The G-7 group of leading global forces must act as an “economic NATO”, with all members ready to defend each other if their economies are targeted by an aggressive regime such as Russia or China, said Foreign Minister Liz Truss.
In a strong message of confrontation to Beijing, the foreign minister warned that China could face Russian-style sanctions against the “assertive” G7 if it threatens the security of others, adding: “They will not continue to rise if they do not play by the rules.”
And it raised the prospect of a “global NATO” capable and willing to project influence deep into China’s backyard in the Indo-Pacific and ensure that “the Pacific is protected (and) democracies like Taiwan are able to defend themselves.” .
Her comment came in a high-profile speech to the Lord Mayor of the Easter Banquet in London, in which she called for a restructuring of the global security order following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Stating that “geopolitics is returning”, Ms Trus called for an increase in military spending by Western powers.
And she said the G7 – the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan and the EU – should play a stronger role, not the UN Security Council, where Moscow has a veto.
Just a year after her government completed the process of withdrawing the UK from its partnership with close EU allies, Ms Truss said she wanted to build stronger alliances with countries with unanimity in what she called a “freedom network”. “.
“My vision is a world in which free nations are assertive and on the rise,” Ms Trus said.
“Where freedom and democracy are strengthened through a network of economic and security partnerships.
“Where the aggressors are restrained and forced to take a better path.
The economic and security structures set up after World War II have been so “distorted” that they cannot offer to block Russian aggression in Ukraine, with Vladimir Putin considering his Security Council veto a “green light for barbarism”. she said.
Hopes that opening up trade to autocracies such as Russia and China would lead to democratic change also proved unfounded.
In addition to strengthening the collective protection of NATO members and expanding the transatlantic alliance into a “global” body that can intervene in the Indo-Pacific region, the “new approach” must involve the use of economic levers in a “much more urgent way”. , she said.
“For too long, many have been naive about the geopolitical power of the economy,” Ms Trus said. “The aggressors treat it as an instrument of foreign policy – using patronage, investment and debt as a means of exercising control and coercion.
“They are ruthless in their approach. Our response will not reflect their malicious tactics, but it must more than coincide in determination. “
Access to the global economy must depend on “playing by the rules”, with sanctions against Russia showing how world powers can exclude a rule-breaking regime from the system, she said.
And she issued a stern warning that China could face a similar attitude if it uses its economic muscles to harass smaller countries.
She cited Beijing’s failure to condemn Russian war crimes and increased imports of Russian goods since the conflict, the rapid build-up of military forces, the trade embargo against Lithuania and its efforts to influence NATO membership applications.
But she said: “It is not inevitable that they will rise. They will not continue to rise if they do not play by the rules.
“China needs to trade with the G-7. We represent about half of the world economy. And we have a choice. With Russia, we have shown the choices we are ready to make when international rules are violated.
“We have shown that we are ready to give priority to security and respect for sovereignty over short-term economic gain, not least because we know that the cost of inaction is higher.
“The G-7” must act as an economic NATO, collectively defending our prosperity, “she said.
“If a partner’s economy is subject to an aggressive regime, we must act to support it. All for one and one for all. ”
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