Amid an increasing Russian threat regarding the war in Ukraine, NATO celebrates its 75th anniversary of collective defense across Europe and North America today. Senior diplomats of the alliance vowed to maintain their course in Ukraine despite the growing effectiveness of Russian armed forces on the battlefield.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced during the 75th anniversary celebration that the United States and Europe are "stronger" together within NATO. Speaking against a backdrop of growing concerns in Europe about American commitment to the alliance, Stoltenberg stated, "I believe in America and Europe together in NATO, because we are stronger and safer together."
NATO commemorates its foundation at a time when the Western alliance faces an urgent need to do more to succeed in the war in Ukraine. While NATO members have supported Kyiv's aspiration to join by providing weapons worth tens of billions of dollars since Russia invaded two years ago, these supplies have now diminished amidst political debates unfolding in the United States, NATO's leading power.
NATO, founded by the United States and 11 other countries at the beginning of the Cold War to deter the expansion of the communist Soviet Union, has recently expanded to include Sweden and Finland, bringing its total membership to 32 countries. The widespread Russian invasion of Ukraine has revitalized the alliance, as NATO allies in Eastern Europe fear a "new Russian aggression."
The Western military alliance has played a key role in rallying support for Ukraine against the Russian invasion, but looming in the background is the potential return of former U.S. President Donald Trump to the White House following the presidential elections in November. The former president raised concerns among U.S. allies by criticizing support for Kyiv and igniting political turmoil when he declared he would “encourage” Russia to attack alliance countries that do not spend enough on defense.
While defense spending among NATO allies has increased during the war in Ukraine, with 18 allies including Germany set to invest 2% of GDP in defense by 2024, the United States still constitutes the majority of the alliance's defense spending.
