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Last week, world leaders gathered in Washington, D.C., for the 2024 NATO Summit. During the three-day event, they celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Alliance. They also discussed Russia's invasion of Ukraine and how NATO can provide aid to Ukraine while bolstering its own defenses, as well as matters occurring in the Indo-Pacific.
During the summit, NATO members reiterated their support for Ukraine. NATO officials announced they would "station a senior civilian officer in Kyiv" so that this individual can interact more regularly with Ukrainian officials. NATO also stated that it would provide additional defense systems to Ukraine, such as F-16 fighter jets. In addition, NATO members agreed to provide Ukraine with a minimum of €40 billion in defense aid within the following year, although they did not commit to an annual defense plan beyond 2024. Finally, NATO introduced new training programs for Ukraine. The Ukraine Compact, signed by all 32 NATO members, stated that the organization will "provide Ukraine with the weapons, ammunition, and training necessary to repel Russian forces."
While news of additional defense aid to Ukraine was welcomed, there are concerns about assistance beyond 2024. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán previously blocked aid efforts to Ukraine. Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has also previously called to end defense assistance to Ukraine. Meanwhile, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate Senator J.D. Vance have questioned and threatened to cut U.S. aid to Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials expressed concerns following the summit. First, Ukraine was not presented with an official invitation to join NATO. Some members stated the Eastern European state needed to address corruption issues. Others argued that formal membership cannot be presented while Russia wages war in Ukraine. Second, NATO members did not lift aid restrictions on Ukraine, nor did they drop limitations on striking military targets within Russia. This means that the Russian Federation will be allowed to continue its brutal attacks on Ukrainian civilian areas.
This disappointed the Ukrainians as they have worked hard to repel Russia's ongoing invasion. In 2022, the Ukrainians defended Kyiv and they forced the Russians out of northern Ukraine. Then, in 2023, the Ukrainians reclaimed more than 50 percent of the Russian-occupied territories. Finally, during the first half of 2024, the Ukrainians destroyed one-third of Russia's Black Sea Naval Fleet. Despite these successes, NATO has continued to impose barriers on Ukraine. This left many Ukrainians wondering what else they need to prove before their country is officially invited to join the organization. In the meantime, Ukraine will do everything it can to repel the ongoing Russian invasion.
Beyond the Russo-Ukraine war, the Alliance stated it would expand its defense industrial base. Production efforts will be increased. The European Union and NATO would also look to bolster their defenses, although it remains to be seen how this will develop. NATO members have discussed the need to revamp their defense efforts since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But two and a half years later, these barriers have yet to be addressed.
NATO members then shifted their focus to the European continent. The organization stated that it would continue to seek ways to "deter Russian aggression in the future." Despite its condemnation of Russia, the Alliance fell short in introducing additional penalties. Instead, the organization stated that it hoped to "mitigate risk and prevent escalation" by maintaining open channels with Russia. Current diplomatic efforts, however, have been unsuccessful. Over the past two years, Russia meddled in the affairs of several NATO members. The Russians donated to the campaigns of several far-right candidates in Europe and the United States, conducted cyberattacks on various NATO members, and they have escalated their war in Ukraine.
Finally, NATO discussed China's growing global influence. NATO members said China is a "decisive enabler" in Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine as it is providing material and political support to Russia. The Alliance stated that the strategic partnership between Russia and China was a "cause for profound concern." NATO members are also concerned about China's role in the Indo-Pacific. During the summit, NATO members met with representatives from Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea. They discussed peacekeeping and defense efforts in the Indo-Pacific. Concrete objectives, however, were not defined or established.
Overall, events at the 2024 NATO Summit suggested that the Alliance took international security efforts seriously. There were many positive outcomes from last week's NATO Summit, but time will tell how the discussions in Washington will materialize into tangible outcomes. The success of these efforts will be evaluated at the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague.
Mark Temnycky is an accredited freelance journalist covering Eurasian affairs and a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center. He can be found on X @MTemnycky.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
