NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced today in Brussels that Ukraine will be invited as an equal member to join the newly formed NATO-Ukraine defense council. Stoltenberg revealed that further details about the council’s structure and objectives will be unveiled next month at NATO’s summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.
During the meeting, NATO leaders reached an agreement to enhance defense production capabilities and establish standardized munitions and command and control interoperability between NATO nations and Ukraine.
Highlight: Strengthening Support for Ukraine Stoltenberg emphasized NATO’s commitment to bringing Ukraine closer to membership in the alliance. He reiterated NATO’s open-door policy regarding membership, emphasizing that Russia cannot influence the decision. Stoltenberg also expressed hope for Sweden’s impending inclusion in the alliance.
Additionally, NATO leaders collectively determined that member nations’ defense spending should meet a minimum requirement of 2% of their respective gross domestic product (GDP). Stoltenberg clarified that this figure is not a ceiling but a floor, expressing his desire for nations to exceed the 2% threshold to ensure the safety of their populations in an increasingly perilous world.
NATO strongly condemned Russia’s provocative nuclear rhetoric and its plans to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus. Stoltenberg also voiced concerns about China’s nuclear expansion and North Korea’s missile testing.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III welcomed the expansion of support for Ukraine, as well as the modernization and standardization of munitions to enhance interoperability between NATO and Ukraine. Austin emphasized that the minimum 2% of GDP allocated to defense spending by NATO members will contribute to collective defense and deterrence, resulting in forces that are highly prepared and ready.
Austin also disclosed that Sweden’s potential NATO membership will be a topic of discussion at the upcoming summit, highlighting NATO’s aspirations to deepen partnerships with Indo-Pacific nations to safeguard a free and open region.
The establishment of the NATO-Ukraine defense council signifies a significant step forward in strengthening cooperation between NATO and Ukraine, underlining NATO’s commitment to the security and stability of the region.