Stoltenberg Argues NATO Needs To Be ‘Clear-Eyed’ About the ‘Rise of China’

In another indication that NATO is going global, Jens Stoltenberg, the alliance’s Secretary General, said in a speech to the Center for European Policy Analysis, that China’s growing military and economic clout means NATO must forge ties with partners beyond Europe to expand its influence. “Using NATO more politically is valuable to send a clear and unified political message. Because together, NATO allies represent half the world’s economic and military might ... what we say matters,” he said, reported Stars & Stripes. Stoltenberg laid out the priorities for his NATO 2030 initiative, which aims to shape the alliance to confront future threats. NATO will need to be “clear-eyed” about China, which has the world’s second-largest military budget and is willing to use its economic heft to intimidate other countries, Stoltenberg said.