On September 10, 2026, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (referred to as "Stoltenberg" in the text) said in a public speech in Berlin, Germany that if China takes military action against Taiwan or other areas of the first island chain, Xi Jinping will first call Russian President Putin, using Russia's power in Europe to constrain NATO. Stoltenberg emphasized that Indo‑Pacific and European security are increasingly interlinked, the United States feels its military resources are being stretched, and Europe must take on more conventional defence responsibilities. The remarks aim to warn the West of the risk of simultaneous pressure on the Indo‑Pacific and European fronts.