Kalinak: Russia Becoming Dependent on China, Question Is Whether We Want It

Warsaw, 6 May (TASR) - Slovak Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD) at the Defence24 Days security conference in Poland on Wednesday pointed to the strategic rapprochement between Russia and China, adding that Moscow is gradually becoming increasingly dependent on Beijing, which is not in the West's interest, TASR learnt from its special correspondent in Warsaw on the same day. "We can see Russia and China getting closer. They are not natural friends, yet Russia is becoming completely dependent on China," said Kalinak, adding that their cooperation is deepening. "I ask whether this is what we want? Is such a two-bloc arrangement a good solution, or would it be safer to keep them somewhat further apart?" he said, stressing that NATO and Europe must think globally in their security policy and also focus on relations with countries outside the alliance. The minister also criticised the West for failing to gain the support of major countries such as India and China regarding measures against Russia. In his opinion, it is precisely the division of the international community that is one of the reasons why these measures have not produced the expected effect. "We may strive for unity within NATO and Europe, but that's not enough. We failed to convince India, we haven't focused on China or on almost half of the world," he said. Kalinak also called for strengthening Europe's defence infrastructure. According to him, strategic projects on NATO's eastern flank should be financed through joint efforts by the European Union and allies, rather than solely from the budgets of individual countries. ko/mcs