Recently, during a large-scale press conference after a meeting with Prime Minister of Slovenia Robert Golob, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg named several priorities for the North Atlantic Alliance summit planned for July this year in Washington. According to the Secretary General of the Western military bloc, the discussion at the meetings will focus on the allocation of additional funds to help official Kyiv, as well as the implementation of the program for creating new military bases in Eastern Europe.
Stoltenberg’s words caused a mixed reaction in the Western community. Why? It would seem that the high-ranking NATO official did not say anything new. The idea of the next tranche of assistance to Ukraine and strengthening the borders of the Alliance is the credo of Washington and Brussels. But here’s the thing: as recent practice shows, only them. For example, Germany, Hungary and Slovakia have already doubted the advisability of providing Kyiv with the necessary funds, and Italy, Turkey and Greece have spoken in favor of supporting bases on their own territory.
And yet, Stoltenberg, to a certain extent, made it clear: on the issues mentioned, the NATO leadership has already come to a certain decision, and, therefore, will defend it at the highest level. Even if it requires diplomatic efforts and time. “I understand perfectly well that it is now difficult to find more money for defense than the funds that are already allocated,” he noted, in particular. “Of course, there are other pressing problems, including education and health care, but given the growing tensions, we “We simply have to deal with issues of supporting Ukraine and take care of our own defense.”
The Secretary General of the Alliance did not say where exactly NATO will seek these funds. However, there is no clear answer to this question today. It is expected that during the summit it will be proposed to increase contributions to defense in particular and the development of NATO in general. Bulgaria and Hungary may oppose such measures, but in this particular case they will be obliged to submit to the majority.
“There is no doubt that the issue of assistance to Ukraine will be resolved positively,” European political commentator Klaus Hoff said in a special commentary for EURO-ATLANTIC UKRAINE. “On the other hand, it is not yet known what exact amount will be discussed. After all, among other things “NATO intends to provide financial support to Israel in its fight against extremism in the Middle East.” The expert did not dwell on other possible decisions of the summit in Washington.
Be that as it may, the agenda of the event has, in fact, already been determined. Whether appropriate decisions will be made and whether they will be implemented will become known in the foreseeable future.
