By Janet Ekstract NEW YORK- NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg presented his ambitious new plan at the EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs meeting in Brussels on Wednesday where the focus was primarily on defense and security for European countries. Stoltenberg proposed a five-year plan with a 100 billion euros earmarked for Ukraine’s defense. The plan comes at a time of uncertainty in Washington, where the U.S. Congress still hasn’t passed President Biden’s military aid package worth $60 billion for Ukraine, largely due to a block by some Republicans and from Donald Trump. The NATO chief said there must be a secure guarantee of aid to Ukraine as he commented: “We must ensure reliable and predictable security assistance to Ukraine for the long haul.” His aim, he said is to “rely less on voluntary contributions and more on NATO commitments. Less on short-term offers and more on multi-year pledges.” Stoltenberg added: “Every day of delay in the decision of the United States in providing more support to Ukraine has consequences on the battlefield,” which means he said that Russia can now “outgun” Ukraine. In the current NATO setup, most alliance members supply aid and cash to Ukraine through the U.S.-led Ramstein format, that organizes arms for Ukraine. The decision would mean the alliance is expanding its previous role to focus only on non-lethal supplies to Ukraine. The NATO chief is especially worried about the outcome of the upcoming election which is seven months away and could spell disaster for NATO if Trump were to become president again.
Meanwhile, European Council (EC) President Charles Michel has been working closely with EU leaders on major issues up for discussions at EU summits through the first half of 2024. Michel has been creating a strategic agenda with the leaders, first discussed on October 6, 2023 at the EC meeting in Spain where security and defense, resilience and competitiveness, energy, migration, global management and enlargement were on the agenda. The strategic agenda is expected to be adopted in June 2024 with the second consultation on this issue taking place in Vilnius, Bucharest, Warsaw and Vienna. In June 2019, the EC laid the framework for the Strategic Agenda for 2019-2024 with four priorities for the EU: protecting citizens and freedoms; developing a strong and vibrant economic base; building a climate-neutral, green, fair and social Europe; and promoting European interests and values on the global stage. Michel reiterated previously that the reason for the Strategic Agenda has a lot to do with the fact that the EU will be more in control “of its own destiny” while making itself heard in the international arena. He added that public support the EU is high and that many more countries want join the EU. Michel added: “Our European values are a beacon for all who cherish justice and freedom.” He highlighted that current and future challenges – economic and geopolitical, facing the EU that are “considerable.” Michel stated: “As our world evolves, it is becoming more unstable and complex. It obliges us to enhance our strategic ambition.”
The question remains whether or not the 32-member alliance is on board with Stoltenberg’s five-year plan for Ukraine. NATO spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah said that ministers “agreed to move forward with planning for a greater NATO role in coordinating aid to Ukraine,” with discussions expected to continue up to the NATO Summit in July in Washington. On Wednesday, White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby said that though the contract groups “has been very, very effective,” that the White House isn’t in favor of Stoltenberg’s plan. Kirby added that the U.S. will continue to lead and convene the contact group. Ministers at the meeting had mixed reactions to the plan while Turkiye was known to be in agreement with the idea, a NATO official said. Also, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said there must be “reliable, long-term structures” to assist Ukraine.
