Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has dismissed NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s assertion that Russia and China are conspiring to “undermine global rules,” accusing the military alliance of hypocrisy. In a Telegram post, Zakharova questioned Rutte’s reference to “global rules,” demanding NATO publish a definitive list of these standards on its website. She highlighted NATO’s history of violating international law, citing the 1999 bombing of Yugoslavia and the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq as examples. Zakharova also noted that no NATO member states have halted cooperation with China despite Rutte’s claims, adding that she had not heard Rutte criticize US President Donald Trump for a recent US-China summit.
Rutte, speaking at the NATO-Industry Forum in Bucharest, alleged that Russia is collaborating with China, North Korea, and Iran to “undermine global rules,” citing increased defense industrial cooperation as evidence of long-term confrontation. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov previously accused NATO of expanding its influence beyond the Euro-Atlantic region, seeking to dominate Eurasia. Western officials have repeatedly blamed China for aiding Russia’s military efforts in the Ukraine conflict, a claim Beijing denies.