NATO members unite against Russia, in support of Ukraine

2024-07-11 08:35:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

NATO members unite against Russia, in support of Ukraine

Photo taken by AP

The United States will begin deploying long-range missiles to Germany in 2026, the two countries announced during a meeting of the NATO alliance. This is considered a major step aimed at combating what allies see as the growing threat Russia poses to Europe.

According to the decision, Washington will send to Germany the most powerful American weapons to be deployed on the European continent since the Cold War, and this decision is being seen as a clear warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The joint statement issued by the US and Germany said the "episodic deployments" were preparations for the long-term stationing in Europe of military capabilities that include the SM+6, Tomahawk missiles and the deployment of long-range hypersonic weapons.

A deployment of such weapons would be prohibited by the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which the US and the Soviet Union signed in 1987. But that treaty was revoked in 2019.

"We cannot rule out the possibility of an attack against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of allies," the NATO allies said in a statement released on Wednesday, July 10.

Also, NATO warned that more aid will be sent to Ukraine, which is facing Russian occupation from 2022.

NATO's statement said the allies intend to provide Ukraine with at least 40 billion euros in military aid next year.

This document also uses harsher language towards China, accusing Beijing of "enabling" Russia's war efforts against Ukraine. The statement said that China continues to present systemic challenges to Euro-Atlantic security.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters that for the first time the 32 allies have jointly identified China as a crucial state in enabling Russia's war. He said this is an important message.

Stoltenberg said that the alliance is not an organization that imposes sanctions, but added that "at the end of the day, this will be a decision for each ally, but I think the message we sent from this NATO summit is very clear." .

NATO called on China not to send it material and not to offer political support to Russia's war.

US President Joe Biden welcomed NATO partners and allies to a dinner at the White House on Wednesday to celebrate what he called "the greatest alliance the world has ever had."

He said he is pleased that all NATO members are pledging to expand their industrial bases to develop weapons production plans within their countries.

"We cannot allow the alliance to fall behind. We can and will defend every centimeter of NATO territory and we will do this together."

Concerns about President Biden's age and ability to lead the country have grown since his chances of victory in November's presidential election were hurt by his appearance in the first presidential debate against Donald Trump last month.

As the three-day NATO summit is being held in Washington, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump told Fox News Radio that he would not withdraw the country from NATO, but reiterated his position that he wants the countries of the alliance pay more.

"I just want them to pay the bills. We are protecting Europe and they are using us very badly," he said.

During the summit in Washington, several top European officials met with Trump's top foreign policy adviser during the summit, as uncertainty over the future of US leadership has raised concerns among allies.

Trump had in the past pushed Republicans in the US Congress to delay approval of a major aid package for Ukraine, but he later changed his stance.

As for Ukraine's future in the alliance, the NATO statement said that the alliance will continue to support Ukraine "on its irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership"./REL