In a statement issued on Sunday, Keating said: “President Macron of France is right to warn NATO away from any expansion into Asia, reminding all and sundry of NATO’s Atlantic design and focus.”
Claiming that “the Europeans have been fighting each other for the best part of 300 years”, Keating said: “Exporting that malicious poison to Asia would be akin to Asia welcoming the plague upon itself.”
Macron alarmed some American and European officials earlier this year by saying, following a trip to Beijing, that Europe should not be drawn into a crisis over Taiwan driven by an “American rhythm and a Chinese overreaction”.
“With all of Asia’s recent development amid its long and latent poverty, that promise would be compromised by having anything to do with the militarism of Europe – and militarism egged on by the United States.”
Keating added: “Of all the people on the international stage the supreme fool is Jens Stoltenberg, the current Secretary-General of NATO … Stoltenberg conducts himself as an American agent more than he performs as a leader and spokesperson for European security.”
Läs artikeln: Paul Keating brands NATO boss Jens Stoltenberg a ‘supreme fool’ for deepening Asia ties (smh.com.au)