Support for Ukraine - Nato command building for Ukraine aid begins
The setup of the new NATO-Ukraine Command in Wiesbaden is beginning. The start date for the deployment to coordinate weapon deliveries and training activities for the Ukrainian forces was supposedly today, according to alliance representatives on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington. However, the commander for Europe is expected to still need several months to set up the command so that it can take on all planned tasks. In the meantime, US forces will continue to assume coordination responsibilities. For military aid to Ukraine, NATO countries plan to mobilize at least 40 billion euros within the next year.
Preparations for possible Trump return
The heads of state and government of the NATO countries had decided on the start of the deployment at their annual summit in Washington on Wednesday. It should also serve as a precaution for the possibility of a return of Donald Trump to the US Presidency as of January 2025. Trump's statements in the past had raised doubts about whether the US would continue to support Ukraine in the defensive war against Russia as before. In the alliance, it is feared that a political course change in Washington could also affect the coordination of weapon deliveries and training activities for the Ukrainian forces.
Security Assistance Group-Ukraine operates from Wiesbaden
This task has been led by the United States so far. They had built up a roughly 300-soldier strong unit named Security Assistance Group-Ukraine (SAG-U) at the end of 2022 in the Europe headquarters of the US Armed Forces in Wiesbaden. For NATO, there should even be around 700 employees in action, with Germany providing around 40, including a two-star general as deputy commander. In addition to the NATO headquarters in Wiesbaden, there should also be outposts in Poland, Romania, and Slovakia, as well as a team in Mons in Belgium. The commander of the NATO forces in Europe, Christopher G. Cavoli, has his seat there.
More efficiency and speed
The new NATO-Ukraine Command in Wiesbaden is estimated to have mainly logistical reasons, according to political scientist David Sirakov. "The reason for the choice can be attributed to increased efficiency and speed of aid measures," he told the German Press Agency. Wiesbaden is home to a strategically significant location with the headquarters of the US Army in Europe (USAREUR-AF).
Military aid will be strengthened
"It's extremely important that the command is being handed over from the US to NATO. The support for Ukraine will then be distributed more broadly and significantly more institutionalized," said the director of the Atlantic Academy Rhineland-Palatinate. The uncertainty about the outcome of the US presidential election in November was certainly one of the driving factors. "Additionally, Germany is geographically advantageous, politically stable, and has a well-developed infrastructure."
Conflict analyst evaluates new structures as sensible
Expert: No additional risks for Wiesbaden
The expert actually sees no risks. "Certainly some will argue that Wiesbaden now becomes an interesting target for Russian military forces if there is a armed conflict between Russia and NATO," said Kuhn. "However, Wiesbaden is already one of the most important US military bases in Germany and Europe. The fact that Ukraine support and training is now coordinated from there changes little."
NATO representatives emphasized on Thursday in Washington that the new NATO command with the name NSATU (NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine) would not replace the Ukraine Contact Group (UDCG). In the usual format led by US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin, representatives of countries supporting Ukraine militarily discuss. It is also known as the Ramstein Group.
Ramstein meetings still possible
"Ramstein Air Base is and remains one of the most significant bases of the US Air Force and a central hub for military operations in Europe and Africa," said Sirakov, a political scientist. "The meetings could also still take place there because the airfield in the Palatinate has the necessary capabilities to handle increased air traffic. Among other things, larger aircraft can land in Ramstein without problems. Transfers to Wiesbaden, for example, would then not be necessary."
- The new NATO-Ukraine Command, named NSATU (NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine), is being established in Wiesbaden, Germany.
- The NATO countries have decided to mobilize at least 40 billion euros in military aid for Ukraine within the next year.
- The United States has previously led the task of coordinating weapon deliveries and training activities for Ukrainian forces from its base in Wiesbaden.
- Germany provides around 40 employees, including a two-star general as deputy commander, for the NATO-Ukraine Command in Wiesbaden.
- The deployment of the NATO-Ukraine Command was initially scheduled to begin today, but the commander for Europe is expected to need several more months for setup.
- In the meantime, US forces will continue to assume coordination responsibilities until the NATO-Ukraine Command in Wiesbaden can take on all planned tasks.
- The new NATO-Ukraine Command in Wiesbaden is expected to increase the efficiency and speed of aid measures due to its strategic location.
- Expertanalysts see no additional risks for Wiesbaden despite the coordination of Ukraine support and training from the city.
- The Ramstein Group, a meeting of countries supporting Ukraine militarily, will continue to take place at Ramstein Air Base due to its capabilities to handle increased air traffic.
- Donald Trump's past statements raised doubts about US support for Ukraine in the defensive war against Russia, but the European countries are taking precautions for a possible return of Trump to the US Presidency.
