By T. Jayani, JadeTimes News
NATO's outgoing Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, has warned Europe to brace for a decade long conflict in Ukraine. In an interview with the us, Stoltenberg explained the "paradox" of the war, the longer NATO commits to the fight, the quicker a resolution may be achieved. Since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full scale invasion in February 2022, Stoltenberg has urged European NATO members to increase their commitments, especially in light of potential reductions in US support if Donald Trump is re elected in November.
When asked if NATO should be prepared for the conflict to last over a decade, Stoltenberg affirmed, "Yes." He emphasized that sustained and robust support for Ukraine could hasten the war's end. Putin, believing he can outlast Western resolve, continues the conflict. Stoltenberg stressed that clear and enduring support for Ukraine is crucial for a resolution that maintains Ukraine's sovereignty.
In September, NATO will operationalize a command unit in Germany to coordinate support for Ukraine, highlighting the alliance's long term commitment. Stoltenberg's statements coincided with Germany's announcement to nearly halve its military aid to Ukraine next year, from approximately £6.7 billion to around £3.4 billion. Finance Minister Christian Lindner assured that Ukraine's financing remains secure due to a G7 initiative to raise $50 billion from interest on frozen Russian assets.
Concerns are growing in Ukraine and among European allies about potential cuts in US funding if Trump returns to office. Trump recently selected JD Vance, an isolationist Republican senator from Ohio, as his running mate. Vance has previously expressed indifference towards Ukraine and emphasized a US strategic pivot to East Asia. Despite this, Stoltenberg remains confident in continued US support for NATO, citing strong bipartisan backing in Congress and public opinion.
Stoltenberg advised that regardless of US commitment levels, NATO members should invest more in their defense, which would bolster the likelihood of sustained US involvement and strengthen European and Canadian defense capabilities. He acknowledged past criticisms from Trump about European reliance on US defense spending, noting that the situation has improved.
NATO members are committed to spending at least 2% of their GDP on defense annually by 2024. The UK is among the 23 of 32 NATO members meeting this target, currently spending 2.3% of GDP on defense. Stoltenberg concluded that NATO remains the most successful alliance in history due to its ability to unite around core values and expects this unity to continue post US elections.
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