As of: April 5, 2024, 5:17 a.m
By: Florian Pfitzner
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In its 75th year of existence, NATO has returned to its core mission: deterrence and defense against a territorial aggressor. The future of the North Atlantic Treaty depends above all on Europe.
Berlin - NATO is celebrating its 75th anniversary this Thursday (April 4th). From today's perspective, only very few people have consciously experienced the causes of its founding; For a long time, the North Atlantic Treaty was considered a “feel-good factor” in security policy, as you can read in an essay in the Atlantic Bridge: You could always protest against NATO, especially against the “American” aspect of it - it was never loved, but never fundamentally questioned placed.
At this time, NATO finds itself in difficult waters. “On the one hand, she is not 'brain dead',” says Christina Bellmann, consultant for transatlantic relations at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS), alluding to French President Emmanuel Macron, who in November 2019 spoke of a “ “Brain death” of the Defense Alliance had spoken. The situation has now changed, explains Bellmann in an interview with
IPPEN.MEDIA
. NATO acts reliably - and also grants superior protection to new members such as Finland and Sweden, who have given up their decades-long neutrality.
NATO soldiers train during the “Cold Response” military exercise in Norway. © picture alliance/dpa/NTB | Heiko Junge
On the other hand, the political scientist sees major challenges in view of the war in Ukraine. “In the third year of the war, the military situation for Ukraine is serious,” warns Bellmann. “The military is increasingly coming under pressure and European partners are delivering too slowly and too little.”
Scholz bases his aid to Ukraine on US arms deliveries
Before the NATO foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels, British department head David Cameron called on the members of the defense alliance to increase arms spending. Ukraine is closer to joining the alliance than ever before, Cameron said. Therefore, NATO must maintain its support for the country attacked by Russia so that Ukraine can win the war.
They also see a need for action at the KAS. “Western support must be increased,” demands Bellmann. “Russia’s future behavior towards its neighborhood also depends on this.”
The USA has so far provided the largest military aid to Ukraine. They have decisive weight when it comes to concrete support from NATO members. When it comes to German military aid, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) repeatedly focuses on US arms deliveries. The US elections in November 2024 will be of great importance for the future of NATO.
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Impatience is growing among Republican supporters
However, how serious the situation is is already becoming apparent. “The current blockage of the 60 billion US dollars urgently needed by Ukraine in the US House of Representatives, which has a razor-thin Republican majority, shows what challenges the Europeans will face - no matter which president will sit in the White House after the election,” says Bellman. Impatience with the war is increasing among Republican supporters.
At the same time, support for further aid to Ukraine is declining among the American population, as ABC News has found. As a result, the opinion that the US is doing “too much” for Ukraine increased from 14 to 41 percent between April 2022 and September 2023.
European defense should develop traction
Two thirds of NATO member states are at least well on their way to meeting the two percent national defense spending target. “Germany in particular must ensure that this is adhered to in the long term,” warns security expert Bellmann. “Americans from both camps want to see that the promises are finally implemented.” This is also in Europe’s own interest, because Russian President Vladimir Putin “shows no willingness to return to the arena of international rules, but is openly threatening Europe.”
From Bellmann's point of view, the responsibility of larger states such as Germany, France and Poland is needed more than ever to develop traction in European defense. “They should show a future US president a robust burden-sharing record and not abandon Ukraine – and the European security order.”