“There is a real risk for a new war in Europe”. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, on a visit to Romania, turns the spotlight on the real danger of a “large-scale invasion” of Ukraine but also of other operations for which Russia has been preparing in recent months. NATO is keeping tabs on the Russian deployment in Belarus, he adds.
Meanwhile, as President Joe Biden invites American citizens to leave Ukraine, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is sounding the alarm: Russia can invade Ukraine “at any time, even during the current Winter Olympic Games”. in Beijing, he says. For American citizens, he reiterates, the invitation is to leave Ukraine “now” due to the risk of a military escalation. At the end of a meeting in Melbourne with counterparts from Australia, India and Japan (the Quad), Blinken remarks that the United States has always been “very clear” with Russia. And, always considering dialogue as “the responsible way of doing things”, they also evaluate other measures. “If Russia chooses the path of a new aggression, it would face enormous consequences,” adds Blinken from Melbourne, stating that he shares this vision with NATO, EU and G7 countries.
“A country cannot forcibly change the borders of another” nor “dictate” which policies it should adopt or “with whom it can ally”, the secretary of state continues, speaking of “very basic” principles. “If we allow the violation of these principles with impunity – he continues – there will also be an impact here. Others look, observe how we respond” to the Ukrainian crisis. And Blinken, who indicates any country in particular while hinting at a reference to China and its territorial claims, shares with his counterparts the need to guarantee security in the Indo-Pacific as well.
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