IRIA News

The two-day-long annual summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance (NATO) kicked off in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11, 2023. Leaders of 31 NATO member states gathered to overcome differences on Ukraine and Sweden’s membership in the alliance against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

“Lithuania seeks this summit to be remembered as the summit of decisions not just declarations,” Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said in a tweet ahead of the important summit as he spent a busy day welcoming the world leaders. 

The NATO leaders endorsed the alliance’s biggest military shakeup since the Cold War era. Inspired by Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, the highly anticipated defense plan of the 31-member alliance reaffirmed its commitment to respond to any attack from the Arctic and Baltic Sea regions through the northern Atlantic and south to the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

A joint statement released by the leaders addressed the ongoing issues in detail while heavily emphasizing on alliance’s security concerns amid Russia’s war with Ukraine.  “Peace in the Euro-Atlantic area has been shattered,” the leaders said in a statement. “Together, this family of plans will significantly improve our ability and readiness to deter and defend against any threats, including on short or no notice, and ensure timely reinforcement of all Allies.”

“Russia has increased its multi-domain military build-up and presence in the Baltic, Black, and Mediterranean Sea regions, and maintains significant military capabilities in the Arctic.” The statement said that “NATO and Allies will continue to undertake necessary, calibrated, and coordinated activities, including by exercising relevant plans.”

Highlights of the summit

At the annual NATO Summit 2023 in Vilnius, the members agreed to:

• Invest a minimum of 2% of GDP annual defense expenditure and committed to invest at least 20% of defense budgets on major equipment, including related research and development.
• NATO offers expanded political and practical support to Ukraine, including through the establishment of the NATO-Ukraine Council and a multi-year assistance program to support Ukraine’s deterrence and defense in the short, medium, and long term.
• The alliance welcomed Finland as NATO’s 31st member and said that it looked forward to welcoming Sweden as a full member of the alliance.
• Members considered Russia the most significant and direct threat to the Allies’ security and peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area.
• NATO agreed on a new generation of regional defense plans to significantly improve our ability and readiness to deter and defend against any threats and ensure timely reinforcement of all Allies, in line with its 360-degree approach.
• The members agreed that the NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) remains crucial for credible deterrence and defense.
• Energy security and threats posed by climate change were also discussed. The members said they will continue to develop NATO’s capacity to support national authorities in protecting critical energy infrastructure and address the impact of climate change on defense and security.

Today at #NATO Summit the allies took historic decisions that demonstrate our unity& strength:
– We agreed on new generation regional defense plans
– Ukraine’s path to #NATO was defined
– 2 % GDP on defence was agreed.

Vilnius summit is already the summit of decisions! pic.twitter.com/sQgu57uWQW

— Gitanas Nausėda (@GitanasNauseda) July 11, 2023

The NATO members committed to ambitious new national goals to strengthen national cyber defenses on a priority basis and mentioned the launch of NATO’s new Virtual Cyber Incident Support Capability (VCISC) in response to significant malicious cyber activities. In November this year, Berlin will host the first NATO Cyber Defense Conference.

NATO to boost defense assistance for Ukraine

Allies agreed to boost their support for Ukraine through a multi-year assistance program that would not only focus on providing weapons to Kyiv for its fight against the Russian invasion but also facilitate the transition of the Ukrainian armed forces in the long run, from Soviet-era to NATO standards. NATO partners also committed to helping rebuild Ukraine’s infrastructure, security, and defense sector as well as covering critical needs like fuel, demining equipment, and medical supplies.

The allies announced the establishment of the new NATO-Ukraine Council, which held its inaugural meeting in Vilnius with the participation of President Zelenskyy. According to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO-Ukraine council “is a strong package for Ukraine and a clear path towards its membership in NATO,” 

Leaders of the G7 countries also held a meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit and ratified a long-term security assistance arrangement with Ukraine. The G7 package includes defense equipment, training, and intelligence sharing for Kyiv. 

U.S. President Joe Biden suggested a long-term assistance model for Ukraine like his country’s agreement with Israel. Washington committed to providing $3.8 billion in military aid to Kyiv per year over a decade. In his meeting with President Biden, the NATO chief thanked him for his strong leadership and making the NATO alliance “united and even stronger”. Stoltenberg said that the Summit will send a clear message to Ukraine that “we stand by them as long as needed”, citing a new defense investment pledge.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that “We can never see a repeat of what has happened in Ukraine and this declaration reaffirms our commitment to ensure it is never left vulnerable to the kind of brutality Russia has inflicted on it again.”

No timeline for Ukraine’s NATO membership

Despite having extensive plans to assist Ukraine in its war against Russia, the NATO members concluded that this is not the right time for Kyiv to join the alliance as a formal member. The joint statement said that Ukraine’s accession into the largest military alliance would be completed when “members agree and conditions are met.”

“We reaffirm the commitment we made at the 2008 Summit in Bucharest that Ukraine will become a member of NATO, and today we recognize that Ukraine’s path to full Euro-Atlantic integration has moved beyond the need for the Membership Action Plan,” the statement said. “NATO Foreign Ministers will regularly assess progress through the adapted Annual National Program. The Alliance will support Ukraine in making these reforms on its path towards future membership.”

In response to the alliance’s stance over Ukraine’s membership, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced his disappointment saying it would be “absurd” if no time frame for membership were given. Reacting to the vague choice of words by NATO, he said: “It seems that there is no willingness to invite Ukraine to NATO or make it a member of the Alliance.” Despite Ukraine’s longstanding desire for membership, NATO members have shown caution in initiating the accession process while Ukraine is actively engaged in a war with Russia.

“I traveled here today with belief in a decision, with belief in partners, with belief in a strong NATO, a NATO which does not doubt, which does not lose time,” Zelenskyy told a crowd of thousands of Ukraine supporters in Vilnius alongside Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, who has staunchly backed Kyiv’s bid to join NATO. 

Sweden’s accession to NATO 

In a major development, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced his support for Sweden’s application to join the NATO military alliance.  Ankara agreed to clear the way for Sweden to join NATO following a meeting between President Erdogan, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Turkey’s sudden reversal would strengthen alliance unity and expansion before a critical summit focused on preparing to repel Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Glad to announce that after the meeting I hosted with @RTErdogan & @SwedishPM, President Erdogan has agreed to forward #Sweden‘s accession protocol to the Grand National Assembly ASAP & ensure ratification. This is an historic step which makes all #NATO Allies stronger & safer. pic.twitter.com/D7OeR5Vgba

— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) July 10, 2023

“This is a historic day,” Stoltenberg said at a news conference. “I’m glad to announce, President Erdogan has agreed to forward the accession protocol for Sweden to the Grand National Assembly as soon as possible and work closely with the assembly to ensure ratification.”

After Turkey’s endorsement, Hungary also ratified Sweden’s NATO accession. “Our position is clear: the government supports Stockholm’s accession to the Atlantic Alliance”, Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto. 

Biden welcomes Sweden’s entry into NATO 

U.S. President Biden, who fully supported Sweden’s NATO bid, welcomed the approval and said he looks forward to welcoming Sweden as the 32nd NATO ally. Biden held at least a 45-minute-long call with Erdogan ahead of his meeting with the Swedish Prime Minister, detailing the reasons Turkey should agree to let Sweden join the alliance. During a bilateral meeting at the NATO summit in Lithuania, President Biden told Erdogan, “Thank you for your diplomacy and your courage to take that on.”

It was great sitting down with President Erdoğan once again today in Lithuania for a NATO Summit made even more historic by Türkiye’s agreement on the admission of Sweden. pic.twitter.com/MAo1GKQoXQ

— President Biden (@POTUS) July 11, 2023

NATO’s expansion into Asia-Pacific 

The summit also hosted leaders from the Asia-Pacific region suggesting that the Ukraine war was not the only agenda of the high-level meeting. The Asia-Pacific contingent at the NATO talks included Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins. All four shared their views by linking the Ukraine war to the ongoing security situation in the Asia-Pacific region.

A joint statement of the summit put an increased emphasis on China for its increasing ties with Russia and showcased Beijing as a threat to European and North American security.  

“The People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) stated ambitions and coercive policies challenge our interests, security, and values. We remain open to constructive engagement with the PRC, including building reciprocal transparency, with a view to safeguarding the Alliance’s security interests. We continue to be confronted by cyber, space, hybrid, and other asymmetric threats, and by the malicious use of emerging and disruptive technologies,” the joint statement said. 

Speculations about NATO’s liaison office in Tokyo had been looming ahead of the alliance’s summit in Lithuania. The Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi also justified the actions last month by saying that it was necessary because the world had “become more unstable” since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, French President Emmanuel Macron nixed the plan last week by saying that “NATO stands for North Atlantic.” 

Beijing was quick to respond to NATO’s increasing interest in “eastward movement into the Asia-Pacific region” and warned any action threatening Beijing’s rights would be met with a resolute response. The Chinese mission at NATO said that “any act that jeopardizes China’s legitimate rights and interests will be met with a resolute response.”

China’s state-run Xinhua news agency also hit back by calling NATO a “grave challenge” to global peace and stability. “Despite all the chaos and conflict already inflicted, NATO is spreading its tentacles to the Asia-Pacific region with an express aim of containing China,” it said.