NATO Chief Warns of Long-Term Confrontation with China and Russia
Brussels – September 3, 2025 – NATO Secretary General warned that China and Russia are actively preparing for a sustained, long-term confrontation, extending beyond the current conflict in Ukraine. The assessment, delivered September 3, 2025, highlights a growing strategic alignment between the two nations and escalating cooperation with Iran and North Korea, posing a multifaceted challenge to Western security.
This warning arrives at a critical juncture as geopolitical tensions rise globally. The alliance views the increasing collaboration not merely as a display of power, but as an “aggressive exercise of influence” aimed at reshaping the international order and undermining freedom and security, according to the NATO leader. The implications extend to all member states, demanding a reassessment of defense strategies and industrial capacity.The Secretary General specifically expressed concern over the accelerating pace of Chinese naval expansion, which currently outstrips the shipbuilding capabilities of the United States and Europe. He cited recent imagery from Beijing, including photographs of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in close discussion at a recent security summit, as evidence of a deepening strategic partnership.
“It is enough to look at Beijing photos from the last few days and holding hands,” the Secretary General stated, referencing the visual display of unity between Putin and Modi.
The alliance is also monitoring the unprecedented levels of defense industry cooperation between China, Iran, and North Korea, signaling a coordinated effort to circumvent sanctions and bolster military capabilities. This evolving landscape necessitates a extensive response from NATO, focused on strengthening collective defense and bolstering industrial resilience.
