Abstract
Coordination between authoritarian states is increasing. So what does a revived and reformed Western alliance look like?
In April 2024, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned that an "alliance of authoritarian powers" is working against Western democracies. Stoltenberg singled out China, Russia, Iran and North Korea as the countries forming this anti-Western alliance, noting that "China is propping up the Russian war economy, delivering key parts to the defence industry, and in return, Moscow is mortgaging its future to Beijing".
Marking the Alliance’s 75th anniversary, the NATO chief was issuing a stark notice to Western leaders about hostile regimes working in combination in a more violent and unpredictable world. Calls to increase NATO contributions rumble on, yet a more existential hurdle to overcome will be how the Alliance and its partners can respond to the new challenges through building on one of their key advantages: cohesion in deterrence.
This paper takes stock of the implications of emerging geopolitical blocs and considers how Washington is reacting to the growing threat from authoritarian regimes, particularly through minilateral vehicles and integrated deterrence.
In April 2024, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned that an "alliance of authoritarian powers" is working against Western democracies. Stoltenberg singled out China, Russia, Iran and North Korea as the countries forming this anti-Western alliance, noting that "China is propping up the Russian war economy, delivering key parts to the defence industry, and in return, Moscow is mortgaging its future to Beijing".
Marking the Alliance’s 75th anniversary, the NATO chief was issuing a stark notice to Western leaders about hostile regimes working in combination in a more violent and unpredictable world. Calls to increase NATO contributions rumble on, yet a more existential hurdle to overcome will be how the Alliance and its partners can respond to the new challenges through building on one of their key advantages: cohesion in deterrence.
This paper takes stock of the implications of emerging geopolitical blocs and considers how Washington is reacting to the growing threat from authoritarian regimes, particularly through minilateral vehicles and integrated deterrence.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Specialist publication | London Defence Conference |
| Publication status | Published - 16 May 2024 |
