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Nato and China: A new rivalry?

There are concerns about China's cyber activities and its increasing presence in the Arctic.

This week in an interview with a British newspaper the Secretary General of Nato repeated his desire to widen its mandate to include China. His comments coincide with reports that Beijing has tested a hypersonic missile potentially capable of breaching US and European defences. There are concerns about China's cyber activities against Nato member states, as well as the country's increasing presence in the Arctic - raising fears over the security of Atlantic sea lanes. But some argue that Nato is in danger of going beyond its founding remit. That view is echoed by the likes of the French president who's warned that China has "little to do with the North Atlantic." So what should be the future shape of Nato? In the aftermath of its controversial withdrawal from Afghanistan, should the alliance focus more on events closer to home? And with the United States focusing its resources in Asia, is there a case to look beyond Nato and think about a broader European defence mechanism?

Ritula Shah is joined by a panel of experts.
Produced by: Paul Schuster and Junaid Ahmed.

Available now

49 minutes

Last on

Sat 23 Oct 2021 03:06GMT

Contributors

Julian Lindley - French - Chair, Alphen Group; Senior Fellow, Institute for Statecraft聽
Claudia Major - Director, International Security Division, German Institute for International and Security Affairs聽
Kurt Volker - Former US Ambassador to NATO from 2008 to 2009
Meia Nouwens - Senior Fellow, Chinese Defence Policy and Military Modernisation, IISS
Featuring
Jens Stoltenberg - Secretary General, Nato

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Broadcasts

  • Fri 22 Oct 2021 09:06GMT
  • Fri 22 Oct 2021 23:06GMT
  • Sat 23 Oct 2021 03:06GMT

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