The leaders of the NATO countries decided on Thursday 24 March at their summit in Brussels to extend the mandate of the Secretary General of the Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, by one year, until 30 September 2023.
“As we face the greatest security crisis in a generation, we stand together to keep our Alliance strong and our citizens safe”, stressed Stoltenberg, who took up the post on 1 October 2014.
Support for Ukraine, condemnation of Russia
At their summit, leaders reiterated their support for Ukraine, adding that the extent and nature of this support would be discussed again at the foreign ministers' meeting in April.
“I think what Ukraine needs most is hope, modern weapons, money to survive and humanitarian aid”, said Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša.
Participating in the summit via video conference from Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the Allies to do more. “You have thousands of fighter planes. But we haven’t been given any yet!”, he said. Adding: “You have at least 20,000 tanks [...] Ukraine has asked for one percent of all your tanks! Give them to us or sell them to us! But we still don’t have a clear answer”.
The French president refused to accept his request. “There is a limit: not becoming a co-belligerent”, said Emmanuel Macron, considering that delivering planes or tanks was co-belligerence.
In addition to additional military support, the Allies “will continue to provide assistance in areas such as cybersecurity and protection against threats of a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear nature”, the joint statement said. Mr Stoltenberg said this support could include detection, protection and medical supplies as well as training in decontamination and crisis management.
“Any use of chemical or biological weapons by Russia would be unacceptable and would have severe consequences”, warned the Allies, who have also stepped up their preparedness against the risk of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.
The Allies also urged President Putin to immediately end the war and withdraw his armed forces from Ukraine. In their view, Russia must show that it is serious about negotiating and must therefore implement an immediate ceasefire. “We strongly condemn Russia’s devastating attacks on civilians, including women, children and people in vulnerable situations”, they said in their statement. They will work with the rest of the international community to ensure that those responsible for violations of international law and humanitarian law, including war crimes, are held accountable.
The war has already seen “large-scale atrocities”, denounced Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo, adding that the acts should be documented so that they can be prosecuted later. Putin “has already crossed the red line into barbarism”, added his British counterpart, Boris Johnson.
In their joint statement, the leaders therefore warned that they remained “determined to maintain internationally coordinated pressure on Russia”.
The Allies also urged all non-NATO countries, including China, to respect the world order, to refrain from supporting the Russian war effort in any way, and to avoid any action that would help Russia circumvent sanctions.
“China should not provide economic or military support for the Russian invasion. Instead, Beijing should use its significant influence on Russia and promote an immediate and peaceful resolution”, Stoltenberg said. For Mr de Croo, “the message to China is very clear: stay away”.
Strengthening the Alliance’s eastern flank
In addition, the Allies decided to strengthen the Alliance’s position on its eastern flank. “We will continue to take all necessary measures to protect the populations of member countries, to ensure their security and to defend every inch of Alliance territory. Our commitment to Article 5 of the Washington Treaty is iron-clad”, the leaders said in their statement.
According to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, “no one can feel safe”. Russia “wants to go further, against the eastern members of NATO. The Baltic States. Poland, of course”, Zelensky also warned via video.
The NATO Secretary General announced the establishment of four battlegroups in Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary, in addition to the four battlegroups already present in Poland and the Baltic States. The latter called for not being forgotten. “We can’t have a plan to defend the country alone. We need to move from a deterrence posture to defence planning”, explained Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas.
The Lithuanian President stressed that his country was surrounded by highly militarised areas: Belarus and the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. “We have to create a deterrent through a very credible deployment of NATO troops”, he added, explaining that his country was also increasing its defence spending.
The leaders also decided to take long-term action, committing to accelerate the Alliance’s transformation “in the face of a more dangerous strategic reality, including the adoption of the next Strategic Concept in Madrid”.
“We will also significantly strengthen our longer-term deterrence and defence posture and further develop the full range of forces and capabilities needed, at the required readiness level, to maintain a credible deterrence and defence”, they warned. According to Mr Stoltenberg, leaders should decide on the details at the Madrid summit in June.
“Security is not free and doing more will cost more”, the secretary-general warned, as the Allies submit further plans in Madrid on how to deliver on defence investment promises.
Finally, noting that NATO’s door was open, the leaders announced “tailored “ support for partners affected by Russian threats and interference. The foreign ministers will discuss concrete proposals in April.
See the statement: https://aeur.eu/f/xo (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)