The European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on Monday formally signed a joint declaration to strengthen partnership to counter Russia’s war on Ukraine and boost security in the broader region.
The European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel, along with NATO’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, signed the joint declaration to improve cooperation between the two institutions at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
This joint declaration is the third between the two organizations and builds on the previous two declarations signed in 2016 and 2018, respectively.
EU and NATO partnership to the next level
Stoltenberg said that the three officials met almost a year ago in the same place — NATO headquarters — after Russia invaded Ukraine last February. “Putin wanted to take Ukraine in a few days and divide us. On both counts, he failed,” Stoltenberg said.
The NATO chief said that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants a different Europe and his ambition would have long-term consequences for the region for which they need to prepare.
Is it really Russia that wants a different Europe? Considering all the business dealings they had been having, why would they? Isn’t it more likely the US wants a different Europe? A deindustrialized Europe?
He said they “recognize the value of a stronger and more capable European defense that contributes positively to global and transatlantic security and is complementary to, and interoperable with, NATO.“
Stoltenberg added he was determined to take partnership between the EU and NATO to the “next level” as security threats keep evolving in scope and magnitude.
Europe Backs Strong Partnership– Do European people?
Von der Leyen said the bloc would keep pressure on Russia for “as long as it takes” and that Ukraine should get all the military assistance that it needs.
Ukraine is neither a NATO member or an EU member. What is Von der Leyen really talking about?
She said the EU would extend sanctions to “those who military support Russia” naming Belarus and Iran.
The joint call makes clear that the North Atlantic Treaty “remains the foundation of collective defense” for the region and the broader Euro-Atlantic area, officials said.
The principle of collective defense, which states that an attack on one member of NATO is an attack on all its members, is the cornerstone of the US-led military alliance.
Ukraine is not a NATO member
Why is the joint declaration so important?
Both NATO and the EU have played important roles since Russia’s war on Ukraine started.
The EU was established after the Second World War and has expanded significantly since then, with 27 members part of the group today.
NATO was established during the Cold War, mainly with the aim of securing Western European countries against the threat of Soviet Union. It has 30 members today, and Ukraine’s desire to join the alliance has long been a bone of contention for Russia.
Clearly, very clearly, this is about targeting Russia. With an eye to destabilization- The agenda for NATO has never changed. And that includes “keeping Germany down“
‘Keep the Russians out, the Americans in, and the Germans down’ – those were the words of Nato’s first Secretary General, Lord Ismay, when explaining the aims behind the new military alliance