NATO chief Mark Rutte has warned the United States that China is building its military at rapid speed – nearly 200 times faster than America.
The secretary general said China has specifically been building ships equipped with sophisticated weapons faster than the US and its western allies, making him ‘really worried.’
Rutte’s concerns come after China’s President Xi Jinping hosted a massive military parade attended by autocrats including Russia‘s President Vladimir Putin and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.
Trump responded by accusing the Chinese, Russian and North Korean leaders of using the gathering to conspire against America, and the showcase of military might is widely being seen as a challenge to the US-led world order.
During a NATO defense summit in Prague today, Rutte warned that the US needs to be more prepared militarily.
‘When it comes to shipbuilding, and our navy – and particularly the US Navy – I’m really worried,’ Rutte said. ‘China now has more ships sailing than the US, and shipbuilding in the US is not at a rate that they can anywhere catch up on what China is doing at the moment.’
Nick Childs, a senior fellow for naval forces and maritime security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), which is hosting the conference, echoed Rutte’s concerns.
‘The Chinese shipbuilding capacity is something like 200 times overall that of the United States,’ Childs recently told the BBC, adding that American shipbuilding has been affected by surging costs and delays.
NATO chief Mark Rutte (pictured Thursday) has warned America that China is building its military 200 times faster than the U.S
The secretary general said China has specifically been building ships equipped with sophisticated weapons faster than the U.S. and its western allies
Although the shipbuilding market is expanding in Europe, Rutte said ‘we need much more if we collectively want to fill that gap.’
The US Navy is a powerful Western maritime leader, but it’s presently spread thin and has had to shell out a lot of money to keep its fleet up and running, well staffed, and stocked with weapons.
In December, the Pentagon revealed that the Chinese navy was the largest in the world, with ‘a battle force of over 370 ships and submarines, including more than 140 major surface combatants.’
A majority of Beijing’s navy consists of modern ships that have the ability to carry out submarines and various missions, according to the Pentagon’s assessment.
China is also set to have a third aircraft carrier up and running with its navy this year, Newsweek reported.
US Vice Admiral Robert Murrett previously told the outlet that American shipyards have struggled to keep up with projects.
Murrett said shipyards in the states do not have the space to complete projects and often find themselves working with ‘aging infrastructure.’
Murrett, who’s also known as a congressional watchdog, said there are not enough people available to meet the Navy’s demands.
With the increase in China’s military, the US has decided to turn its attention to the Indo-Pacific.
His concerns come after China’s President Xi Jinping hosted a massive military parade that was attended by key world leaders. During it, several military grade weapons and vehicles were displayed (pictured)
‘The US is prioritizing deterring war with China in the Pacific,’ Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told European allies earlier this year.
‘Together, we can establish a division of labor that maximizes our comparative advantages in Europe and Pacific respectively.’
Earlier this week, China hosted a parade that was, on the surface, to celebrate the 80th anniversary of World War II.
But the 90-minute showcase quickly turned into the country debuting new and high-powered weapons.
Countless soldiers, sailors and airmen marched in near-perfect unison alongside intercontinental ballistic missiles, tanks and stealth planes that were wheeled out to show off to the world.
President Xi’s opening address saw him proclaim that China is ‘firmly stand[ing] on the right side of history and the progress of human civilization.’
He described his ‘strong and self-reliant’ country as a ‘great nation that fears no violence’, and boldly said the ‘rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable.’
During the parade, Putin and Kim flanked the Chinese premier as they climbed to the viewing platform overlooking Tiananmen Square and watched the display of military hardware and marching troops.
It was the first time the three of them, all major rivals of the West, have ever gathered in the same place at the same time.
It was also the first time that Kim, who had arrived in Beijing on Tuesday via train, had attended a major multilateral event.
The summit in Beijing marked the first time Putin, Xing and Un, all major rivals of the West, have ever gathered in the same place at the same time
Observers said the rare joint appearance was a show of unity against the US.
Just yesterday, Rutte demanded an answer from the ‘coalition of the willing’ – a group of nations who have pledged support to Ukraine – on what security guarantees will be provided for Kyiv if a ceasefire is reached with Russia.
It comes as leaders from Europe, Turkey, Australia and Canada arrive in Paris to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on what concrete measures they are prepared to offer.
But the 30 countries are still divided on what they are willing to contribute, including troops on the ground, and whether such guarantees would be based on mutual defense agreements that would commit Europe to fighting with Ukraine should future conflict arise.
European countries committed to supporting Ukraine are stuck between a rock and a hard place.
The war is raging unabated, with no ceasefire in sight – and the crucial question of American involvement in ensuring Ukraine’s future security remains unresolved.
