Ali Mammadov
In 2022, NATO declared China a strategic priority for the next decade for the first time in its history, citing growing security challenges. Until then, the alliance had focused primarily on the Soviet Union and later Russia as its main threat. Adding China to the list signaled a shift in NATO’s strategic direction. While the U.S. and its European allies appeared to agree on this move, whether that consensus will hold in the coming years remains to be seen.
For Europeans, Russia has long been a greater threat than China. Russia is geographically closer, has history of military aggression in Europe, and, most recently, invaded Ukraine demonstrating its willingness to expand influence through force. For the United States, however, China has been the more pressing long-term concern, given its growing power in the international system. As a country that experienced the unipolar moment and viewed itself as the leader of the liberal order, the U.S. sees China’s rise primarily as a great power rivalry rather than just a security threat.
European states, by contrast, have not viewed themselves in such terms for a long time. Having experienced multilateralism firsthand through the European Union, they have been more open to a world order in which multiple powers share leadership and address global challenges collectively. While Europe has had its own disputes with China—including over electric vehicles—it has generally taken a softer stance than the U.S. on broader issues concerning Beijing. Given that the EV issue is already getting resolved, it is likely that the relations may become even less tense.
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