Senior European Union officials have described the growing strategic alignment between China and Russia as the foremost global threat, calling for closer cooperation between Europe and Asia to defend the rules-based international order.
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas warned that the nexus between Moscow and Beijing poses a direct challenge to international stability and security. Her remarks came amid a broader diplomatic outreach by European leaders across Southeast Asia.
“This is the greatest challenge of our time,” Kallas stated during her keynote address. She cited deepening military and technological ties between China and Russia, and highlighted concerns over their shared ambition to reshape the global security architecture.
“When China and Russia speak of leading together changes not seen in a hundred years and of revisions to the global security order, we should all be extremely worried,” said Kallas.
Kallas alleged that China has been actively supporting Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine by enabling access to dual-use goods. According to her, an estimated 80% of such equipment – which can serve both civilian and military purposes – originates from China. This includes components used in drones, electronics, and other critical technologies employed by Russian forces.
The EU diplomat underscored previous warnings issued by senior US officials, including Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, regarding China’s broader ambitions in Asia. She drew a parallel between regional threats, arguing that European and Asian concerns must be viewed through a unified lens.
“China says it is neutral, but its dual-use exports are fuelling Russia’s war. When China and Russia speak of jointly leading changes not seen in a hundred years, and of revising the global security order, we should all be extremely worried,” Kallas said, stressing the necessity for a consolidated trans-regional response.
Western officials have long accused Beijing of providing Russia with key technologies while circumventing formal arms transfers. Both states have also been linked to cyberattacks, sabotage operations, and hostile activities targeting undersea infrastructure such as telecommunications cables.
In response, Kallas urged renewed cooperation between European and Asian nations, particularly on maritime security. She highlighted the need for stricter enforcement mechanisms to counteract the use of so-called “shadow fleets” – tankers used to covertly ship Russian oil in violation of sanctions.
She called for a comprehensive review of existing maritime laws, arguing that current regulations have proven inadequate in addressing the evolving tactics used by state and non-state actors in sea-borne logistics and hybrid warfare.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who also participated in the forum, echoed Kallas’s concerns. In his remarks, Macron issued a pointed warning to China regarding its posture on the Ukraine war and its indirect support for Russian military operations.
Macron suggested that NATO could expand its presence in the Asia-Pacific region if China fails to curb the role of third-party actors, particularly North Korea, in supporting Russia. While not announcing any specific deployments, the French president implied that the Euro-Atlantic alliance would not remain passive in the face of continued instability driven by authoritarian coordination.
“If China doesn’t want NATO being involved in Southeast Asia or Asia, they should prevent, clearly, DPRK to be engaged on the European soil.,” Macron stated.
Macron’s remarks signal a growing willingness among some European leaders to challenge China more openly on security matters, despite long-standing hesitations within the EU over how far to align with US policy in Asia.
The Singapore summit has taken on added importance in 2025 as conflicts in Eastern Europe and escalating tensions in East Asia converge. Western governments are increasingly concerned about a strategic realignment that sees authoritarian powers pooling resources and influence in ways that undermine traditional institutions.
While the EU has no formal security commitments in Asia, recent developments suggest a shift toward deeper coordination with regional partners, including Japan, South Korea, and ASEAN member states. Kallas’s speech called for a more unified approach, emphasising shared interests in open trade routes, cyber defence, and the enforcement of international law.
The Shangri-La Dialogue, organised annually by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), serves as a high-level platform for discussions between defence ministers, senior officials, and military commanders from across the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
This year’s proceedings have been dominated by the overlapping security consequences of the Ukraine war, growing Sino-Russian cooperation, and questions about the durability of the post-Second World War order. European leaders now appear more prepared to treat these issues as interconnected rather than isolated regional developments.
Kallas and Macron’s remarks suggest that a strategic recalibration is underway, with Europe seeking not only to shore up transatlantic ties but also to deepen its engagement with Asian democracies in the face of what is increasingly seen as a coordinated challenge from Beijing and Moscow.
While the EU’s role remains largely diplomatic, leaders are signalling that a passive stance is no longer tenable in the face of shifting global alignments.
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