Supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia may be top of the agenda for this week’s NATO summit in Washington, but Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance isn’t ignoring its own security needs.
Allies are providing forces to NATO’s command at a scale not seen in decades. More than 500,000 military personnel are in high readiness throughout Europe. Plans also include integrating new ballistic defense sites in Poland into NATO’s missile control system, Mr. Stoltenerg said Wednesday.
“The most important thing is that we now see that allies are stepping up when it comes to defense investments,” he said.
Only three NATO countries were spending at least 2% of their gross domestic product on the military in 2014 when the allies agreed that should be the bare minimum. This year, 23 member states will hit that mark, Mr. Stoltenberg said.
“This makes a big difference and demonstrates that allies are taking security extremely seriously,” he said. “Those allies that are not yet there plan to be at 2% soon.”
Adding Finland and Sweden to NATO may have increased Moscow’s rhetoric against the alliance, but Mr. Stoltenberg said he doesn’t see an imminent military threat. The Kremlin has transferred troops to Ukraine that had been stationed along the border with Finland, the NATO chief said.
“What we see, of course, is a constant threat of cyberattacks, sabotage (and) different types of hostile actions against NATO allies, but short of military attacks because Russia is so preoccupied with the war in Ukraine,” he said.
Mr. Stoltenberg expects NATO to agree to a “substantial package” for Ukraine that will include a new military command to provide security assistance and training. Also, Kyiv will receive immediate military support, including air defense systems. Several NATO states are signing bilateral security agreements with Ukraine.
“These elements constitute a strong bridge for Ukraine to membership in the alliance,” Mr. Stoltenberg said. “I’m confident that the allies will recommit themselves to Ukraine becoming a member of NATO.”
As he has done in the past when asked about a NATO member’s domestic political situation, Mr. Stoltenberg steered clear of comments from Donald Trump that allies were delinquent before he pressured them to pay up when he was president. The NATO head said bipartisan support for the alliance is in Congress and among the American public. Washington will remain a “strong and staunch” NATO ally regardless of the outcome of this year’s presidential election, he added.
“It is in the U.S. security interest to have a strong NATO. (It) is good for Europe, but it is also good for the United States,” he said. “It makes the United States stronger and safer because in NATO it has what no other major power has — allies.”
• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.