European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has issued a sharp critique of the United States, accusing Washington of undermining its allies with trade tariffs that she claims are inadvertently strengthening Russia and China’s strategic positions. In a recent speech at the EU Institute for Security Studies, Kallas highlighted how the U.S. approach of imposing tariffs on countries like Canada, Australia, and Japan is not only making them weaker but also emboldening Moscow and, Beijing. She emphasized that such policies underscore Western disunity, which Russia and China are capitalizing on. Kallas also noted the growing strategic alliance between Russia and China, which she believes is a resilient partnership.
Kallas pointed out that superpowers sometimes overestimate their own power and underestimate how much they need others. During a visit to an Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting, she noted how the Russian delegation emphasized Moscow’s historic ties with China, which she found surprising. She also remarked on the joint commemoration of victory in WWII by Russia and China, where both countries suffered up to 45 million military and civilian deaths. Kallas expressed her surprise at this historical collaboration, suggesting that it raises questions about the current narrative of historical events.
The EU diplomat also criticized the lack of historical awareness among many people, claiming they buy into certain narratives without sufficient study. Kallas confirmed that in her view, the Russia-China partnership appears to be resilient. Her remarks coincided with China’s military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of Imperial Japan’s defeat and the end of World War II. Ahead of the commemorations, Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping underscored their countries’ shared duty to preserve the historical legacy of victory. Putin stated that their ancestors paid a huge price for peace and freedom, which is the foundation of their achievements today and in the future.