War in Ukraine, possible return of Trump trouble NATO as it turns 75
NATO was confronted by one of the most serious challenges since its inception when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 but the possible return of Trump, who challenged the group’s defence guarantee, to power is unnerving the military bloc
enaced by an aggressive Russia and the spectre of Donald Trump’s return to power, Jens Stoltenberg, chief of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) urged the United States to stick together with Europe as the Western military alliance turned 75 on Thursday.
The Kremlin’s fullscale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 reinvigorated NATO as it was confronted by one of the most serious challenges since it emerged from the ashes of the Second World War to counter the Soviet Union.
The alliance has bolstered its forces across eastern Europe and grown to 32 members after Finland and Sweden joined its ranks.
But while the war has refocused NATO’s attention on its old nemesis Moscow to the east, there is another threat unnerving allies — from leading power U.S. in the west.
That’s the possible return to the White House of Mr. Trump, who challenged NATO’s collective defence guarantee by saying he’d encourage Russia to attack any members not spending enough on defence.
“I do not believe in America alone, just as I don’t believe in Europe
Malone,” Mr. Stoltenberg said at a ceremony at NATO’s Brussels headquarters.
“I believe in America and Europe together in NATO, because, fundamentally, we are stronger and safer together.”
Increased spending
In a bid to stave off Mr. Trump’s criticisms, NATO has showcased increased spending by its European allies — with 20 members this year set to hit a target of two per cent of GDP for defence.
“North America also needs Europe,” Mr. Stoltenberg said, after a Belgian military band played the NATO anthem.
“Through NATO, the United States has more friends and more allies than any other major power.”
While Mr. Trump looms over the future of the alliance, NATO countries face the more pressing challenge of ensuring Ukraine does not lose its fight to push back Russia.
Alliance members have thrown their weight behind Kyiv — which is bidding to join NATO — by sending Ukraine weapons worth tens of billions of dollars.
But those supplies have now dwindled as crucial U.S. support remains blocked by political wrangling. On the frontline, Ukraine’s outgunned forces have been pushed onto the back foot.
Kyiv’s plea
In the face of surging Russian missile attacks on its infrastructure, Kyiv is pleading with its Western backers to send all the Patriot defence systems they can spare.
“I don’t want to spoil the party, but of course my main message today will be Patriots,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said before talks with his NATO counterparts.
“Saving Ukrainian lives, saving the Ukrainian economy, saving Ukrainian cities depends on the availability of Patriots and other air defence systems in Ukraine.”
Any prospect of a potential defeat for Ukraine has sent shivers through NATO allies close to Russia who fear they could be next in the Kremlin’s sights.
“Unfortunately, it could be that NATO’s biggest battles and fights are still in the future,” said Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis.
“If those battles come and we are not prepared, that will be the biggest mistake that we can ever have.”
In a bid to ensure longterm support for Kyiv in the face of a possible return by Mr. Trump, Mr. Stoltenberg has proposed NATO members set up a 100billioneuro fiveyear fund.
As part of the plan he is also pushing to get NATO as an organisation more directly involved in coordinating deliveries.
That is something the alliance has so far refused to do out of concern it could drag it closer to war with Russia.
NATO countries gave the goahead to work on the plan on Wednesday, but there still remain many questions over financing and how far the alliance is willing to go to thrash it out before a summit in Washington in July.