Stoltenberg: China, Iran and Russia have created an “alliance of authoritarian powers”

The NATO chief has warned that an "alliance of authoritarian powers" is working increasingly closely against Western democracies.

Jens Stoltenberg, in an interview with the BBC, said that Russia, Iran, China and North Korea are increasingly joining forces, providing each other with practical support, and this alliance is becoming “more and more united.”

The NATO chief explained: “China supports the Russian military economy by supplying key products for the defense industry, and in return Moscow pledges its future to Beijing.”

Russia supplies technology to Iran and North Korea in exchange for ammunition and military equipment, he added.

Stoltenberg also noted that NATO had to work with countries outside its own geographic area, such as Japan and South Korea, to "counter this increasingly powerful alliance of authoritarian powers."

He also expressed confidence that NATO allies will make a decision on a long-term agreement on financing Ukraine by July, when the North Atlantic Alliance summit takes place in Washington.

In recent days, the NATO chief has been trying to persuade other countries to provide more money to militarily support Ukraine as it confronts the Russian invasion, in hopes of creating a five-year fund of 100 billion euros. He said he was confident an agreement would be reached by July, despite some countries expressing doubts about it.

According to him, long-term support for Ukraine is vital both now and for the country’s recovery after the conflict.

“Even if we believe and hope that the war will end in the near future, we need to support Ukraine for many years to come, strengthening its defenses to deter future aggression,” he said.

Stoltenberg said military support was vital to expel Russian troops from Ukraine and force Vladimir Putin to abandon his occupation goals.