At the Shangri-La Dialogue, a major international security conference in Singapore, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, urged global vigilance over what she described as an alarming convergence between authoritarian powers. She pointed to reports that North Korean troops are now operating alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, while China continues to supply dual-use goods that bolster Moscow's war effort.
“When China and Russia speak of leading together — of changes not seen in a hundred years and revisions of the global security order — we should all be extremely worried,” Kallas said.
Kallas emphasized the growing interdependence between European and Asian security, calling for strong international defence of the rule-based order established after World War II. “This is the umbrella that protects all of us, especially smaller states,” she said, warning that violations of international law risk setting dangerous precedents worldwide.
In a detailed speech, Kallas laid out a broader indictment of countries undermining the post-WWII international order. She pointed to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine as a “blatant breach” of the UN Charter, noting that the use of force is only permitted under two legal conditions: self-defense or UN Security Council authorization.
“North Korea is directly contributing to this illegal aggression with soldiers, weapons, and ammunition,” she said. “And while China claims neutrality, its actions tell another story.”
Kallas also linked Russia’s aggression to growing threats in the Indo-Pacific, warning that failure to stop Moscow would embolden others to seize territory by force. “If we don’t defend the law, we validate aggression,” she said.
Beyond the battlefield, Kallas highlighted shared concerns over maritime security, cyberattacks, and critical infrastructure vulnerabilities. She cited a 2023 incident where a Chinese-flagged vessel damaged pipelines and undersea cables in the Baltic Sea — calling the act “reckless at best, sabotage at worst.”
She called for stronger cooperation to protect global infrastructure and maritime law, particularly in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. Kallas also condemned state-sponsored cyber campaigns, including a recent attack by Chinese actors on Czechia, labeling such actions “unacceptable.”
Kallas concluded by reaffirming Europe’s evolving role as a global security actor, citing new defence agreements with Japan and South Korea and ambitions to deepen ties with India and Australia.
“In the face of rising threats, the EU is shifting gears,” she said. “We are becoming not just a peace project, but a credible security partner.”
She closed with an appeal for multilateralism: “If you reject unilateralism, bullying, and aggression — and instead choose cooperation, shared prosperity, and common security — the EU will stand with you.”