with China based on the principle of protecting the interests of the Alliance.”
Ahead of the NATO summit, President Biden attended the G-7 summit, where he persuaded participants to issue a statement denouncing forced labor and other human rights violations by China, including the persecution of Uighurs. and other ethnic minorities.
However, it seems that the allies are not so ready to come out with strong denouncing statements against China.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said NATO’s decision to single out China as a threat “should not be exaggerated” as Beijing, like Russia, remains a partner country in a number of areas. China is Germany’s largest trading partner, so Merkel said “the right balance must be found.”
French President Emmanuel Macron called on the Alliance not to allow China to become a distracting topic from the most critical issues for NATO, including the fight against terrorism and security challenges with Russia.
“I think it is very important that we do not open up too much in our efforts and do not show prejudice against China,” Mr Macron said.
On Monday, the Chinese embassy in Britain issued a statement describing the G-7 communiqué as “a deliberate insult to China, which arbitrarily interferes in Beijing’s internal affairs.”
Meanwhile, the United States allies at both the G-7 summit and the NATO summit have expressed liberation and enthusiasm for President Joe Biden’s stance on the transatlantic partnership, an attitude that differs markedly from the “First America” policy. followed by his predecessor, Donald Trump./VOA
