NATO examines implications of Russian-PRC cooperation for alliance

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is considering and studying the possible consequences of cooperation between Russia and China for its member countries.

Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Planning and Policy of NATO's Joint Forces Transformation Command, Major General Devin Pepper of the US Space Force revealed the development, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

He said the command is preparing a study aimed at examining the close relationship between Moscow and Beijing, the prospects for its development, and the implications of that cooperation for NATO. That analysis is scheduled to be released in 2025.

“In recent months, this cooperation [between Russia and China] has strengthened to the point where some say they are actually in the alliance. There are those who say it is not an alliance as NATO defines it, <...> but nevertheless, they are supporting each other, and we see that relationship developing,” Pepper noted.

The U.S. general also claimed that Russia and China are allegedly trying to carry out hacking attacks on the alliance's weapons systems, which is why NATO leaders have recommended that member states strengthen cyber security measures. 

Meanwhile, China and Russia launched joined patrol in the North Pacific Ocean.

Between September 20 and October 10, the first coordinated patrolling mission involving coast guard vessels from both nations took place in the northern part of the Pacific Ocean. According to the PRC, this joint operation featured the Russian ships “Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky” and “Anadyr,” alongside two patrol vessels from the Chinese Coast Guard.

By Tamilla Hasanova