‘Xi Will Call Junior Partner Putin To Keep Us Busy’: NATO Chief On How China Could Attack Taiwan

Last Updated:September 12, 2026, 9:02 PM IST

Rutte said there was growing recognition in Europe and the United States that a conflict over Taiwan could have consequences far beyond the Indo-Pacific.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte speaks at a German ambassadors’ conference in Berlin, Germany. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned that Europe and the Indo-Pacific are becoming increasingly interconnected, saying a Chinese move against Taiwan could prompt Beijing to call on Russia to keep the West occupied in Europe.

Speaking at the Conference of the Heads of German Missions in Berlin, Rutte said there was growing recognition in Europe and the United States that a conflict over Taiwan could have consequences far beyond the Indo-Pacific.

“Both in Europe, and there’s also the realization increasingly both in Europe and in the United States that if China would move against Taiwan or anything in the First Island Chain, that Xi Jinping will first call his junior partner in all of this, which is one Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin in Moscow, to keep us busy here,” Rutte said.

He said such a scenario could leave the West facing a “serious problem in both theaters”, Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

“In other words, the Indo-Pacific and Europe are more and more interconnected,” Rutte said.

The NATO chief said the alliance should not be “naive” over the menace from Russia in the face of calls to reach an accommodation with President Vladimir Putin.

“This is long-term. It is a threat,” he said.

Rutte, who served as prime minister of the Netherlands for over a decade, said that politics was a “combat sport” and advised governments in general to stick to reforms they see as necessary to boost the economy.

“Staying the course is always the best,” he said.

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How could China use Russia in a potential conflict over Taiwan?

According to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, if China moves against Taiwan or the First Island Chain, President Xi Jinping could call on Russian President Vladimir Putin to keep the West occupied in Europe. This coordinated effort would leave the West facing serious security challenges in both the European and Indo-Pacific theaters simultaneously.

Why does NATO view the Indo-Pacific and European security theaters as interconnected?

NATO leadership warns that the two regions are increasingly linked because a conflict in the Indo-Pacific, such as a Chinese move against Taiwan, could trigger a coordinated Russian response in Europe. This strategic alliance between China and Russia means a crisis in one theater would directly impact the security and military focus of the West in the other.

What is NATO’s stance on reaching a political accommodation with Russia?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned that the alliance must not be “naive” about the threat posed by Russia, emphasizing that the menace from Moscow is a long-term threat. He cautioned against calls to reach an accommodation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, advising instead that staying the course is the best approach.

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Shankhyaneel Sarkar

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a chief sub editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has …Read More

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