With the war now in its 17th month, NATO wants to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin from broadening the conflict to allied territory farther west.Īround 40,000 troops are on standby along the eastern flank.
NATO's primary goal since Russia began building up its troops around Ukraine in 2021 has been to reinforce its own territory, particularly the countries on its eastern flank - so near to Russia, Ukraine and Belarus - from Estonia in the north down to Romania on the Black Sea. President Joe Biden and his counterparts - who are meeting for a summit in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius - have promised that the country will eventually gain membership. That assistance is designed to ensure that Ukraine can join NATO at some point in the future, well after the war is over. NATO is also helping to strengthen Ukraine's defense and security institutions. NATO is helping Ukraine's armed forces to modernize and shift from Soviet-era equipment and military doctrine to modern NATO gear to allow its army to work seamlessly with allied forces. The alliance does not impose sanctions, although some of its members do through other organizations like the European Union. NATO makes its decisions by consensus, and not all member countries agree on sending weapons.
The 31-nation military alliance provides only non-lethal support to Ukraine: Fuel, combat rations, medical supplies, body armor, winter uniforms and equipment to counter mines, chemical and biological threats and drones. But when he does, Stoltenberg is talking about individual member countries, not NATO as an organization.Īs a NATO summit in Lithuania's capital begins Tuesday, here's a look at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and what it's doing to help Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg - the top civilian official at the world's biggest security alliance - routinely praises allies for helping Ukraine's troops to fight back. With Russia's war on Ukraine in its 17th month, and Western countries sending increasingly hi-tech and long-range weapons and ammunition to help President Volodymyr Zelensky defend his country, it's easy to lose track of where NATO stands.
0 kommentar(er)
