Do we need a common enemy to strengthen an alliance?

Nato chief urges nations to stand up to ‘bullying’ as China power rises

Excerpt:

Nato’s chief has warned that China is “multiplying the threats to open societies and individual freedoms”, as he urged like-minded countries to join the military alliance to stand up against “bullying and coercion”.

Jens Stoltenberg, secretary-general of the transatlantic security alliance, said on Monday that the Covid-19 pandemic had “magnified existing tensions and trends when it comes to our security”. China’s emergence as the world’s second-largest military spender demands a “more global approach” from the 30-country Nato group, he added.

There is actual more to what Stoltenberg said. The full article can be found at:

Remarks by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on launching #NATO2030 - Strengthening the Alliance in an increasingly competitive world

While I agree that the rise of China is a fact that cannot be ignored, I think leaders need to be more cautious in the words they use, and they need to back their words with facts. Words like "bullying" and "coercion" and even "multiplying the threats" need to be backed with facts, otherwise, they are just fear-mongering.

Yes, China is spending a lot on its military. But so does the United States, and the United States spends more. China's use of economic pressure for political gain is not unheard of. But the United States has often used the U.S. dollar as a tool to force countries to comply too. If Chinese pressure is bullying and coercion, what is U.S. pressure? A guiding light? That smacks of racism, that only Western societies (and by implication, predominantly white societies) are entitled to tell others what to do, while others are expected to follow and not try to do their own things.

It really makes me sad. NATO is a long-standing institution that can be a stabilizing force. But it can only be one if it is led by leaders who are able to discern between facts and biased perceptions. The United States under Trump is probably a greater threat to global stability than China, with its unannounced missile attacks on other countries and unilaterally pulling out of international deals.

Strengthening an alliance is not about finding a common enemy. It is about working on a common issue. When our leaders start to see this, then NATO and other international organizations will truly be strengthened.