German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer has predicted that Russia and China will try to “profit politically” from the COVID-19 pandemic. She is quoted by Deutsche Welle.
“We know that in Russia, including in the power structures, it is being discussed that because of the coronavirus, many states in the West will be busy with the consequences of the current crisis and the economic damage caused, and this will give more space for Russian influence in the international arena “, the politician thinks.
According to her, the situation with China is twofold: on the one hand, it is an important economic partner of Western countries, on the other, it is a country that is trying to increase its influence by methods “not based on observance of the rules.
According to Kramp-Karrenbauer, “it would be naive” to believe that Moscow and Beijing will not take advantage of the pandemic situation to their advantage. The Defense Minister added that now the NATO and EU countries will have to “find an answer to this strategic challenge.”
On February 17, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called for an update of the alliance’s strategy to contain Moscow and Beijing. He recalled that the 2010 concept referred to partnership with Russia, but today the alliance “sees aggressive actions towards its neighbors and the situation has changed a lot.” Stoltenberg called for expanding dialogue with “like-minded states with us around the world in order to confront those who do not share our values - countries such as Russia and China.”