NATO Summit
WASHINGTON DC: At the upcoming NATO Summit in Washington, DC, allies are set to announce significant new security commitments to Ukraine.
Among these is the establishment of a new NATO military command in Germany, aimed at assisting Ukraine in developing its future military force ahead of its anticipated integration into the trans-Atlantic alliance.
This was revealed by Ambassador Michael Carpenter, Senior Advisor for Europe at the National Security Council, during a media briefing at the US State Department.
Carpenter detailed that this new command will leverage NATO’s institutional strengths to coordinate training and equipping efforts, aiding Ukraine in its military development.
Additionally, NATO allies will pledge up to €40 billion ($43.3 billion) in security assistance to Ukraine over the next year. As part of these efforts, NATO will also appoint a civilian senior representative in Kiev to act as a key point of contact for engagement with Ukrainian authorities.
The summit, hosted by President Joe Biden from July 9-11, 2024, will mark NATO’s 75th anniversary.
It will see participation from 38 delegations, including leaders from the 31 NATO member countries, as well as partners such as Ukraine, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Australia, and the European Union.
On Ukraine’s path to NATO membership, Carpenter emphasized that the summit declaration will be “clear and forceful,” recognizing Ukraine’s significant reform efforts and affirming allied support.
Despite previous predictions, he noted that Ukraine has made substantial progress, citing $61 billion in US support, a $50 billion loan agreement from the recent G-7 summit, and 20 bilateral security agreements.
Moreover, Carpenter highlighted NATO’s advancements in defense burden sharing. When the Biden administration took office, only nine allies met the 2 percent GDP defense spending target set in 2006.
Today, a record 23 allies exceed this benchmark, and cumulative defense spending for European allies has surpassed the 2 percent mark for the first time. This increased investment enhances NATO’s defense and deterrence capabilities.
Additionally, the summit will focus on strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses to prevent attacks, such as the recent assault on a children’s hospital. This sends a strong message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that the coalition supporting Ukraine remains steadfast.
Addressing concerns about potential changes in US administration and former President Donald Trump’s stance on NATO, Carpenter assured that there is broad bipartisan support for NATO and Ukraine, which is expected to continue.
Carpenter also underscored Türkiye’s critical role within NATO, highlighting its strategic position and significant contributions, particularly regarding the Montreux Convention and limiting Russian naval activity in the Black Sea.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will attend the summit, with discussions expected to cover a range of issues, including Ukraine, regional security, and counterterrorism.
The summit aims to reaffirm NATO’s commitment to collective defense and support for Ukraine, while addressing broader security challenges facing the alliance.
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