Britain sees a direct threat in the alliance between Russia and China

British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps. Stock photo: Getty Images

UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said the growing alliance between Russia and China poses a threat to Western countries and called on European countries to increase military aid to Ukraine.

Discussing the impact of the growing alliance between Russia and China in an interview with Sky News on Sunday, Shapps said it was a "direct threat to our way of life".

“If we value our freedom and our democracy, we should be concerned about them coming together,” he said.

The comments come after Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin's recent trip to China, where he and Chinese leader Xi Jinping vowed to strengthen cooperation against US "containment" of their countries and warned of rising nuclear tensions with the West.

Discussing Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, the UK Defense Secretary said other European countries should provide more help.

“We are fighting an existential battle over how we govern the world order. We must confront this,” concluded Shapps.