NATO member country leaders departed for their capitals on Friday following a three-day high-level meeting, during which they marked the alliance’s 75th anniversary and made long-term commitments to military support for Ukraine, promising it a future in NATO. Western leaders also declared that China, Iran, and North Korea are aiding Russia in its war in Ukraine.
In the final statement of the meeting, the allies said that Russia’s attack on Ukraine more than two years ago also “shook peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area and severely damaged global security.”
Declaring that Russia “remains the most significant and direct threat to the security of the allies,” NATO countries took steps to ensure that Ukraine will prevail against the invading forces.
The alliance agreed to pledge long-term security assistance to Ukraine and established a new military command to be known as NSATU (NATO Security Assistance and Training Ukraine), to coordinate the provision of military equipment and training programs for Ukraine.
During a press conference on Thursday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance will coordinate contributions for training, equipment, and support for Ukraine’s war through a command in Wiesbaden, Germany, and logistics centers in the eastern part of the alliance.
Mr. Stoltenberg said NATO countries agreed on a base contribution of around $43 billion per year for Ukraine. He also made other announcements during the high-level meeting about immediate military aid for Ukraine, including vital air defense weapons.
In an interview with the Korean language service of Voice of America, former NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller said the steadfast support for Ukraine sends a strong message to all those concerned about Russia‘s aggression.
She said this shows that NATO is committed “to ensuring this does not become an example for autocrats in other parts of the world.”
Mr. Stoltenberg noted the participation in the talks of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol as a demonstration of how interconnected European security is with that of the Indo-Pacific region.
“We all know that Russia’s unlawful war in Ukraine is supported by China, Iran, and not least by North Korea,” said Mr. Stoltenberg.
In the final statement, NATO countries noted that North Korea and Iran are fueling Russia’s war with direct military support in the form of ammunition and drones.
The allies also called China a “decisive enabler of Russia’s war against Ukraine” through large-scale support for Russia’s defense industry. Although it does not send direct military aid to Russia, China helps Russia by sending dual-use materials, such as parts of weapon systems, equipment, and basic materials that serve to fuel Russia’s defense sector.
Through their final statement, NATO countries called on Beijing to end its support for Russia, stating that China “cannot enable the largest war in recent European history without negatively impacting its own interests and reputation.”
Source: VOA / Botasot
