With continued American #aid to #Ukraine stalled & against the looming prospect of a 2nd Trump presidency, #NATO ofcls are looking to take more #control of directing #military support from Ukraine’s allies — a role that the #US has played for the past 2 yrs.
Under a prop being discussed at the #military#alliance’s HQ, #NATO would oversee the #Ukraine#Defense Contact Grp, currently led by the #UnitedStates, that coordinates the donation & delivery of weapons to the battlefield.…
“A stronger NATO role in coordinating & providing support is the way to end this #war in a way where Ukraine prevails,” SecGen Stoltenberg said on Wed.
“There is a need to give this a more robust & institutional framework to ensure #predictability & #commitment for the long haul,” Stoltenberg said. He added: “I strongly believe it’s important that #allies make decisions fast. And that includes, of course, the #UnitedStates.”
Stoltenberg would not discuss specifics, but said he hoped to have the new efforts approved in time for a July summit of #NATO ldrs in DC, where ofcls are expected to again debate when #Ukraine might be allowed to join the #military#alliance….
…A… NATO ofcl said that Hungary, where PM Viktor #Orban has maintained warm relations w/ #Russia, opposed the effort to put the #Defense Contact Grp under the alliance’s oversight.
Western countries, including the #UnitedStates, shouldn’t be entirely opposed to the idea of sending #troops to Ukraine if conditions there worsen, said Finnish Foreign Minister #ElinaValtonen.
#Finland appeared closed off to the idea only a few weeks ago. After meeting w/ #Macron during a summit of #EU leaders in late Feb, then-Finnish President Sauli #Niinistö said “there was a widely shared perception that there would be no #military presence” — meaning no deployment of Western soldiers to Kyiv. He added, “this was also Finland’s position.”
#HELSINKI (AP) — NATO kicked off an exercise on Monday to defend its newly expanded #Nordic#territory when >20k soldiers from 13 nations take part in drills lasting nearly 2 wks in the northern regions of Finland, Norway & Sweden.
#Swedish#ArmedForces said ~4,500 personnel from its #AirForce, #army & #navy would take part in the drill, being conducted in demanding Arctic winter conditions.
#Finland, which shares a 1,340-km (830-mi) border w/ #Russia, joined #NATO in April 2023 in a #historic move following decades of #military non-alignment. w/its bid now ratified by all NATO members, neighboring #Sweden is currently finalizing formalities to enter the military #alliance as its 32nd member—most likely in March.
#Hungary’s parliament on Mon voted in favor of Sweden’s long-delayed bid to join #NATO, clearing the final obstacle to a historic expansion of the #military#alliance & putting an end to an uncomfortable standoff between its members. #Sweden is set to become NATO’s 32nd member, possibly within the week, completing a process that began w/ #Russia’s 2022 #invasion of #Ukraine & saw #Finland join last year.
Apparently NOT what his apologists are attempting to #spin:
#Trump adviser proposes new tiered system for #NATO members who don't pay up
A leading #NationalSecurity adviser to #Trump told @Reuters Tues that he would push for changes to NATO if TFG returns to #power that could result in some member nations losing #protection against an outside attack.
Article 5 states that an attack against 1 member of the…alliance will be considered an attack against all, & members of the #alliance must respond appropriately. W/O those protections, a member country would not be guaranteed other #NATO members would come to its #aid.
"Where I come from, alliances matter," said Kellogg, who served as fmr VP Mike Pence's #NationalSecurity adviser. "But if you're going to be part of an alliance, contribute to the alliance, be part of the alliance." #law#VoteBlue
#Trump has long railed against what HE sees as #European countries’ freeloading on #UnitedStates military largesse, but his claim over the weekend was provocative even by Trump’s standards. The 25-sec snippet from Trump’s Sat night speech reverberated around the planet …as #diplomats parsed the meaning of what many regarded as the most incendiary statement about #NATO to date by a fmr president who repeatedly bashed the #alliance during his tenure, while often speaking w/admiration about #Putin.
#Turkey votes in favor of Sweden’s #NATO membership after months of delay
After 20 months of demands, obstruction & delay, the Turkish parliament on Tues night voted in favor of #Sweden joining NATO, clearing one of the final hurdles for a major expansion of the #military#alliance set in motion by #Russia’s invasion of #Ukraine.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip #Erdogan still needs to sign the ratification document.
If both #Turkey & #Hungary get on board, the #alliance could formally welcome its 32nd member, potentially sealing the deal before its 75th anniversary this spring. #Sweden joining #NATO would mark a #historic shift for a country that long maintained a policy of #military nonalignment. It would bolster NATO’s air & sea capabilities, improving the alliance’s position in the #BalticSea & the #Arctic.
Is support for perhaps the most important battle western civilisation has faced in decades really on equal terms with building a wall?
The thing is, if #Ukraine loses, the #western#alliance will have forfeited the #trust that those yearning democracy, equal rights & freedom from tyranny have placed in it.
If the west loses trust, there goes our push for anti-racism too. If the global south chooses Russian & Chinese style, it won’t matter a damn.
#NATO is the most successful #military#alliance in world history. Our nation benefits greatly from the alliance on a daily basis, as do our allies. NATO protects #America from threats by our adversaries, and acts as a deterrent to hostile actions. America is a safer country because of NATO, and Donald #Trump wants to #destroy it.
And then came the longer-term concerns, something #Israel, in its immediate #rage, seemed less interested in contemplating: If you succeed in destroying #Hamas, what will you do w/ #Gaza? And what will happen to your hopes — & ours — for broader #MiddleEast#peace?
#Biden reminded the Israelis of the “mistakes” the #UnitedStates had made as it struck out in fury after the #alQaeda attacks in Sept 2001….
At a news conference before his departure, #Austin firmly took #Israel’s side, saying that after the attacks, “this is no time for neutrality or for false equivalence or for excuses for the inexcusable.”
But he called for calm in the days ahead.
“This is a time for resolve & not revenge, for purpose & not panic, & for security & not surrender.”
I am just shocked that Vladimir #Putin supports #Trump's plan to rescind #America's support of #Ukraine, and hand the country over to Putin. The fact that Trump views Putin's support for this plan as proof that he's somehow right should be latest nail in Trump's coffin. Trump is a #traitor who will always put his own personal interests above the best interests of the country. He will sell out any #ally, and abandon any #alliance if he thinks it's to his personal benefit.
As usual after another #NI election which saw #Unionism not get their vote out. (Why isn't Jeff appealing to the Unionist voter?) Plus the #DUP taking more votes from a smaller shrinking pool.
Unionism decides that their attempts to fix their problems is to talk to themselves! Not getting out there & talking to the people who stayed at home! #NIpolitics
The #TUV have been finally exposed as a one man band - admittedly one with a very big mouth & too much exposure for his size. Jim failed to deliver last May & now last Thursday. The TUV are done now. Time Jim called it a day!
The #Alliance are our opposition now. They have to stick to their guns & call out the #DUP & #SF
The big two (one is bigger than the other if we are being honest) need to held accountable.
It is time for some uncomfortable truths for Unionism - they aren't appealing to the leafy wealthy areas of #NI anymore. Sinn Fein did if you look at where they gained seats last week - eg Balmoral! Plus some Unionists who voted must have given a transfer to them.
So what does that tell them about their current path? Unionism isn't coming out to vote & moderate #Unionists are voting for #Alliance in greater numbers. Why Jeff? #NIpolitics