Confrontation - Russia and China counter Nato: 'War rhetoric'
Russian-Chinese shoulder-to-shoulder against NATO's weapons deployment plans in Germany: Russia announced a military response to the planned stationing of longer-range US weapons, announced on the sidelines of the NATO summit. China condemned the allegation of the Alliance that Russian President Vladimir Putin was supporting an attack on Ukraine. The declaration of the NATO anniversary summit in Washington towards China was full of war rhetoric, slander, and provocations.
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) justified the planned stationing of US missiles with a range of up to 2500 kilometers due to the threat from Russia. "We know that there has been an incredible buildup in Russia, with weapons that threaten European territory", Scholz said on the sidelines of the summit. The stationing of long-range weapons was already provided for in the first National Security Strategy of the Federal Republic, which was published last year. "Therefore, the decision of the United States fits exactly into this strategy, which we have been publicly discussing for a long time."
The US plans to station weapons systems in Germany for the first time since the Cold War that can reach Russia. The White House and the German government agreed on this on Wednesday. Moscow is about 1600 kilometers airline distance from Berlin. From 2026 on, Tomahawk missiles, SM-6 missile defense systems, and new supersonic weapons will ensure better protection for NATO allies in Europe.
At the conclusion of the three-day meeting in Washington, the 32 heads of state and government of the alliance pledged military and political support to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which should one day lead to NATO membership. Representatives from Indo-Pacific countries also participated in the consultations.
Orban and Trump meeting in Florida?
Plans of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to visit Donald Trump in Florida after the summit caused delays in the alliance. There was no official confirmation of these media reports, including from the "New York Times" and the "Guardian," which reportedly cited a source close to Orban that the meeting would take place at Trump's residence, Mar-a-Lago. Trump intends to move back into the White House after the US election in November. The Republican campaign against US President Joe Biden is in the heated phase.
Federal Chancellor Scholz (SPD) commented on the travel plans of other leaders' travel plans when asked about it at the NATO summit. Orban acted as head of government and not in the context of the Hungarian EU presidency.
Orban had already caused headlines in the days leading up to the summit. In the context of a "Peace Mission," the head of the NATO country visited China, Russia, and Ukraine.
US election campaign at the summit: How will Biden fare in the end?
Joe Biden was under constant observation at the NATO summit after raising doubts about his mental and physical fitness during a TV duel against Trump at the end of June. The first two days went relatively smoothly for Biden as the host. Biden usually doesn't give the biggest cuts himself when reading from a teleprompter. However, the real test for the 81-year-old comes at the end of the NATO summit: He is scheduled to give a press conference late on Thursday.
Moscow: NATO Plans "Link in the Escalation Chain"
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Russia will militarily respond to the planned stationing of longer-range US weapons in Germany. The Russian security would be affected by such weapons, Vice Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told the state news agency Tass. This is "a link in the escalation chain" of NATO and the USA against Russia. "We will, without nerves or emotions, prepare a mainly military response to that."
Russia Revising Nuclear Doctrine
The Kremlin considers the NATO decisions regarding Ukraine a threat to its own security and has threatened countermeasures. The decision to admit Ukraine into the alliance earlier or later demonstrates the main goal of the alliance, which is to contain Russia, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov and mentioned the Russian nuclear doctrine once again. He confirmed that changes were being made. The previous guiding principle states that Russia can only use nuclear weapons in response to a nuclear attack or an existential threat to the country in the event of a conventional attack.
China Calls NATO Criticism Unjustified
China sharply criticizes the declaration of the NATO summit. It exaggerates the tense situation in the Asia-Pacific region and is full of war rhetoric, defamation, and provocations against China, said Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lin Jian in Beijing. The responsibility of China in the Ukraine conflict, which NATO propagates, is unjustified, Lin stated. NATO spreads false information created by the US, and undermines cooperation between China and Europe.
NATO Command in Wiesbaden
NATO will coordinate weapons deliveries and training activities for the Ukrainian armed forces from Wiesbaden starting on Friday. The new NATO command is expected to take over previously assumed tasks by the US. For the new NATO command, a total of approximately 700 employees are planned to be in service, Germany will provide up to 40 employees, including a two-star general as deputy commander.
A Lot of Money to Ukraine for Weapons - Irreversible Path to Membership
In the summit declaration, Ukraine is assured that it will receive military aid worth at least 40 billion Euros within the next year. This is roughly the amount that was mobilized in the previous year. This promise does not correspond to the long-term commitment, which the outgoing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg originally demanded. In the dispute over NATO membership perspective, there is a compromise. NATO also assures Ukraine that it will not be stopped on its way into the defense alliance. Security sectors.
NATO website for the summit
- At the NATO summit in Washington, Olaf Scholz defended the planned deployment of US missiles in Germany, citing the threat from Russia.
- The NATO leaders pledged support to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, potentially leading to NATO membership for Ukraine in the future.
- Russian Vice Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov warned that Moscow would respond militarily to the planned stationing of US weapons in Germany.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov accused NATO of threatening Russia's security by deciding to admit Ukraine into the alliance.
- In response to NATO criticism, China's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lin Jian denounced the declaration as full of war rhetoric and defamation against China.
- Starting from Friday, NATO will coordinate weapons deliveries and training activities for the Ukrainian armed forces from its command in Wiesbaden.
- The US and Germany agreed on the stationing of weapons systems that can reach Russia, including Tomahawk missiles and SM-6 missile defense systems.
- At the NATO summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin's alleged support for an attack on Ukraine was condemned by the Alliance, with China also expressing its disapproval.
- Viktor Orban, the Prime Minister of Hungary, reportedly planned to visit Donald Trump in Florida after the NATO summit, causing delays in the alliance.
- Joe Biden faced scrutiny at the NATO summit due to concerns about his mental and physical fitness during a televised debate against Trump.
- The United States' election campaign was woven into the NATO summit, with Biden under constant observation as the host.
- The new NATO command, established in Wiesbaden, is expected to take over previously assumed tasks by the US, with Germany providing up to 40 employees for the new command.
