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NATO Foreign Ministers convened on December 3-4, 2024, in Brussels to reaffirm their unwavering support for Ukraine and bolster stability in the Middle East. The discussions circled strengthening NATO partnerships and enhanced defense strategies amid changing security dynamics.

During the two-day-long meeting, the Allies considered a set of measures to counter Russia’s actions against NATO and individual Allies. Secretary-General Mark Rutte said that “both Russia and China have tried to destabilize our countries and divide our societies with acts of sabotage, cyber-attacks, and energy blackmail”.

NATO Ministers agreed on a set of measures to counter Russia’s hostile and cyber activities, including enhanced intelligence exchange, more exercises, better protection of critical infrastructure, improved cyber defense, and tougher action against Russia’s “shadow fleet” of oil exporting ships. Rutte stressed that NATO “will work closely together with the EU on these issues”.

Rutte underscored that the increasing alignment of Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran highlights the global nature of the threats we face, including the escalating dangers of the ongoing war in Ukraine. He noted that in return for troops and weapons, Russia is providing North Korea with support for its missile and nuclear programs. “These developments could destabilize the Korean Peninsula and even threaten the United States. So Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine threatens us all”, he said.

NATO Foreign Ministers wrapped up two days of #ForMin meetings where they addressed:

🔹 Support for Ukraine
🔹 The situation in Ukraine and the Middle East
🔹 Russia’s malign activities on NATO territory

Read the full wrap up story ⤵️

— NATO (@NATO) December 4, 2024

Military aid for Ukraine and path to membership

At the NATO-Ukraine Council, Secretary General Mark Rutte reiterated the Alliance’s determination to assist Ukraine amid mounting battlefield challenges. “The situation on the battlefield is difficult, and we have to do everything we can to get more military aid into Ukraine,” Rutte said.

Rutte condemned Russia’s recent experimental missile launch, emphasizing that such provocations would neither alter the course of the war nor deter NATO’s support for Ukraine.

NATO members pledged a baseline of $42 billion in financial aid for this year and announced a new command center in Wiesbaden to coordinate military assistance and training.

Rutte stressed that the goal was to ensure Ukraine could negotiate peace from a position of strength when the time came. “If Ukraine decides to enter into talks with the Russians one day, they will do this from a position of strength,” he noted.

In a letter to NATO counterparts, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged the Alliance to extend an invitation, arguing it would dismantle one of Russia’s key justifications for its war.

“NATO has stated that Ukraine’s path to membership is ‘irreversible,’ but there is no agreement on a timeline or immediate invitation,” Sybiha remarked, citing the failure of the Budapest Memorandum. Under the 1994 agreement, Ukraine relinquished its nuclear arsenal in exchange for security assurances that proved ineffective. “This document failed to secure Ukrainian security and transatlantic security, so we must avoid (repeating) such mistakes,” Sybiha said.

Despite support from nations like the Czech Republic, consensus among NATO’s 32 members remains elusive. Hungary, citing the ongoing war, voiced opposition. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto remarked, “That country is at war, and a country at war cannot contribute to the security of the alliance.”

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the Alliance’s united resolve, “There is a shared determination to do everything necessary for Ukraine so that it can protect itself, protect its people, and ultimately find a just and durable solution to the Russian aggression.”

Rutte welcomed these contributions and stressed that Ukraine needed sufficient support not only to sustain its defense but also to decisively shift the trajectory of the war. “We must do more than just keep Ukraine in the fight. We must provide enough support to change the trajectory of this conflict once and for all,” he said.

Rutte-Blinken meeting

Blinken met with the NATO Secretary General at the sidelines of the Foreign Ministers Meeting.  Blinken and Rutte discussed key Alliance priorities such as concrete steps to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia’s aggression and strengthening NATO partnerships in the Middle East, North Africa, and Sahel regions. 

Blinken and Rutte jointly welcomed King Abdullah II of Jordan’s participation for the first time at a Foreign Ministers Meeting as an integral step for increasing cooperation with NATO’s Southern partners.  Both sides underscored the importance of Allies working collectively to promote security and stability throughout the Euro-Atlantic in the lead-up to the Hague Summit in June.

NATO’s role in the Middle East

King Abdullah joined discussions on common security challenges, including counterterrorism and regional stability. NATO announced plans to open a Liaison Office in Amman, which Secretary-General Rutte described as “an important step in making our deep relationships in the region even stronger.”

Jordan, a critical NATO partner in the Middle East, plays a key role in fostering regional stability. The Liaison Office will enhance collaboration on shared threats, including terrorism, cyberattacks, and hybrid warfare.

The partnership also underscores NATO’s commitment to addressing challenges in its southern neighborhood. Rutte emphasized that the Alliance’s security interests extend beyond Europe, stating, “The threats we face are global, and our partnerships in the Middle East are vital to maintaining peace and stability.”

As the meetings concluded, NATO’s priorities were clear; continued military aid to Ukraine, decisive countermeasures against Russian aggression, and strengthened alliances in the Middle East and beyond. While debates over Ukraine’s NATO membership remain unresolved, the Alliance’s commitment to supporting Ukraine’s immediate defense and long-term stability is unwavering.