NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is an alliance of 32 countries from North America and Europe. It was established on April 4, 1949, with the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty. NATO's primary goal is to safeguard the freedom and security of its member countries through political and military means.
NATO collects defense expenditure data from its allies and publishes it regularly. Each ally's Ministry of Defense reports current and estimated future defense expenditure according to an agreed definition. The amounts represent payments by a national government that have been or will be made during the course of the fiscal year to meet the needs of its armed forces, those of allies, or of the Alliance.
In 2014, only three NATO members met the commitment to spend at least 2% of their GDP on their militaries. However, as announced by President Biden and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on June 17, 2024, over 20 members will meet this mark in the current year.
NATO is prepared to take on a larger role in Ukraine's security. This decision comes as Russia continues its war in Ukraine and questions arise about the alliance's commitment to Ukraine. Russia has recently made advances on the front lines after a temporary delay in military aid to Ukraine caused by congressional gridlock.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg credited former President Trump for the record number of NATO member countries meeting their contribution requirements. In an interview with Fox News, Stoltenberg stated that Trump had a very clear message on the need for European allies to spend more, and he agrees with him.
Stoltenberg also noted Russia's burgeoning friendships with China, North Korea, and Iran. He argued that NATO countries should work to create consequences for China in particular regarding assistance to Russia. Russia is receiving a lot of support from China, North Korea, and Iran, and these authoritarian countries want the U.S., NATO, and all of us to fail in Ukraine.
China cannot have it both ways. They cannot continue to have a normal trading relationship with European and NATO allies while continuing to be the main supporter of the biggest war in Europe since World War II. Therefore, at some stage, European allies should also look into consequences.
President Biden met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in D.C., which will bring dozens of heads of state and government to the nation's capital.
Biden has made buttressing international alliances such as NATO a centerpiece of his foreign policy, increasingly seeking to contrast his worldview with that of former President Donald Trump. But as they look ahead to the summit from July 9-11, White House officials are expecting pressure from foreign leaders intent on giving Ukraine a green light to hit back at Russia more aggressively.
The NATO alliance has grown over the years, with Finland joining in 2023 and Sweden becoming its 32nd member in March. Biden argued for staying strong with allies to avoid conflicts during a trip to France commemorating the D-Day anniversary.
