Washington
NATO leaders sought to strengthen ties with Asian partners on Thursday after accusing China of being a “decisive supporter” of Russia’s war, before meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the end of their summit in Washington.
The 32-nation alliance used a glitzy ceremony in the U.S. capital to demonstrate its resolve against Moscow and its support for Kiev.
The three-day rally is being overshadowed by political uncertainty in the United States, with US President Joe Biden holding a press conference on Thursday to gauge his own political survival.
After spending much of the summit supporting Ukraine, NATO shifted its attention east by hosting the leaders of Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea.
A strongly worded statement released by NATO on Wednesday called Beijing a “decisive supporter of Russia’s war in Ukraine” through its supply of dual-use items such as microchips that aid Moscow’s military.
“China cannot launch the largest European war in recent history without damaging its interests and reputation,” NATO leaders said.
China hit back, warning NATO to “stop hyping up the so-called China threat and stoking conflict and competition.”
China has remained neutral in the conflict but trade has boomed since it began, providing a vital lifeline to Russia’s isolated economy.
The United States has long urged its European allies to pay more attention to the challenges posed by China.
The summit in Washington will be the third meeting attended by leaders of the four Asia-Pacific partners.
Diplomats said several initiatives with partner nations are expected to be announced, including increased cooperation in countering cyber attacks and disinformation, and providing non-lethal assistance to Ukraine.
But the Pacific leaders’ attendance is primarily intended to demonstrate NATO’s growing interest in the region amid intensifying competition between Washington and Beijing.
US missiles, Kremlin warning
After that meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will take center stage at a massive convention center in the heart of the US capital.
He joins his NATO colleagues as Kyiv moves closer to receiving long-promised F-16 fighter jets following promises of new air defences for Ukraine.
But Zelenskiy wants Kiev’s backers, particularly the United States, to go further, including giving their own inferior military the space to launch attacks into Russia.
The United States said on Wednesday it would begin a “phased deployment” of long-range missiles to Germany in 2026, also announcing a major step to bolster NATO’s own deterrence against Russia in Europe.
The White House said it was considering eventually permanently stationing the missiles in Germany, and that their range would be “significantly longer” than U.S. systems currently deployed in Europe.
The Kremlin hit back on Thursday, saying it was planning a “response” to contain a “very serious threat” from NATO and accused the organisation of being “fully involved in the conflict over Ukraine.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, leader of NATO member Turkey, said the possibility of a direct confrontation between Russia and NATO was “worrisome.”
“We should consciously avoid any steps that could lead to these consequences,” said Erdogan, whose country is one of the few NATO members to have maintained ties with Russia since the invasion.
NATO leaders again balked on Wednesday at extending an explicit invitation to Ukraine to join the alliance amid concern that key allies could steer the alliance closer to war.
Zelenskiy sparked a fierce diplomatic row last year when he slammed Ukraine’s reluctance to join NATO at a summit in Lithuania.
This time, trying to ease disappointment, NATO leaders said Ukraine’s path to membership was “irreversible.”
The two countries also pledged to provide Kiev with at least 40 billion euros ($43 billion) in military aid “over the next year.”
