NATO shelves major plans in Indo-Pacific

It is expected that this will also be NATO's first liaison office in the Asia- Pacific region. It is considered the clearest evidence of NATO's new strategic orientation to reach the Indo-Pacific region.

But NATO had to put this big plan on hold because it did not have the necessary internal consensus. Because China strongly opposes NATO's plans for the Indo-Pacific, some NATO members fear that the establishment of the liaison office will be seen by Beijing as a provocation and a direct security threat. This is similar to Russia's feeling about NATO's admission of new members in Eastern and Central Europe and Southern Europe. Some NATO members do not want this military alliance to harm their cooperative relations with China.

NATO Defense Ministers Meeting in Brussels on June 15, 2023

In addition, France's reticence is also one of the main obstacles. French President Emmanuel Macron has openly considered NATO's expansion beyond Europe to be a mistake. On the one hand, Macron does not want NATO to cause difficulties and embarrassment for Paris in dealing with Beijing. On the other hand, he wants France not to be at a disadvantage in building its position, role and influence in the Indo-Pacific. In NATO, France does not have the same position as in the EU. In NATO, Paris can only participate or follow, but in the EU, Paris can create and lead. Because of its own dual interests, France is not interested in NATO going beyond Europe and reaching the Indo-Pacific.

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Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/nato-gac-lai-du-dinh-lon-o-indo-pacific-185230618123528652.htm