United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the US would not force its allies into an “us or them choice” with China, while still clearly identifying China as a massive threat to the West.
Addressing the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Blinken said that Beijing acted as a threat to NATO allies.
“There’s no question that Beijing’s coercive behavior threatens our collective security and prosperity and that it is actively working to undercut the rules of the international system and the values we and our allies share,” he said.
“We know that our allies have a complex relationship with China that won’t always align perfectly with ours. But we need to navigate these challenges together. That means working with our allies to close the gaps in areas like technology and infrastructure, where Beijing is exploiting to exert coercive pressure,” he added.
The American diplomat stated that the allies should act collectively to reduce their vulnerability by ensuring integrated economies.
Blinken has held consultations for two days with NATO allies where matters pertaining to Afghanistan, Russia and Iran have also been discussed.
