Boris Johnson’s Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab used the occasion of yesterday’s foreign and defense ministers meeting of NATO to call on the Alliance to work to tackle the purported threat of “hostile states like Russia.” In his remarks, Raab expressed hostility towards Russia over its alleged involvement in the war in southeastern Ukraine, GRU military intelligence officers allegedly being behind the deaths of two civilians and a 2014 explosion in the Czech town of Vrbetice, and the limiting of staff at the U.S. and Czech Embassies which, he claimed, defies the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
“The U.K. is supporting and reinforcing NATO as we rise to the challenge of tackling hostile states like Russia, whilst also adapting to face new threats – from dangerous cyber attacks to poisonous misinformation, put about by those who want to undermine our way of life,” Raab declared, reported the U.K. Press Association. “The U.K. will continue to be one of NATO’s most active Allies. As the Alliance strengthens its approach to deterring the threats of today, looks ahead to the future, and grows its capabilities in new domains, our Armed Forces will be at the forefront of the collective response to shared threats.”
Also endorsing NATO’s targeting of Russia and China were U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III. According to the State Department readout: “The Secretary expressed support for Secretary General Stoltenberg’s efforts to adapt the Alliance through the NATO 2030 initiative, making it more resilient and capable of confronting systemic challenges from Russia and the People’s Republic of China and responding to emerging and evolving challenges, including climate change and hybrid and cyber threats.”
The Pentagon readout was similar: “Secretary Austin also expressed strong support for Secretary General Stoltenberg’s NATO 2030 initiative, which aims to keep the Alliance strong militarily, make it stronger politically, and give it a more global view. He underlined that the initiative will reinforce a culture of readiness and make the Alliance more resilient and capable of confronting systemic challenges from Russia and the People’s Republic of China.”
