NATO

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Here’s what to know about Sweden’s bumpy road toward NATO membership

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Sweden’s bid to join NATO — held up for almost two years — cleared its next-to-last hurdle when Turkey gave its go-ahead this week to let the Nordic country into the alliance.

https://apnews.com/article/turkey-sweden-nato-explainer-b5a94a1aa0a4088a60b920eaa09737a5?

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Trump says he once told a NATO ally to pay its share or he’d ‘encourage’ Russia to do what it wanted Donald Trump said that, as president, he warned NATO allies that he “would encourage” Russia “to do whatever the hell they want” to countries that are “delinquent” as the front-runner for the Republican nomination ramped up his attacks on foreign aid and long-standing international alliances. Read more.

Why this matters: NATO’s secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, said Trump’s words could undermine security and put American and European forces at risk. “Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the U.S., and puts American and European soldiers at increased risk,” he said in a statement Sunday.   Trump’s remarks come as Ukraine remains mired in its efforts to stave off Russia’s invasion and as Republicans in Congress have become increasingly skeptical of providing additional aid to the country as it struggles with stalled counteroffensives and weapons shortfalls.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ NATO leader says Trump puts allies at risk by saying Russia can ‘do whatever the hell they want’   American allies worry the US is growing less dependable, whether Trump or Biden wins   Senators push forward with Ukraine aid package as their leaders say the world is watching

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Trump's NATO red line

Trump's incendiary comments about NATO this weekend represent the most belligerent public posture he's taken against the Western alliance in his eight years as a politician.

Why it matters: In Europe, where the war in Ukraine is approaching its second anniversary, Trump's remarks supercharged the existing angst among NATO leaders who fear his potential return to the White House.

At home, the comments had two major — and familiar — impacts:

1. Hijacking a bad news cycle for his likely election opponent, President Biden.
2. Forcing Republican allies to insist Trump didn't mean what he said.

Catch up quick: At a rally in South Carolina on Saturday, Trump claimed he told the president of an unidentified NATO member that he would "encourage" Russia "to do whatever the hell they want" to that NATO nation if it were behind on its defense obligations.

• The fallout was sharp and swift: Biden called the comments "appalling and dangerous," while NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned that Trump's threats put U.S. and European soldiers "at increased risk."
• Article V of the NATO treaty — described as the "cornerstone" of the post-World War II alliance formed to protect Europe from the former Soviet Union — requires members to treat an attack on one ally as an attack on all of them. It has been invoked just once, after 9/11.
• Trump has long railed against NATO countries that do not spend 2% of their GDP on their military, though he frequently mischaracterizes the suggested target as part of a central fund that members pay into.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemns Trump's remarks. Screenshot via X

Zoom in: More telling than Trump's inflammatory rhetoric on NATO, which came as little surprise, has been the reaction from Republican hawks who criticized him in the past for far less provocative statements.

• Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who helped lead the charge on a bill that blocks the president from withdrawing from NATO without Senate approval, both defended his remarks this weekend.
• "NATO countries that don't spend enough on defense, like Germany, are already encouraging Russian aggression and President Trump is simply ringing the warning bell," Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), a top defense hawk, told the New York Times.
• Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), a co-chair of the Senate NATO Observer Group, said he doesn't think it's something Trump "honestly believes" — reprising the familiar Republican adage to take Trump "seriously, but not literally."

Between the lines: Trump privately discussed pulling out of NATO several times during his presidency, and former national security adviser John Bolton has warned that a U.S. withdrawal would "almost certainly happen" in a second Trump term.

The bottom line: Trump's campaign website features just one vague but ominous reference to his plans for the alliance: "[W]e have to finish the process we began under my administration of fundamentally re-evaluating NATO's purpose and NATO's mission."

ps:What a genius!!

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Russia puts the leader of NATO member Estonia on a wanted list over the removal of Soviet-era monuments

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Estonia’s prime minister has been put on a wanted list in Russia because of her efforts to remove Soviet-era World War II monuments in the Baltic nation, officials said Tuesday as tensions between Russia and the West soar amid the war in Ukraine.

https://apnews.com/article/russia-estonia-kallas-wanted-list-4ca301df09eace6643be66a9a4a93fe8?

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Biden says Trump sowing doubts about US commitment to NATO is ‘un-American’

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday said Donald Trump’s comments calling into question the U.S. commitment to defend its NATO allies from attack were “dangerous” and “un-American,” seizing on the former president’s comments that sowed fresh fears among U.S. partners about its dependability on the global stage.

https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-ukraine-nato-congress-b1ae8f4702e430d1995d40f3bc05ea06?

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A new report says the world faces a ‘dangerous decade’ as instability and military spending rise The world has entered an era of increasing instability as countries around the globe boost military spending in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Hamas attack on Israel and China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, which has compiled its annual estimate of the global military situation for the past 65 years. Read more.

Key findings: Global defense spending rose 9% to $2.2 trillion last year, the IISS said.   The increase was even steeper in NATO. The alliance’s non-U.S. members have boosted military spending by 32% since Russia invaded Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014, the institute found. Ten European members reached the alliance’s goal of spending 2% of their economic output on defense last year, up from two in 2014.   European defense spending received renewed attention in recent days after Donald Trump’s comment that when he was president he told an unidentified NATO state he would “encourage” Russia to attack members that didn’t meet their funding commitments.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ New NATO member Finland elects a president set to keep up hard line on neighboring Russia   Poland, France and Germany vow to make Europe stronger as fears grow over Russia and Trump   How Trump urging Russia to invade ‘delinquent’ NATO members distorts how the alliance works

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Hungary approves Sweden's NATO membership

Hungary's parliament on Monday approved Sweden's accession to NATO, clearing one of the final hurdles for the country to join the military alliance.

https://www.axios.com/2024/02/26/hungary-approve-sweden-nato-membership?

Hungary’s parliament ratifies Sweden’s NATO bid, clearing the final obstacle to membership

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary’s parliament voted Monday to ratify Sweden’s bid to join NATO, ending more than 18 months of delays that frustrated the alliance as it sought to expand in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

https://apnews.com/article/hungary-ratify-sweden-nato-membership-efc791c0d2e4da9fdcb247a2d6624cab?

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Map du jour: NATO at 75

Data: NATO; Map: Axios Visuals The U.S. was top of mind today at the NATO meetings in Brussels. Why it matters: The alliance celebrated its 75th anniversary and two new members — Sweden and Finland — but worried about how to survive a potential second Trump administration, Axios' Dave Lawler and Zachary Basu report.

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German troops arrive in Lithuania, their first long-term foreign deployment since World War II Lithuanian leaders hailed a “historic event” as Germany on Monday began deploying troops in the Baltic country — a NATO member — marking the first time since World War II that German forces will be based outside the country on a long-term basis. Read more.

Why this matters: Lithuania's Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas said that the move was “a great example” for all the countries on NATO’s eastern flank on the border with Russia and its ally Belarus. “We will create such a defense and deterrence architecture that no adversary from the east will even think about testing NATO’s Article 5,” he told reporters.   Article 5 on collective defense is at the heart of the 32-member North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It states that an armed attack against one or more of the members shall be considered an attack against all.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Russians stage a rare protest after a dam bursts and homes flood near the Kazakh border   Ukraine and Russia trade fresh accusations of targeting a major nuclear power plant   Ally of late Navalny accuses ‘Putin’s henchmen’ of attacking him in Lithuania, vows not to give up

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Argentina asks to join NATO as President Milei seeks a more prominent role for his nation

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina formally requested on Thursday to join NATO as a global partner, a status that would clear the way for greater political and security cooperation at a time when the right-wing government of President Javier Milei aims to boost ties with Western powers and attract investment.

https://apnews.com/article/president-milei-argentina-nato-f16s-military-bf56ef4b18646438500c921250c66e93?

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Can you ‘Trump-proof’ NATO? Europeans look to safeguard the military alliance  Growing skepticism about President Joe Biden’s reelection chances has European leaders heading to the NATO summit in Washington confronting the prospect that the military alliance’s most prominent critic, Donald Trump, may return to power over its mightiest military. Read more.

Why this matters: European governments have been deep in consultations on what they could do to ensure that NATO, Western support for Ukraine and the security of member countries will endure should Trump win back the presidency and temper U.S. contributions. The U.S. also plays the determinative role in the nuclear weapons stationed in Europe.    The possibility of a less dependable U.S. partner under Trump is generating discussions about Europeans playing a bigger role in NATO’s nuclear deterrence, according to the Poland-based Centre for Eastern Studies, a security think tank. But European countries and Canada, with their smaller military budgets and economies, are still years from being able to fill any U.S.-sized hole in NATO.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ NATO leaders will vow to pour weapons into Ukraine for another year, but membership is off the table   What is the NATO military alliance and how is it helping Ukraine?   Biden’s focus shifts to this week’s NATO summit

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🚧 NATO security and road closures

Image courtesy D.C. Mayor's office The NATO Summit taking place July 9-11 means road and sidewalk closures for many blocks around the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and near the White House — before and after the summit. Why it matters: Residents will need to exercise patience, and plan ahead. State of play: Around the convention center emergency no-parking is already in effect, lasting until July 12 at 6pm. From today through Thursday, a large screening perimeter will require drivers and pedestrians to pass through checkpoints, such as on Q Street between 11th and 7th Streets and at H and 10th streets. At the same time, a tighter pedestrian perimeter will only permit access to credentialed summitgoers. The Mt. Vernon Sq-7th St Convention Center Metro station will be closed. The Mellon Auditorium at 1301 Constitution Avenue NW will host summitgoers tomorrow. It will have a pedestrian perimeter and vehicle screening area around Pennsylvania and Constitution avenues. ⛔ The Federal Triangle Metro station will be closed that day. More info

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President Joe Biden is set to host a crucial NATO summit in Washington today where new announcements over the alliance's military, political and financial support for Ukraine are expected. The meetings will also serve as a public test of Biden's health and cognitive capacity as the president seeks to quell concerns following his dismal debate performance late last month. Biden is scheduled to hold a solo news conference on Thursday where he can expect a volley of questions about his mental fitness for office. Records show that a top Parkinson's disease specialist visited the White House eight times over the past year and met with the president's physician, though the circumstances of the meeting are unclear.

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Ukraine opens DC weapons office and Europe bolsters defense spending as November US election looms

WASHINGTON (AP) — NATO countries are moving to shore up their weapons production capabilities as a hedge against the November presidential vote, signing a nearly $700 million contract for more Stinger missiles and making pledges to boost their own defense production.

https://apnews.com/article/nato-missiles-russia-stinger-ukraine-87746dcec5dbf19794c1cf27cd789594?

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Biden's NATO surprise

By Avery Lotz

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Biden today. Photo: Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

President Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg today in a surprise announcement. Why it matters: The flagship award is the highest civilian honor in the U.S. and comes as Stoltenberg has led NATO amid Russia's ongoing war on Ukraine. "Today, NATO is stronger, smarter and more energized than when you began," Biden said. The big picture: Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister until last week, will take over Stoltenberg's role in October. Read more

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NATO summit

 

President Joe Biden is hosting global leaders in Washington, DC, at the annual NATO summit, a gathering designed to show a united front on key issues. Biden on Tuesday announced plans to supply new air defenses to Ukraine in his opening speech — providing much-needed support for the country at a critical juncture in its defense against Russia’s invasion. On the sidelines of the summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged international leaders to promptly aid his war-torn country. "Everyone is waiting for November," including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Zelensky said, as a potential second Donald Trump presidency remains top of mind for the United States’ allies and adversaries. 

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NATO, for the first time, accuses China of enabling Russia’s war in Ukraine NATO allies on Wednesday called China a “decisive enabler” of Russia’s war against Ukraine, in their most serious rebuke of Beijing, and expressed concerns over Beijing’s nuclear arsenal and its capabilities in space. Read more.

Why this matters: The final communique, approved by the 32 NATO members at their summit in Washington, makes clear that China is becoming a focus of the military alliance. Beijing insists that it does not provide military aid to Russia and accuses NATO of overreaching and inciting confrontation in the Indo-Pacific region.   NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said China provides equipment, microelectronics and tools that are “enabling Russia to build the missiles, to build the bombs, to build the aircraft, to build the weapons they use to attack Ukraine.” He said it was the first time all NATO allies have stated this so clearly in a joint document.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Ukraine is on an ‘irreversible’ path to NATO. But only after war with Russia ends   NATO and its Asian partners forge deeper relations to counter China   A record number of NATO allies are hitting their defense spending target during war in Ukraine

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Two NATO members say Russian drones violated their airspace

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Two NATO members said Sunday that Russian drones violated their airspace, as one reportedly flew into Romania during nighttime attacks on neighboring Ukraine while another crashed in eastern Latvia the previous day.

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-drone-romania-e793c35a0df1679cfe89ac6612706c87?

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Putin touts Russia’s new missile and delivers a menacing warning to NATO

The new ballistic missile fired by Russia struck a military-industrial facility in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro, but its real mission was delivering a deadly new message to NATO.

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-intercontinental-missile-war-putin-d50183ccfc28b10c71e93f3e68159a61?

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NATO chief warns that Putin wants long-term confrontation with Europe NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to “wipe Ukraine off the map” and could come after other parts of Europe next, as he urged Europeans to press their governments to ramp up defense spending. Rutte’s inaugural speech came just over two months after he took office as NATO’s top civilian official. Read more.

What to know: “It is time to shift to a wartime mindset,” Rutte told security experts and analysts at the Carnegie Europe think-tank in Brussels.   NATO has been a staunch backer of Ukraine and has helped most of its members funnel weapons, ammunition and other support into the country. But Trump’s return, and pledge to end the war quickly, have fueled concern that an unfavorable truce might be forced on Ukraine. Asked by The Associated Press how damaging a quick and shoddy peace agreement might be, Rutte said that “a bad deal means Putin coming out on top, and that will have worldwide ramifications.”   Trump routinely complains that U.S. allies in NATO are not spending enough on defense. Rutte said Russia’s military spending is likely to amount to 7 to 8% of its GDP next year. Rutte noted that defense spending has risen sharply in Europe, with 23 of the 32 allies expected to reach NATO’s target of putting 2% of GDP into their military budgets. But he added: “I can tell you, we are going to need a lot more than 2%.”

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Russia targets Ukrainian infrastructure with a massive attack of cruise missiles and drones   Ukraine’s reformed military procurement agency drives the country’s NATO ambitions   UK leader Starmer invited to EU meeting in latest sign of post-Brexit thaw

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NATO will step up Baltic Sea patrols as Finland probes the possible sabotage of undersea cables

BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Friday that the military alliance will step up patrols in the Baltic Sea region as Finnish investigators work to establish whether a ship linked to Russia sabotaged undersea cables there this week.

https://apnews.com/article/finland-estonia-cable-undersea-russia-sabotage-nato-6460b68ab5236d9892551867b024b0a0?