Defense - Scholz relies on Biden - Nato summit begins
The NATO summit will be a test for Joe Biden. The fitness of the US President's re-election bid is being questioned within his own political camp. However, Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (SPD) expressed support and trust towards the 81-year-old Democrat before his departure. Scholz dismissed concerns of overburdening the host, stating, "No, I don't have that worry."
Biden intended to officially open the summit for NATO's 75th anniversary with the departing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. This would be Biden's first major appearance at the three-day event.
Scholz expressed confidence in Biden's preparation for the summit, stating, "Many of the decisions that will be made and prepared there have been developed in close cooperation between Germany and the US." Therefore, the summit is expected to be a successful one.
NATO celebrates its 75th anniversary at the three-day meeting, with the alliance facing serious challenges. Above all, it needs guarantees for continuous military support for Ukraine, even if Donald Trump, the Republican opponent of Biden, wins the presidential election in November.
Biden's fitness dominates headlines in the US
Biden is campaigning for his presidency. Weighed down by a contentious TV debate against Trump, Biden went on the offensive before the summit and adopted confrontational tones against party colleagues. Biden sent a clear letter to the Democrats in Congress and made an unusual call during a live broadcast on US morning television.
NATO aims to boost defense industry
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced a new agreement to strengthen the defense industry on Tuesday before the official start of the summit. The goal is to invest more, expand production, and improve transatlantic cooperation, he explained to representatives of defense companies in Washington.
The war in Ukraine has shown that weapons and ammunition stocks are too small and production capacities are insufficient, said Stoltenberg. There are also significant gaps in interoperability, or the ability of armed forces to work together multinationally.
Scholz: Support Ukraine as long as necessary
Scholz assured Ukraine of long-term support against the Russian aggression war. "And it's good that we have reaffirmed this in the last few days with a clear message: We will support Ukraine as long as it is necessary," Scholz said and referred to weapons deliveries and the joint initiative of the major industrial nations.
The G7 countries agreed at their summit in Italy to finance a credit package of approximately 50 billion US dollars (about 47 billion Euros) using frozen Russian state assets.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Washington with high expectations. He hopes for a clearer accession perspective for his country and stronger military support in the war against Russia. In particular, Kiev expects new commitments regarding air defense systems.
Ukraine has been receiving support from the West in defending against Russian invasion for over two years.
Scholz expresses frustration over defense spending
The Scholz government had already set a budget for 2025 before the summit. The post for the Bundeswehr is growing by around 1.2 billion Euro instead of the 6.7 billion Euro defense minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) had announced. Pistorius called this figure frustrating on his way to Washington.
Scholz once again made it clear that he sees a sufficient financing basis in the coalition's budget compromise. At the same time, he looked beyond the coalition's tenure and confirmed the commitment to long-term higher defense spending.
"The Bundeswehr can assume that Germany will always meet its NATO quota of two percent in the coming years and therefore can place effective orders for the security of the country in the 20s and the beginning of the 30s," said Scholz. The defense budget is expected to reach 80 billion Euro according to Scholz's plans by 2028, when the special fund for the Bundeswehr is exhausted.
Newcomers and critics at the summit
Headlines were made before the summit by NATO member Hungary. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban visited Putin in Moscow - and was sharply criticized by the EU for it. In a letter to his colleagues, he now provides insight into Putin's perspective on the war against Ukraine.
Sweden is participating in a NATO summit for the first time since joining. In the wake of Russia's attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Sweden and Finland gave up their neutrality.
For NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg, this will be the last regular summit before his departure. He will hand over his position to the former Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte on October 1.
- The NATO summit, a test for Biden's re-election bid, will be held with the attendance of Olaf Scholz (SPD).
- Biden's preparation for the summit has been commended by Scholz, who cited close cooperation between Germany and the US.
- The 75th anniversary of NATO is being celebrated at the summit, with challenges such as military support for Ukraine on the agenda.
- If Donald Trump wins the presidential election in November, ensuring continuous military support for Ukraine will be a key challenge for NATO.
- Biden's fitness has been a subject of headlines in the USA, causing tension within his own political camp.
- Before the summit, Biden sent a letter to the Democrats in Congress and made an unusual call during a live broadcast on US morning television.
- NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced plans to boost defense industry cooperation at the summit, aiming to invest more and improve transatlantic cooperation.
- Stoltenberg highlighted insufficient weapons and ammunition stocks, as well as gaps in interoperability, as major challenges for the defense industry.
- Scholz assured Ukraine of long-term support, emphasizing that Germany will continue to deliver weapons and participate in joint initiatives.
- Newcomer Sweden, after giving up its neutrality following Russia's attack on Ukraine, will participate in its first NATO summit in over two decades.
