‘Ukraine’s future is in Nato, path to membership irreversible’

The US-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has affirmed that Ukraine’s path to membership in the Trans-Atlantic military alliance is “irreversible,” labeling Russia as the “most significant and direct threat” to the security of its member states.

During the Washington Declaration Summit, held in honor of NATO’s 75th anniversary in the US capital on Wednesday, members praised themselves for undertaking the “biggest reinforcement of our collective defense in a generation.” This includes enhancing the alliance’s “deterrence and defense posture” through a mix of “nuclear, conventional, and missile defense capabilities,” along with space and cyber capabilities, and increased defense spending. The declaration also committed to strengthening the defense industry across Europe and North America and warned that rising hybrid threats could escalate to necessitate collective defense measures.

Despite being overshadowed by Donald Trump’s political rise in the US and Russia’s gains in Ukraine, NATO’s primary goal appeared to be securing the alliance and its commitment to Ukrainian security against both internal political and external strategic shocks.

NATO emphasized that a “strong, independent, and democratic Ukraine” is vital for the security and stability of the Euro-Atlantic area and fully supported Ukraine’s “right to choose its own security arrangements and decide its own future, free from outside interference.”

The alliance then addressed the contentious issue of Kyiv’s participation in NATO. While Ukraine desires quick membership, Russia has made it clear this is a redline, citing Ukraine’s potential NATO entry as a reason for its aggression. The US has supported Ukraine cautiously to avoid escalating tensions with Russia. The situation is complicated further by Trump’s opposition to Ukraine’s NATO membership and his promise of a peace deal with Russia. This has led European allies to “Trump-proof” US support for both Ukraine and the alliance.

The declaration reflected these competing impulses, with the Biden administration and other NATO members reaffirming their commitment to Ukraine but not offering a timeline for its membership.

The declaration stated, “Ukraine’s future is in NATO. Ukraine has become increasingly interoperable and politically integrated with the Alliance. We welcome the concrete progress Ukraine has made since the Vilnius Summit on its required democratic, economic, and security reforms. As Ukraine continues this vital work, we will continue to support it on its irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership.” It added that once conditions were met, allies would be in a position to “extend an invitation” to Ukraine to join. “The Summit decisions by NATO and the NATO-Ukraine Council, combined with Allies’ ongoing work, constitute a bridge to Ukraine’s membership in NATO.”

NATO was more specific in other aspects of its support, welcoming member announcements to provide air defense systems to Ukraine and establishing the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) to coordinate military equipment and training. This, the declaration stated, “will support the transformation of Ukraine’s defense and security forces, enabling its further integration with NATO.” It also pledged to create a NATO-Ukraine joint analysis, training, and education center to increase Ukraine’s interoperability with NATO.

The declaration also announced a long-term assistance pledge for Ukraine, promising “a minimum baseline funding of €40 billion within the next year.” This commitment extends to the purchase of military equipment for Ukraine, in-kind support, costs related to maintenance, logistics, transportation, training, and investment in Ukraine’s defense industry, with NATO members promising proportional contributions.

On Russia, NATO held Russia solely responsible for the war in Ukraine, asserting there could be no impunity for Russian “war crimes.” It identified Russia as posing an “all-domain threat” aiming to “fundamentally reconfigure the Euro-Atlantic architecture,” but stated that NATO did not seek a “confrontation” and was willing to maintain communication channels with Russia. The declaration condemned Russia’s “irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and coercive nuclear signaling” and its “hybrid actions,” including “malicious cyber activities, electronic interference, and disinformation campaigns.” NATO urged all countries not to provide “any kind of assistance to Russia’s aggression.”

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan celebrated the summit’s achievements, claiming that NATO had displayed unity and purpose, providing “concrete commitments” to Ukraine and a “bridge to NATO.”