‘We must be doing something right’
Nato has marked its 75th anniversary with a meeting of the alliance’s foreign ministers in Brussels, as celebrations risk being overshadowed by the war in Ukraine and a blockade of aid to Kyiv by Donald Trump’s Republicans.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation yesterday commemorated the signing of the Washington Treaty in April 1949, which marked its creation, with a wreath-laying ceremony for fallen Nato soldiers, a chocolate cake and speeches.
Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato secretary-general, used the occasion to emphasise the transatlantic bond between America and European allies as well the importance of continuing support for Ukraine at a time when a critical US$60 billion (NZ$99.8b) in American aid is blocked in Washington.
He reflected on the history of the alliance, which recently welcomed Finland and Sweden as members. “In the beginning, we had 12 members. Today we are 32. So we must be doing something right.”
The original copy of the Washington Treaty, signed by Clement Attlee for Britain, has been brought to Europe for the first time, to be displayed at the Nato headquarters in Brussels to mark the anniversary. It is famous for its brevity, containing just 14 articles.
Stoltenberg, who has headed the alliance since October 2014, recalled his days as a soldier in the Norwegian military to hail the treaty that binds America to Europe. “In 1979, I served in the Norwegian army. If there was a war, we would be on the frontline. But I was not afraid. Because I knew we were not alone. We had the might of the Nato alliance behind us,” he said, recalling that the alliance’s famous Article Five – which states that “an attack on one ally is an attack on all” – has only ever been triggered by the United States, after the 9/11 attacks in 2001.
At an American party to celebrate the alliance this week, ministers and diplomats were served food from a 1957 cookbook of national recipes from Nato’s 12 founding countries. Dishes included beef Wellington with glazed carrots from Britain and oysters with spinach and champagne sauce from France, as well as Dutch herring and Portuguese spicy sardines. Brussels also marked the anniversary by dressing the city’s famous Manneken Pis statue, of a urinating boy, in the alliance’s colours.
In his speech, Stoltenberg lauded the courage of Ukraine’s people and armed forces in standing up to the invading forces of Russia. “This matters for Ukraine, but it matters also for the whole of Nato, for our security. What you do is important for all of us,” he said, standing with Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba. “Support to Ukraine is not charity. Support to Ukraine is an investment in our own security.”
Russia has responded by accusing Nato of getting “involved in the conflict”, as well as expanding its military infrastructure “towards our borders”. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said: “In fact, relations have now slipped to the level of direct confrontation.”
Nato intelligence briefings warned foreign ministers that Ukraine was unstable because of the lack of US aid and the weapons package currently blocked by Republicans in Congress. Ukrainian forces were having to ration ammunition, as well as calling off vital missions against invading Russian forces.
Directly addressing former US president Donald Trump, who is contesting the presidential election in November and has been sceptical towards the alliance, Stoltenberg insisted that Nato made America stronger. “I do not believe in America alone. Just as I don’t believe in Europe alone. We are stronger and safer together.”
Nato foreign ministers were divided over proposals for a US$100b fund, tabled by Stoltenberg, to “Trump-proof” support for Ukraine as a “shield against the winds of political change”.
Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton, the United Kingdom foreign secretary, who was representing Britain at the talks, urged Nato to make good on pledges for all allies to meet defence spending targets.
“The most important thing we can do to make sure that this alliance continues to grow, and continues to strengthen, is to ensure that we all spend over 2% of our GDP on defence. It’s the best way to prepare for the American elections in the autumn, whatever the outcome may be.”
In a warning to Washington as well as underspending European allies, Cameron said the “war will be lost if the allies don’t step up”.
During a speech to the Royal United Services Institute in Brussels, he compared equivocation over Ukraine to appeasement of Hitler in 1938.
“What we face today is as simple as then. We have a tyrant in Europe who is trying to redraw borders by force,” he said, adding that Nato faced a “very bleak future” if there is a Putin victory.
Cameron has come under pressure from the Baltic states who criticised him ruling out sending Nato troops to Ukraine.
Estonia and Lithuania have backed sending their military following French President Emmanuel Macron’s comments that Nato “should not exclude” deployment. – The Times