Rutte Warns: China Might Use Russia to Trigger an Attack on NATO, Acting as a ‘Horizontal’ Weapon
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Western leaders are carefully analyzing potential conflict scenarios, one of which involves China's possible attempt to utilize Russia as a tool to weaken the Alliance's security. In this context, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte expressed his concerns in an interview with the prominent American publication The New York Times, warning of a scenario where Beijing, seeking to protect its interests, could instigate Russia to attack NATO member countries. According to Rutte, there is a possibility that, after deciding to invade Taiwan, Chinese leader Xi Jinping will communicate with Vladimir Putin to seek support and distract Western allies. "He might tell him: 'I'm going to do this, and I need you to divert NATO's attention to Europe, making your aggression look like internal conflicts,'" Rutte explained. Given the current diplomatic climate, this scenario is entirely feasible. Experts emphasize that to prevent a large-scale escalation in Europe, two key measures are necessary: first, strengthening NATO’s military capabilities to such an extent that Russian forces dare not attack; second, intensifying cooperation between the US, Europe, and Indo-Pacific countries, initiatives promoted by President Trump regarding joint defense innovation and strategic partnerships. Participants in the international community stress that these measures are critical for deterring potential aggressions and ensuring regional stability. Any conflict in one region, especially involving major global powers, could have catastrophic consequences for worldwide security.