Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, a Chinese newspaper warned on Sunday that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) could expand the conflict into a “world war.”
The high tensions between Russia and NATO have seemingly escalated in recent weeks after the military alliance’s announcement last month of its largest military exercise in more than 35 years. Dubbed “Steadfast Defender 2024,” the operation launched in late January and will run through May. It ultimately will include participation of around 90,000 military personnel from 31 NATO allies and Sweden.
NATO officials have said the exercise will test the allies’ ability to quickly deploy forces and test new defense plans. Military analysts have speculated Steadfast Defender is meant to prepare alliance members for the potential of a future Russian invasion on NATO territory.
The military alliance’s announcement about the operation did not mention Russia by name, though based on documents from the military alliance obtained by Reuters, Russia is viewed as the biggest security threat to its member nations. One of the primary goals of the exercise will be to “demonstrate NATO’s ability to rapidly deploy forces from North America and other parts of the alliance to reinforce the defense of Europe.”
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In a Sunday opinion piece titled, “NATO is pushing the Russia-Ukraine conflict toward a ‘world war,'” published by the Global Times, a nationalistic English-language tabloid published by the propaganda department of the ruling Communist Party, noted NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg’s recent visit to the United States in which he spoke about the “readiness” of NATO along with the investment in aid and defense.
“Clearly, this is not just about NATO seeking funds. This is a clear preparation of public opinion to expand the Russia-Ukraine conflict into a world war,” Global Times‘ opinion piece read.
According to NATO’s website, Stoltenberg warned of challenges amid the war in Ukraine in a speech in Tampa, Florida, on Thursday, adding that “NATO has implemented the biggest adaptation, the biggest change for our Alliance, since the end of the Cold War with more forces on higher readiness. For the first time in our history, we have combat-ready troops in the eastern part of the Alliance. And Allies are now actually investing more in defense.”
However, the Global Times‘ opinion articled warned of impacts NATO may have as it could lead to “divisions and confrontations” on a global scale.
“This strategic adjustment by NATO may enhance its internal cohesion in the short term and continue to maintain its position as the world’s most powerful military force held by the US and the West. However, in the long term, it may lead to more divisions and confrontations globally, profoundly affecting international relations and the security environment around China,” the opinion article stated.
“The danger of war will inevitably increase as NATO advances and expands globally, and those affected will not be limited to Asia,” the Global Times, whose views do not always reflect official policy in China, added.
Newsweek has reached out to NATO and the Russian Foreign Ministry via email for comment.
The warning comes after Dmitry Medvedev, former president of Russia and a staunch ally of current Russian President Vladimir Putin, warned in a social media post on Friday about the potential for a “big war” with NATO.
Writing in an extended social media post on Friday on VKontakte, a Russian social media network, Medvedev, who currently serves as the deputy chairman for the Security Council of Russia, decried the organizers of “Steadfast Defender 2024” as “Western politicians who have s*** their pants and their mediocre generals in NATO have once again decided to scare us.”
He also claimed that Russia would never initiate a first strike against a NATO member nation, but claimed that it would respond to any potential aggression against its own “integrity” or increased NATO association with Ukraine, warning of a “big war” that would follow.
Romania on Thursday joined the growing list of NATO countries who’s had a prominent official warn about the potential of going to war with Russia.
General Gheorghiță Vlad, Romania’s chief of defense, said during an interview with Europa Liberă România—a news service from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty—that his country currently isn’t prepared for the prospect of war with Russia and warned it needs to take such a threat seriously.
Vlad’s warning follows remarks made last week by General Patrick Sanders, the United Kingdom’s army chief, in which he called on British authorities to prepare for a mass mobilization due to the possibility of Russia’s current conflict in Ukraine spilling over into other countries.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.