- EU leaders label China and Russia as the biggest challenge to international security.
- Accusations fly over China’s dual-use exports aiding Russia’s war on Ukraine.
- Macron urges a Europe-Asia alliance to counter authoritarian aggression.
At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, European leaders warned that China and Russia are actively reshaping the international security landscape.
European leaders called for a new model of cooperation with Asia, one that isn’t reliant on the United States. Emphasizing the need to defend the rules-based order, they pointed to threats such as cyberattacks, sabotage, and covert maritime operations.
EU-Asia Unity Urged as China-Russia Axis Alarms Europe
The European Union is pushing for deeper security cooperation with Asia amid mounting concerns over China’s growing support for Russia. At a major security summit in Singapore, officials warned that the global rules-based order is being challenged by authoritarian powers aiming to undermine multilateral norms.
Kaja Kallas highlighted that China’s economic support to Russia, especially in the form of dual-use goods, is a critical enabler of Moscow’s military aggression in Ukraine. She emphasized that the EU can no longer separate economic ties from security risks in its dealings with Beijing.
Macron’s warning focused on North Korea’s alleged arms contributions to Russia and how China’s tolerance of this dynamic could invite Western military responses in Asia. He proposed an alternative alliance model — one based on shared prosperity and security between Europe and Asia.
Despite their proclaimed “no limits” partnership, China and Russia have diverging interests. While they maintain military and technological exchanges, Beijing has distanced itself from Moscow’s nuclear rhetoric and remains wary of Western sanctions that could damage its economic goals, especially in Europe.
As strategic fault lines deepen, Europe is rethinking alliances and advocating for a united global response to authoritarian revisionism spearheaded by China and Russia.
“This is the biggest challenge of our time.” – Kaja Kallas, EU Foreign Policy Chief
