NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Thursday sounded the alarm over what he described as increasing military cooperation among Iran, North Korea and China, warning they are preparing for long-term confrontation with the West.
"China, Iran, and North Korea pose challenges individually and through their cooperation. Just look at the images from Beijing over the past few days and the hand-holding," Rutte said at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Prague Defense Summit.
"They are preparing for long-term confrontation. As I said earlier, these challenges are enduring, so we must be prepared," Rutte was quoted as saying by The Guardian.
China held a major military parade in Beijing on Wednesday, marking the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II.
President Xi Jinping, flanked by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, used the parade to project China's military strength.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian appeared to be nearer the back of assembled heads of state and was not pictured greeting Xi.
"Russia’s unprovoked war against Ukraine is the most obvious example of this threat. But the threat will not end when this war does, nor is it limited to Russia," Rutte said.
The NATO Secretary General emphasized that the alliance’s goal is to prepare for defense, not to provoke. "Our aim is to protect and ensure we can continue to enjoy the freedom and security that NATO was founded to preserve," Rutte stated.
Pezeshkian visited China on September 1-3, attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit. The relative moderate urged swift implementation of agreements, emphasizing resistance to countries undermining Iran-China friendship.
“Looking at President Xi standing alongside the leaders of Russia, Iran and North Korea in Beijing, these aren’t just anti-Western optics: This is a direct challenge to the international system built on rules,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Wednesday.
NATO’s 2025 plans focus on strengthening collective defense, deterrence and rapid response capabilities amid heightened global threats, particularly from Russia, while the United States seeks a negotiated end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
