EU chief Von der Leyen says Russia ‘most direct threat to world order’

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said, speaking in Tokyo on Thursday, that Russia is the “most direct threat” to the international order.

Russia “is today the most direct threat to the world order with the barbaric war against Ukraine, and its worrying pact with China“, After meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and European Council President Charles Michel, she stated the following.

Top EU officials are meeting in Tokyo for an annual round of discussions at a time when much of the international community is uniting to put pressure on Russia over the Ukraine conflict, with concerns about China’s role mounting.

“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is not just a matter for Europe, but it shakes the core of the international order, including Asia. This must not be tolerated, ” Kishida’s government has joined strong sanctions against Moscow, notably in the energy sector.

Beijing’s increasingly assertive posture in Asia was also discussed, with the EU hoping to play a more prominent role in opposing Beijing.

“Our cooperation in Ukraine is critical in Europe, but it’s also important in the Indo-Pacific, and we also want to deepen our consultation on a more assertive China,”  Michel added.

“We believe that China must stand up to defend the multilateral system that it has benefited from in developing its country.”

According to Von der Leyen, the EU and Japan are increasing cooperation, including the formation of a digital partnership, a first for Europe, that will focus on competitiveness and security in the field.

She also stated that the two parties would work together to “diversify and strengthen our supply chains.”

“We must be able to count on trustworthy supply chains.”

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