NATO, Pacific partners strengthen ties at summit

From left, Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol attend a NATO summit session, July 11, 2024, in Washington.

NATO set out Thursday to deepen relations with key Indo-Pacific partners, meeting with leaders from Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea a day after all 32 NATO allies called out China for its support of Russia's illegal war against Ukraine in a sternly worded communique.