NATO leaders met this week to celebrate the alliance’s 75th anniversary amid deep political uncertainty in its most powerful member, the United States. Despite concerns about President Joe Biden’s future and the potential return of NATO skeptic Donald Trump to the White House, the 32 allies emphasized their strength and unity, particularly in relation to Ukraine.
During the three-day summit in Washington, discussions focused on Ukraine, Russia, the threat of an increasingly aggressive China, and NATO’s future, though much attention was on Biden. He aimed to use the summit to demonstrate his leadership as he faces challenges in his reelection campaign following a poor debate performance against Trump last month.
Key Takeaways from the Summit:
Biden Receives Support: Biden surprised attendees at the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting by mistakenly referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Russian President Vladimir Putin before quickly correcting himself. At a later press conference, he mistakenly called Vice President Kamala Harris “Vice President Trump.”
NATO leaders showed deference to Biden by sidestepping questions about his demeanor and praised his leadership and NATO’s achievements under his tenure, such as rallying allies against Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and adding Finland and Sweden as members. French President Emmanuel Macron and new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer both avoided directly addressing the gaffes, instead focusing on Biden’s depth of knowledge and leadership.
Trump’s Shadow: A potential Trump presidency raised concerns in some European capitals due to his questioning of NATO’s relevance and threats to withdraw from the alliance. Biden emphasized his qualifications to ensure the alliance’s strength and prevent Ukraine from falling to Putin. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg expressed confidence in the U.S. commitment to NATO, citing bipartisan support in Congress and increased military spending by allies. Trump, in a Fox News Radio interview, denied wanting the U.S. to exit NATO but emphasized the need for allies to meet their financial commitments.
Support for Ukraine: The allies reaffirmed Ukraine’s “irreversible path” to NATO membership and pledged around $43 billion in annual support for Kyiv. New pledges included air defense support, such as Patriot missile systems and F-16 fighter jets. NATO agreed to a new program providing reliable military aid and training to Ukraine to help it prepare for membership. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged faster aid delivery and the lifting of restrictions on using U.S. weapons to attack military targets inside Russia.
Also Read: Ukraine’s NATO future secured, but war’s end a prerequisite
Harsh Words for China: NATO leaders adopted stronger language against China for its support of Russia in the Ukraine war. The communique labeled China a “decisive enabler” of Russia’s war effort, highlighting Chinese investments and exports helping Russia overcome Western sanctions. China has opposed NATO’s Indo-Pacific reach, claiming it disrupts regional stability. The four Indo-Pacific countries attending the summit—Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and Australia—condemned illicit military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, emphasizing closer ties to counter shared security threats.
“We must work even more closely together to preserve peace and protect the rules-based international order,” Stoltenberg said during a meeting with officials from the four Pacific partners. “Our security is not regional. It is global.”
