Cables From The Diplomatic Frontlines - NATO's Vilnius Summit Part II: allied convergence on China.

NATO allies align with Washington’s preferred narrative on China.

• Although most of the post-Vilnius media narrative was dominated by; 1) successful admission of Sweden, 2) Removal of Membership Action Plan (MAP) for Ukraine, and 3) Announcement of formal talks on bilateral commitments to Ukraine by the members of G7, there was yet another major diplomatic win for Washington: NATO member states (mostly comprised of the EU states) aligning with America’s preferred rhetoric vis-à-vis Beijing.

• In their formal Communiqué, this was the jointly agreed statement of all NATO members on China:

  “The People’s Republic of China’s stated ambitions and coercive policies challenge our interests, security and values. The PRC employs a broad range of political, economic, and military tools to increase its global footprint and project power, while remaining opaque about its strategy, intentions and military build-up.  The PRC’s malicious hybrid and cyber operations and its confrontational rhetoric and disinformation target Allies and harm Alliance security.  The PRC seeks to control key technological and industrial sectors, critical infrastructure, and strategic materials and supply chains.  It uses its economic leverage to create strategic dependencies and enhance its influence.  It strives to subvert the rules-based international order, including in the space, cyber and maritime domains.”

• This is an exceptionally robust statement from an alliance with 31 (soon 32) member states.

• Consider that the alliance contains countries like Hungary - and yet, even Viktor Orban did not resist the language accusing China of “malice”.

• This is a clear win for the US, and we need to unpack this statement to see the full implications (and corresponding opportunities for Washington) arising from this joint statement.