IRIA News

NATO Foreign Ministers gathered in Brussels to mark the alliance’s 75th anniversary and prepare for the upcoming NATO Summit in Washington. Foreign Ministers from NATO countries met for a two-day meeting on April 3-4, 2024 to discuss continued support for Ukraine and security challenges.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said during a press briefing after the first day of the meeting, “We discussed how to put our support on a firmer and more enduring basis for the future. All Allies agree on the need to support Ukraine in this critical moment.”

During the first day of the meeting, NATO Foreign Ministers addressed ways to strengthen combined support for Ukraine and agreed to create an even more robust framework for their support for Kyiv. Stoltenberg noted that the Ukrainian soldiers are “running out of ammunition,” and highlighted the urgency to enhance military support for Kyiv.

“Today, Allies have agreed to move forward with planning for a greater NATO role in coordinating security assistance and training. The details will take shape in the weeks to come, but make no mistake: Ukraine can rely on NATO support now, and for a long haul,” he added.

Stoltenberg encouraged NATO Allies to continue their efforts to provide major deliveries of weapons, ammunition, and military equipment to Ukraine. He warned that “any delay in support has consequences on the battlefield” and urged Allies to “ensure assistance for Ukraine for the long haul”.

According to the NATO statement, foreign ministers also discussed security challenges in the Alliance’s southern neighborhood, including the continued threat of terrorism. The NATO secretary general said that “Ministers discussed the findings of a Group of Experts he appointed last October to review NATO’s approach to its southern neighbors, and that leaders will consider concrete proposals at the Summit in Washington.”

The NATO-Ukraine Council also held a Foreign Ministers level meeting, which was joined by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. NATO Foreign Ministers also met with officials from Indo-Pacific partners and the European Union states, and discussed the global implications of Russia-Ukraine war and enhancing practical cooperation.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also held a separate meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and thanked him for his leadership and the U.S.’ commitment to NATO, as well as the United States’ vital support to Ukraine.

Both leaders noted that with the participation of new members, Finland and Sweden, the NATO Alliance is stronger and more allies are increasing investment in the alliance’s security. U.S. Secretary Blinken noted that the NATO alliance has not only weathered the ongoing crisis but emerged “bigger, stronger, more united than ever”.

According to the U.S. Department of State, “Secretary Blinken and Secretary General Stoltenberg discussed key priorities for the Washington Summit, including strengthening our shared commitment to Ukraine, furthering NATO’s Indo-Pacific and EU partnerships, and building upon collective defense commitments.”

NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg said during a joint briefing with the U.S. Secretary of State Blinken, the “burden sharing is always top on our agenda” as NATO allies are preparing for the upcoming Washington Summit.

“When NATO made the pledge to invest the 2% of GDP on defense, back in 2014, only three Allies met that target. Today, two thirds of NATO Allies are spending 2% of GDP on defense, that is significant progress. But of course, we want more Allies, we want all Allies to be at 2%, and 2% is minimum,” Stoltenberg highlighted.

On the second day of the meeting, NATO Allies held meetings with Asia-Pacific allies and partners. NATO’s Stoltenberg said that the war in Ukraine shows “how intertwined the security of Europe is with the security of Asia and the Pacific”.

He added that “North Korea, China, Iran are supporting Russia’s war aggression in different ways. So this demonstrates that security is not regional, security is truly global. And therefore, it is important to work together with our Asia Pacific partners.”

NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s Standing Committee statment highlighted that the alliance’s success is directly connected to the founding core principles, “For 75 years, NATO has succeeded throughout all shifts in the security environment because it is defined not by what it stands against but by what it stands for — the defence of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law.”