Diplomacy
NATO final declaration targets China and Russia
The final declaration of the NATO summit in Washington has been released.
While the summit, which marked the 75th anniversary of the Alliance, was full of meetings, the final declaration was dominated by the war in Ukraine and harsh words for China and Russia.
The declaration emphasised that NATO is a “defence alliance” and stressed that the Alliance’s three main missions are deterrence and defence, crisis prevention and management, and cooperative security.
“Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has disrupted peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic region and seriously damaged global security,” NATO said, declaring that Russia “remains the most significant and immediate threat to the security of our Allies”.
“Conflict, fragility and instability in Africa and the Middle East directly affect our security and that of our partners,” the statement said, making no reference to Israel’s occupation of Gaza.
NATO accused Iran of affecting Euro-Atlantic security through “destabilising” actions and argued that “the stated objectives and coercive policies of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) continue to challenge NATO’s interests, security and values”.
“The deepening strategic partnership between Russia and the People’s Republic of China and their mutually reinforcing attempts to undermine and reshape the rules-based international order are of deep concern,” the declaration said.
NATO members said they could not rule out the possibility of an attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of allied countries and said they would continue to strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defence “against all threats and challenges, in all domains and in multiple strategic directions in the Euro-Atlantic area”.
Military coordination centre established in Ukraine
“We reaffirm our unwavering solidarity with the people of Ukraine in their heroic defence of their nation, their territory and our shared values,” NATO said in a statement. NATO has decided to establish NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) to coordinate the provision of military equipment and training to Ukraine by Allies and Partners.
NSATU, which will operate in allied countries, will “support Ukraine’s self-defence in accordance with the UN Charter”.
It will “not make NATO a party to the conflict, in accordance with international law” and will “support the transformation of Ukraine’s defence and security forces and ensure their further integration into NATO”.
The Allies argued that Ukraine’s future lies in NATO, and that Kiev is becoming increasingly interoperable and politically integrated with NATO.
While support for Ukraine’s NATO membership was reaffirmed, the condition of “meeting the conditions” was once again on the agenda.
Russia urged to withdraw from Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine
It also called on Russia to stop the war immediately and to withdraw all its forces from Ukraine completely and unconditionally in accordance with UN General Assembly resolutions.
“We also call on Russia to withdraw all forces deployed in Moldova and Georgia without their consent,” NATO said, declaring that it would never recognise Russia’s “illegal annexation” of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea.
Claiming that Russia is seeking to “fundamentally restructure” the Euro-Atlantic security architecture, NATO said: “The threat posed by Russia to NATO in all domains will persist over the long term. Russia is rebuilding and expanding its military capabilities, continuing its airspace violations and provocative activities,” NATO said.
NATO insisted it was not a threat to Russia and said it was ready to maintain channels of communication with Moscow to reduce risks and avoid escalation.
Warnings to Russia about Belarus, Iran and China
The NATO statement called on all countries not to support “Russian aggression” and condemned “all those who facilitate and prolong Russia’s war in Ukraine”.
“Belarus continues to facilitate this war by providing its territory and infrastructure,” NATO said, adding that Belarus’ deepening political and military integration with Russia “has negative consequences for regional stability and the defence of the Alliance”.
Arguing that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Iran were fuelling the war by providing direct military support to Russia, such as munitions and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), NATO said it “strongly condemns the DPRK’s export of artillery shells and ballistic missiles in violation of numerous United Nations Security Council resolutions” and noted “with great concern the deepening ties between North Korea and Russia”.
“Iran’s transfer of ballistic missiles and related technology to Russia would constitute a serious escalation,” the statement said.
China in the crosshairs
“This increases the threat Russia poses to its neighbours and to Euro-Atlantic security,” NATO said, arguing that China has become a “decisive supporter” of Russia in the Ukraine war.
“This includes the transfer of dual-use items such as weapons components, equipment and raw materials that are inputs for Russia’s defence sector,” NATO said, calling on China to cut off all financial and political support for Russia’s war effort.
Indo-Pacific pivot to continue
“The Indo-Pacific region is important to NATO because developments in the region have a direct impact on Euro-Atlantic security,” NATO said, announcing that it would meet with the leaders of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea and the European Union to discuss “common security challenges and areas of cooperation”.
“We are strengthening dialogue to address cross-regional challenges and enhancing our practical cooperation, including pioneering projects in support of Ukraine, cyber defence, counter-disinformation and technology,” NATO said, stressing that it “welcomes” the continued contribution of NATO’s Asia-Pacific partners to Euro-Atlantic security.
Liaison office opened in Jordan
Describing the countries of the Middle East as “NATO’s southern neighbours”, the declaration invited the Secretary General to appoint a Special Representative for the Southern Neighbourhood to serve as NATO’s focal point in the region and to coordinate NATO’s efforts.
In this context, the Allies also announced that they had agreed to open a NATO Liaison Office in Amman with the Kingdom of Jordan.
“Building on the success of the NATO Mission in Iraq (NMI) and at the request of the Iraqi authorities, we have expanded our support to the Iraqi security institutions and will continue our engagement through the NMI,” NATO said.
Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan announced that Yerevan might decide to withdraw entirely from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) if member states fail to “demonstrate a clear political stance” regarding Azerbaijan’s actions. Kostanyan emphasized that Armenia is no longer making insinuations but is speaking very openly.
According to the Novosti-Armenia news agency, Kostanyan stated, “Ultimately, if our partners in the CSTO, including the Russian Federation, do not make the political statements that were mentioned several years ago after the aggression against the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia, then Armenia will make a final decision.”
The Deputy Minister also underscored that Armenia, as a sovereign state, will determine the right time for its next steps.
Membership was frozen
Relations between Armenia, Russia, and the CSTO deteriorated following the conflicts in Nagorno-Karabakh, after which Yerevan formally requested support from its allies.
Following this process, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan repeatedly criticized the CSTO for not assisting Yerevan.
Pashinyan described the organization as a “bubble alliance,” claiming it was “planning a war” against Armenia alongside Baku.
Last February, Prime Minister Pashinyan announced that Armenia had frozen its participation in the CSTO. By May, the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the country would refuse to finance the organization’s activities.
Intelligence report points in the same direction
In January of this year, a public report released by the Armenian Foreign Intelligence Service stated that the country has no intention of returning to full participation in the CSTO in the near future.
The report noted, “We find it highly unlikely that the reasons that led to Armenia suspending its membership will change in 2025. Based on this situation, the organization’s prestige continues to be seriously questioned and has become a ’cause for reflection’ for other member countries.”
Kirill Dmitriev, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation and CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), announced that the internal trade volume among BRICS countries has reached $1 trillion.
In a statement on his Telegram channel, Dmitriev noted that surpassing this significant milestone confirms the strengthening of economic ties between member states and the bloc’s growing role in shaping the new global economic architecture.
He also emphasized that Russia continues to strengthen trade relations, particularly through the BRICS Business Council, in line with the directives of President Vladimir Putin.
BRICS’ share will continue to grow, Putin says
During a plenary session at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 20, Russian President Vladimir Putin recalled that at the beginning of the 21st century, BRICS countries accounted for only one-fifth of the global economy, whereas today this figure has reached 40%.
The Russian leader stated that this share will continue to grow, describing it as a “medical fact.” According to Putin, this growth will primarily be driven by the countries of the Global South.
In April, Maxim Oreshkin, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Administration of Russia, also said that the BRICS countries, operating on principles of consensus, have become a key force in the world economy.
BRICS expansion agenda
Initially composed of five countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—BRICS expanded in 2024 with the inclusion of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iran, Ethiopia, and Egypt.
In January of this year, Indonesia became the bloc’s tenth full member.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will not attend the upcoming BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro next week.
According to multiple sources cited by the South China Morning Post on Tuesday, this marks the first time Xi will miss the gathering of leaders from major emerging economies.
Officials familiar with the matter stated that Beijing informed the Brazilian government of a scheduling conflict. Premier Li Qiang is expected to lead the Chinese delegation in Xi’s place, a similar arrangement to the 2023 G20 summit in India.
Chinese officials involved in the preparations suggested Xi’s absence is due to his two meetings with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva within the past year. The first occurred during the G20 summit and a state visit to Brasília last November, while the second took place at the China-CELAC forum in Beijing this May.
Xi has never before missed a BRICS summit. In 2023, he was scheduled to deliver a speech at the meeting in South Africa but, at the last minute, sent Commerce Minister Wang Wentao instead. Beijing provided no official explanation for the change.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Xi participated in BRICS meetings virtually, with Russia hosting in 2020 and China in 2021.
On Tuesday, the Brazilian Foreign Ministry told the Post it “would not comment on the internal deliberations of foreign delegations.” The Chinese embassy in Brazil did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
However, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told the Brazilian newspaper Folha de S.Paulo, “information regarding participation in the summit will be shared at the appropriate time.” Guo added that China supports Brazil’s BRICS presidency and aims to “promote deeper cooperation” among member nations. “In a volatile and turbulent world, the BRICS countries are maintaining their strategic resolve and working together for global peace, stability, and development,” he said.
In Brasília, officials have not concealed their disappointment regarding Xi’s absence. A source informed the Post that Lula had traveled to Beijing in May as a “show of goodwill” and had hoped “the Chinese president would reciprocate the gesture by attending the Rio summit.”
There was also speculation that Lula’s invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a state dinner after the BRICS summit may have influenced Beijing’s decision, as Xi might have been “perceived as a supporting actor” at the event.
Lula’s special adviser for international relations, Celso Amorim, met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing, where he clearly expressed Brazil’s desire to host Xi. “I told them, ‘BRICS without China is not BRICS,'” Amorim stated, recalling that then-President Hu Jintao attended the first BRICS summit in Brazil despite a major earthquake in China at the time. “He only stayed for one day, but he came.”
Amorim emphasized the particular importance of Xi’s attendance in the current global context, citing the “US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and the World Health Organization” as a “violation of international rules.”
Premier Li is expected to arrive in Brazil next weekend for the summit, which is scheduled for July 6 and 7 in Rio.
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