munich conference
Stoltenberg calls for ‘not making the same mistake with China’ as with Moscow
The head of NATO warns against a “dependence” on products and raw materials from “authoritarian” regimes.
Posted
Jens Stoltenberg.
JOHN THYS v AFP
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg will call on Westerners on Saturday to “not make the same mistake with China” as with Russia, which has created ties of energy dependence with Europe.
“We shouldn’t make the same mistake with China and other authoritarian regimes,” as with Russia, Mr. Stoltenberg will warn before the Munich Security Conference.
“We must not become too dependent on the products and raw materials that we import,” he added, according to elements of his speech sent to AFP by his entourage.
“The war in Ukraine has highlighted the danger of excessive confidence in authoritarian regimes,” said the NATO leader, who will leave office in the fall.
“Not so long ago, many argued that Russian imports were purely an economic issue. This is not the case. It’s a political question,” he said.
European security first
According to Mr. Stoltenberg, “it’s about our safety. Because Europe’s dependence on Russian energy has made us vulnerable”.
According to him, we must “avoid exporting key technologies that could be used against us, as well as protect our essential infrastructures”.
“We must of course continue to trade and engage economically with China. But our economic interests cannot take precedence over our security interests”, he will assert, judging “normal that we protect ourselves”.
“But in doing so, we must remember that trade between friends and allies makes us stronger and more resilient. We must not create new barriers between free and open economies”, will also estimate Mr. Stoltenberg.
“The most important lesson of the war in Ukraine is that North America and Europe must stick together,” he said.
More than 150 government representatives are present at this annual conference devoted to international security issues, including the head of Chinese diplomacy Wang Yi, who is to go to Moscow after a European tour.
(AFP)