President Joe Biden announced that the United States will host a NATO summit in 2024 to commemorate the anniversary of the alliance's formation.
“Next year, I will host every member of NATO for our 2024 summit in the United States. Together, we’ll celebrate the 75th anniversary of the strongest defensive alliance in the history of the world," Biden said in a speech from the Polish capital.
'KYIV STANDS TALL': BIDEN VOWS TO REMAIN STEADFAST AGAINST PUTIN IN UKRAINE
Biden made his remarks from Warsaw, Poland, Tuesday during a speech to honor the one-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine, which followed a surprise visit to Kyiv over the weekend, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
During his speech, Biden heartily rebuked Russian President Vladimir Putin for unleashing his forces upon neighboring Ukraine and touted the NATO alliance.
“And let there be no doubt. The commitment of the United States to our NATO alliance and Article Five is rock solid,” Biden said, drawing applause from the audience. “And every member of NATO knows it, and Russia knows it as well. An attack against one is an attack against all. It’s a sacred oath.”
The NATO summit in 2024 will likely coincide with the presidential election cycle. Biden, who has maintained he intends on running but has not declared, could face a rematch with former President Donald Trump, who has publicly scorned the NATO alliance.
NATO was formed in the aftermath of World War II on about April 4, 1949, and is a bloc of about 30 members. Putin has seethed at the alliance's encircling of Russia and has cited the prospect of Ukraine joining the alliance as part of his justification for invading Ukraine.
During the war in Ukraine last year, a missile that struck Polish territory sparked concerns Article Five of the alliance could be triggered, meaning an attack on one member would be viewed as an attack on all. Ultimately, it emerged that the missile was not fired by Russia.
Some viewed the attack on Ukraine as Putin exploiting perceived fractures within the alliance. Biden lauded NATO's strength and heaped praise on moves from Sweden and Finland to join the alliance, though the pair has run into roadblocks from Turkey.
“He thought he’d get the ‘Finlandization’ of NATO,” Biden added. “Instead, he got the ‘NATOization’ of Finland. And Sweden.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Later this week, Biden is slated to meet with leaders from the Bucharest Nine, which comprises NATO countries in eastern parts of Europe.
The war in Ukraine began on Feb. 24, 2022. The U.S. has approved upwards of $100 billion in aid, including military and humanitarian measures since the outbreak of the war.