Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, a Chinese newspaper warned on Sunday that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) could expand the conflict and quickly escalate into a "global war," newsweek.com reports.
High tensions between Russia and NATO appear to have escalated greatly in recent weeks after the military alliance announced last month its largest military exercise in 35 years. Called "Steadfast Defender 2024", the operation began in late January and will run until May. It will eventually involve the participation of some 90,000 military personnel from 31 NATO allies and Sweden.
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Στα ναυπηγεία του Κόρου στην Σαλαμίνα γεννιέται η Φρεγάτα ΦΟΡΜΙΩΝ για το ελληνικό Πολεμικό Ναυτικό (Φωτογραφίες)
NATO officials said the exercise would test the allies' ability to rapidly deploy forces and test new defense designs. Military analysts speculate that the Steadfast Defender exercise is intended to prepare alliance members for the possibility of a future Russian incursion into NATO territory.
The military alliance's announcement of the operation did not mention Russia by name, although based on documents from the military alliance obtained by Reuters, Russia is seen as the biggest threat to the security of its member states. 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 bolster Europe's defenses."
In a Sunday opinion piece titled, "NATO Pushes Russia-Ukraine Conflict Toward a 'Global War,'" published by the Global Times.
"This is a clear preparation of public opinion to escalate the Russia-Ukraine conflict into a global war," the Global Times op-ed said.
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 adjustment, the biggest change for our Alliance, since the end of of the Cold War with more forces on higher alert. For the first time in our history, we have combat-ready troops in the eastern part of the Alliance. And the Allies are now investing more in defense."
However, the Global Times opinion piece warned of the implications of NATO as it could lead to "divisions and confrontations" on a global scale.
“This strategic adjustment of NATO can strengthen its internal cohesion in the short term and continue to maintain its position as the world's most powerful military power held by the US and the West. However, in the long run, it may lead to more divisions and confrontations at the global level, deeply affecting international relations and the security environment around China,” the opinion piece said.
"The risk of war will inevitably increase as NATO moves forward and expands globally, and those affected will not be limited to Asia," the Global Times added.
The warning comes after Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's former president and staunch ally of current Russian President Vladimir Putin, warned in a social media post on Friday of the possibility of a "big war" with NATO.
In a post Friday on VKontakte, a Russian social media network, Medvedev, who serves as the vice chairman of Russia's Security Council, accused "Western politicians who have *** their pants and their mediocre NATO generals decided on once again to frighten us."
He also argued that Russia would never launch a first strike against a NATO member state, but claimed it would respond to any potential attack on its own "integrity" or increase NATO's link with Ukraine, warning of a "big war' that would follow. .
Romania on Thursday joined the growing list of NATO countries that have warned a senior official about the possibility of going to war with Russia.
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Αντίδραση της Αθήνας στα σενάρια για S-300-Τα ελληνικά οπλικά συστήματα δεν θα δώσουν το φιλί της ζωής στους παραπαίοντες Ουκρανούς
General Gheorghiță Vlad, Romania's defense chief, said during an interview with Europa Liberă România—a news service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty—that his country is currently unprepared for the prospect of war with Russia and he warned that he should take such a threat seriously.
Vlad's warning follows statements made last week by General Patrick Saunders, the head of the UK army, where he called on British authorities to prepare for mass mobilization due to the possibility that Russia's current conflict in Ukraine could spread to other countries.
