NATO shows Moscow its muscles
Show no weakness, especially not towards Russia's President Putin, after that everything at the NATO Summit sounds good so far. In the final document, Ukraine is promised membership in the Defense Pact. The elephant in the Congress Center is Donald Trump.
Outside, the sun beats down on the armored vehicles of the National Guard, securing the NATO Summit in the heart of the US capital. In the event center, the transatlantic defense alliance shows its muscles towards Moscow. The heads of state and government of US President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have not arrived yet, and things are already heating up at the events. In the first hours, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the outgoing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, and not least the commander of the US forces in Europe, General Christopher Cavoli, share their views on the security situation in Europe.
The war in Ukraine casts a long shadow over the summit. Due to Russian military aggression, the self-understanding and working methods of NATO have fundamentally changed. General Cavoli provides a practical insight into how much. For a defensive scenario, that is, an attack on one of the member states, there are now detailed deployment plans for various regions, according to Cavoli. These would be coordinated with the different armies of the members. There is also sufficient ammunition. However, adjustments are still needed in the supply lines. This is a "gigantic shift" from the small combat units of the past.
Earlier, NATO asked its members which forces they would make available in case of emergency. Now, the alliance asks, what they cannot send. Several states have made their entire military available. Starting in 2025, NATO should be able to react within "30 to 100 days" and mobilize 500,000 soldiers in Europe in a defensive scenario. In addition, there are further military assets. "I am confident that every inch of the alliance can be defended," says Cavoli. Facing such developments as in Bucha, where Russian troops massacred civilians in a Ukrainian village at the beginning of the large-scale invasion, he feels a "moral obligation" to do so.
Ukraine's admission "irreversible"
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had previously confirmed the new air defense systems for Ukraine once more and received applause for the announcement that the transfer of F-16s from Denmark and the Netherlands "is in progress" and that "these fighter jets will still fly over Ukraine's skies this summer." Kiev must win, Blinken says, and winning means a strong, independent Ukraine.
A global realignment is taking place, according to the minister: China is conducting maneuvers with Belarus, North Korean trainers are active in Russia, and there is Iranian involvement. There are new realities, new aggressions. "If China continues to fuel Russia's arms industry, that is unacceptable for Europe," Blinken assures. "70 percent of Russia's tool machines and 90 percent of its microelectronics come from China." Blinken believes that consequences such as sanctions are necessary.
"In a significant speech, Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin sets clear boundaries. The Defense Secretary draws parallels to the NATO founding 75 years ago, and says: Since Russia annexed Crimea and Eastern Ukraine in 2014, NATO members have increased their defense spending by 72 percent. He labels the aggression as "imperialistic" and makes it clear: "We will not let ourselves be drawn into Putin's war, but every NATO member's border is our border." An attack on an ally is an attack on all. "Any attempt to undermine NATO undermines the security of America."
This can be understood as a reference to Donald Trump, a skeptic of the alliance. The designated Republican presidential candidate is already the elephant in the room. What happens if he wins the election in November? NATO is preparing for this scenario: The new US-independent command center in Wiesbaden, a new training center in Poland, a special envoy in Kiev, a multitude of bilateral agreements between member countries with Ukraine, and perhaps the strongest commitment, which cannot be signed without a signature: The path of the country into the defense alliance is "irreversible," it will be called so in the final document.
"This is the time when we are being put to the test," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warns afterwards. The alliance has identified a pattern with Russia, "they have taken piece by piece of Ukraine." In order for there to be a ceasefire, one must be 100 percent certain that it will stop. This summit is about minimizing "risks of future delays and gaps" in support for Ukraine. There are no guarantees, he says, it depends on individual countries; another reference to a possible Trump victory.
For months, US aid for Ukraine has been stalled in Congress, and European allies could not deliver the promised ammunition. This has caused a "very difficult situation" in the first half of the year, says Stoltenberg, in which Ukraine held the front more or less. Support is now greater and "in the past few weeks," European allies have again delivered more ammunition.
Stoltenberg finds clear words regarding China. Practically everything Russia uses against Ukraine comes from there. "They cannot expect a normal relationship with NATO members in North America and Europe, but they can continue to fan the war, which is the greatest threat to European security since World War II." He remains vague about consequences: "We will see how far we are willing to go."
- At the NATO Summit, President Joe Biden and other leaders reaffirm Ukraine's commitment to join NATO's Defense Pact, despite the opposition of former President Donald Trump.
- Russia's aggressive actions in Ukraine have prompted NATO to increase its spending by 72%, reaching NATO's two percent target, as mentioned by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
- The 2024 US presidential election and potential return of Donald Trump as president could impact NATO's stance on Ukraine, with the alliance preparing for various scenarios, as alluded to by Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
- In light of the Ukraine conflict, NATO is coordinating detailed deployment plans for potential attacks, involving the US, with sufficient ammunition and adjustments in supply lines, as stated by General Christopher Cavoli.
- NATO members are actively providing support to Ukraine, despite challenges in delivering aid due to political reasons, such as stalls in US Congress, as acknowledged by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
