NATO celebrates its 75th anniversary, more concerned than ever about Ukraine

NATO celebrates its 75th anniversary on Thursday, more than ever preoccupied by Ukraine, in difficulty. on the battlefield, due to lack of ammunition and weapons to counter the growing pressure from Russian forces.

Born on April 4, 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has “built the strongest alliance in history”, welcomed its Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Seventy-five later, Europe is “confronted with a war on a scale that we thought was over”, said Mr. Stoltenberg, who arrived ten years ago at the head of NATO, a few months after Russia's annexation of Crimea.

The Atlantic Alliance is “stronger, more united and larger than ever”, with today 32 members, two of which, Finland and Sweden, entered following the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed on Wednesday.

However, it is today threatened by the war in Ukraine, an unprecedented conflict on European soil since the Second World War, but also by the uncertainties surrounding American commitment in Europe.

< p>M. Stoltenberg did not hide his concern on Wednesday about the situation on the front in Ukraine, asking the Allies to quickly respond to the “urgent needs” of this country in ammunition, artillery and especially in anti-aircraft defense means.

Russian troops are prepared to make considerable losses for minimal territorial gains, with “very little respect for human life”, he noted. “This is why the situation on the front is so difficult,” he insisted.

Ukrainian soldiers must ration the artillery shells they are firing against the Russians, for lack of receiving enough, Mr. Stoltenberg further recalled.

– “Missiles every day” –

“Ukraine is currently the only country in the world that defends itself against ballistic missiles almost every day,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kouleba said on Wednesday upon his arrival at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

This is why “all Patriot missiles” — used for anti-aircraft defense — “available in the world” should be sent “as soon as possible” to the Ukrainians, he estimated on 'Ukraine. He mentioned the creation of a fund of one billion euros over five years to stabilize this commitment, a figure greeted with skepticism by some of them, including Germany.

France, Germany and Poland, for their part, suggested Wednesday in a joint declaration that all NATO countries commit to devoting 2% of their GDP to military spending. Only around twenty are currently meeting this objective, which everyone had endorsed ten years ago.

Mr. Stoltenberg also deplored the blocking of US aid of more than $60 billion in Congress due to the veto of Republican elected officials favorable to former US President Donald Trump.

The uncertainties surrounding this American commitment also weigh on the future of the Alliance. European NATO officials particularly fear a possible return of the billionaire to the White House.

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