BRUSSELS (AP) — President Joe Biden it’s him NATO counterparts are gathering in Washington this week to mark the 75th anniversary of the world’s largest security organization, at a time when Russia is putting pressure on its advantage on the battlefield in Ukraine.
The three-day summit, which begins Tuesday, will focus on ways to reassure Ukraine about the lasting support It is offer some hope to its war-weary citizens that their country could survive the biggest land conflict in Europe in decades.
Much of what NATO can do for Ukraine, and indeed for global security, is poorly understood. The alliance is often seen as the sum of all US relations with its European partners, from imposing sanctions and other costs on Russia to sending weapons and ammunition.
But as an organization, its mission is limited to the military defense of its 32 member countries – the sacred, Three Musketeers-like vow of all for one, one for all – and a commitment to help maintain the peace in Europe and North America. .
It also means not being drawn into a wider war with nuclear-armed Russia. Here’s a look at NATO and how it’s helping Ukraine:
What is NATO?
Founded in 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was formed by 12 nations to combat the threat to European security posed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Dealing with Moscow is in his DNA.
NATO’s ranks have swelled since the Washington Treaty was signed 75 years ago – to 32 countries later Sweden joined this year, worried about an increasingly aggressive Russia.
NATO’s guarantee of collective security — Article 5 of the treaty – supports its credibility. It is a political commitment of all member countries to help any member whose sovereignty or territory may be under attack. Ukraine would meet these criteria, but it is only a partner, not a member.
NATO’s doors are open to any European country that wants to join and can fulfill the requirements and obligations. It is important to highlight that NATO makes its decisions by consensus, meaning each member has the right to veto.
Who is in charge?
The United States is the most powerful member. It spends much more on defense than any other ally and far surpasses its partners in terms of military strength. Therefore, Washington drives the agenda.
NATO’s day-to-day work is led by its secretary general — former Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, until it is replaced on October 1 by outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
NATO’s top civilian official chairs almost weekly meetings of ambassadors to the North Atlantic Council at its headquarters in Brussels. He presides over other “NACs” at ministerial level and summits of heads of state and government. Stoltenberg heads NATO HQ. He does not give orders to his allies. His job is to encourage consensus and speak on behalf of all 32 members.
NATO’s military headquarters is based near Mons, Belgium. It is always headed by a senior US official. The current Supreme Allied Commander of Europe is Army General Christopher Cavoli.
What is NATO doing to help Ukraine?
Although most allies believe that Russia could pose an existential threat to Europe, NATO itself is not arming Ukraine. As an organization, NATO does not possess weapons of any kind. Collectively, the alliance provides only non-lethal support – fuel, combat rations, medical supplies and bulletproof vests, as well as equipment to combat drones or mines.
But members send weapons alone or in groups.
NATO is helping Ukraine’s armed forces move from Soviet-era military doctrine to modern thinking. It is also helping to strengthen Ukraine’s defense and security institutions.
In Washington, NATO leaders will support a new plan coordinate the delivery of equipment to Ukraine and the training of its armed forces. The leaders will renew their pledge that Ukraine will one day join the alliance, but not while it is at war.
Why is NATO stationing more troops on its European borders?
Although some allies left open the possibility of sending military personnel to UkraineNATO itself has no plans to do this.
But a key part of the allies’ commitment to defend each other is to dissuade Russian President Vladimir Putin, or any other adversary, from launching an attack in the first place. Finland and Sweden recently joined NATO due to concerns about this.
With the war in its third year, NATO now has 500,000 troops on high readiness to combat any attack, whether on land, at sea, by air or in cyberspace.
The alliance has doubled the number of combat groups along its eastern flank, which borders Russia and Ukraine. The Allies almost continuously conduct military exercises. One of them this year, Steady Defenderit involved around 90,000 troops operating across Europe.
Isn’t the US doing the heavy lifting?
Due to high US defense spending over many years, the US military benefits not only from greater numbers of troops and superior weapons, but also from significant transportation and logistics.
Other allies are starting to spend more. After years of cuts, NATO members committed to increasing their national defense budgets in 2014, when Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula.
The objective was for each ally to spend 2% of gross domestic product on defense within a decade. A year ago, with no end to the war in sight, they agreed to make 2% a minimum spending limit rather than an upper limit.
A recording 23 countries should be close to the expenditure target this year, compared to just three a decade ago.
