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NATO's 75th Anniversary Summit Highlights

As the North Atlantic Treaty Organization prepares to celebrate its 75th anniversary at next month's Washington summit, U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO Julianne Smith highlighted the alliance's resilience, agility, and resolve in a wide-ranging discussion with the Defense Writers' Group. She said, "It's an important moment to reflect on everything that the alliance has been able to accomplish," "Reflecting on the alliance's agility, its resilience, its relevance will all be things that we'll want to take a minute and step back and also help our publics understand what the alliance of 2024 is."  

Flags at NATO. Photo by US Embassy Canada. Flickr.   NATO's Importance Established in the aftermath of World War II as a 12-nation defensive alliance against the Soviet Union, NATO has grown to encompass 32 countries and has adapted to changing global circumstances over the decades. From the Cold War era to missions in the Balkans and Afghanistan, and now standing ready to defend every square inch of NATO territory against Russian aggression in Ukraine, the alliance has proven its staying power and versatility.  

Key Points:

NATO celebrates 75 years of peace and looks to position itself for the future at Washington summit Alliance has grown from 12 to 32 nations, demonstrating resilience, agility, and resolve Focus on burden sharing, with possibly 23 allies hitting 2% GDP defense spending mark in 2024 Spotlight on collective support for Ukraine, with deliverables package and membership aspirations Decision expected on new Secretary General to replace Jens Stoltenberg Review of "operationalizing" new regional defense plans, a major 10-year project  

We are taking our decisive step by signing Ukraine's application for accelerated accession to NATO - address by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photo by President of Ukraine. Flickr.  

NATO Allies' Support for Ukraine

Category Details Security Assistance 50 countries, including U.S., Europe, and Canada, providing aid Deliverables Package To serve as bridge to Ukraine's future NATO membership Messaging Sending signal to Moscow that NATO alliance isn't going anywhere   Ambassador Smith emphasized the importance of recognizing the collective efforts of NATO allies in supporting Ukraine, noting that U.S. assistance is not a "singular endeavor" but part of a broader 50-nation effort. "We will want to take a minute at the summit and put a spotlight on burden sharing through another lens: not just the 2%, but also what Europe, Canada and the United States are doing together in Ukraine," she explained.  

Zelenskyy: The Face of Resilience

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to attend the summit, where allies will present a package of deliverables to bridge the gap to Ukraine's future NATO membership. This will include language describing Ukraine's membership aspirations and identifying new resources for the embattled nation, while sending a clear message to Moscow that the alliance stands firm against Russian aggression.  

Delivering vital European assistance to Ukraine. Photo by EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid. Flickr.   Burden Sharing and Regional Defense Plans In addition to Ukraine, the summit will focus on burden sharing among alliance members. Following Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, NATO leaders agreed to dedicate 2% of their respective GDPs to defense spending. While only three nations met this target in 2014, Ambassador Smith highlighted the progress made, with possibly 23 allies set to hit or surpass the 2% mark in 2024. Another key agenda item will be reviewing the "operationalization" of NATO's new regional defense plans, a major shift in how allied countries invest, procure, and work together. This long-term project, spanning roughly a decade, will have a lasting impact on the alliance's deterrence and defense policies.  

Looking Ahead

As NATO leaders gather in Washington next month, they will not only celebrate the alliance's 75 years of success but also chart its course for the future. With the selection of a new Secretary General and a steadfast commitment to supporting Ukraine, NATO is poised to reaffirm its role as a beacon of stability and security in an increasingly complex world. Moving forward, the alliance will continue to adapt to emerging challenges, from cyber threats and disruptive technologies to climate security, while maintaining its core mission of collective defense. As Ambassador Smith aptly stated, the summit will be an opportunity to showcase NATO's enduring relevance and help the public understand what the alliance of 2024 represents: a resilient, agile, and resolute force for peace and stability.   Sources: THX News & US Department of Defense. Read the full article