Embassy of Belgium in the United States of America’s Post

 ➡️ 75 years of NATO   ✍️ In honor of the 75th anniversary of NATO tomorrow, Annalena #Baerbock, Stéphane Séjourné and Radosław #Sikorskin, respectively Foreign Affairs ministers of Germany, France and Poland have published an insightful opinion piece for POLITICO Europe, reminding the pressing challenges the Organization faces.   “As Europeans, we are ready to do our part.” 🔊 They have called European allies to enhance their defense efforts within NATO, underscoring collective responsibility, increased defense spending, industrial utilization, and investment in future technologies. Recent discussions among foreign ministers highlight the growing prominence of the topic of European defense capabilities. Emphasizing the significance of NATO while stressing the necessity for the EU to increase its independence in defense matters, these leaders are navigating a complex security landscape. The commitment to bolstering defense spending in response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine underscores the urgency of the situation.   🔎 Have a look at the opinion piece: https://lnkd.in/euVJ6CXJ   Looking ahead for the future of NATO, what do you envision for the role of this organization in shaping the world order? Tell us in the comments 👇   #NATO #WeimarTriangle #Defense #Security #TransatlanticAlliance 

Foreign Ministers of Germany, Poland and France: “For Europe to be at peace, Russian imperialism must be stopped. We cannot allow for any “gray zones” because Putin sees them as an invitation to undermine territorial integrity and sovereignty, draw imaginary lines on the map and, ultimately, use military force. His full-scale invasion of Ukraine has also proven that a policy of concessions vis-à-vis Russia, in the hopes that it could bring peace or stability back to the Continent, is naive. “This is why European allies should shoulder their fair share of NATO’s collective burden and demonstrate readiness to take more responsibility for Europe’s defense. The enduring transatlantic bond remains the bedrock of our security, and we Europeans must address some of the most urgent shortcomings that have become painfully obvious during the past months and years: capability gaps, the readiness of our forces, production capacity, logistics, standardization and interoperability.” “We must not turn complacent. Rather, we must live up to the fact that this moment may define the future our children will live in.” https://lnkd.in/eGGiWYDS

📢 Hawaii’s Role in NATO 📢 Kevin Knodell from the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports on the bipartisan push to include Hawaii in NATO, reflecting NATO's increasing focus on the Pacific. Benedetta Berti, NATO’s Director of Policy Planning, attended our February conference in Waikiki, underscoring the region's strategic importance. In their PacNet article, David Santoro, our President, and Senior Advisor John Hemmings discuss the potential implications of a U.S.-China conflict over Taiwan and emphasize NATO’s economic and military deterrence strength. They argue that while a strike on Hawaii is "at the extreme end of the possible," it points to a potential crisis that the alliance must be ready to address. Read the full article for a detailed analysis: https://lnkd.in/gE6YJxrr #Hawaii #NATO #PacificForum #IndoPacific #USChinaRelations

The idea that the Europeans themselves are responsible for the defence and security of #Europe is older than #NATO itself. Initiatives like the Dunkirk & Brussels Treaty convinced the US Congress of the European capabilities as a reliable partner against the Soviets and led to the establishment of NATO in 1949. However, after the end of the Cold War the #US reluctance to facilitate a larger role for Europe in its security management along with the European nations taking the American security guarantee for granted stalled greater European investments in the continent's defence needs. By 1996, the average European expenditure had come down to 1.6 % of the GDP compared to 3% during the Cold War era. With the return of War to Europe there has been a strategic awakening and calls for greater European defence expenditure has received thumping support in the majority of capitals. At least two-third of the NATO allies have now crossed the 2 % of GDP expenditure threshold and some are eagerly looking for a revision and making 2.5 % of GDP expenditure on defence a reality. In my latest, read more about the European Pillar of the #Transatlantic Alliance and how the pillar has evolved, the challenges it faces and why strengthening it is the best thing Americans can do for Europe. Link- bit.ly/3LV4aqh Thanks

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Sunday offered a harsh rebuke to comments made a day earlier by presidential candidate Donald Trump, who suggested that if he were re-elected he would encourage Russia to invade U.S. allies that failed to contribute enough military spending.  Allies’ contributions have indeed grown, though they were already on the upswing after 2014, the year when the alliance formally agreed on the 2% goal and Russia annexed Crimea and intervened in eastern Ukraine. Ten of the alliance’s 31 members have now achieved the 2% goal, according to statistics released by NATO last year, a significant increase from 2014, when only three members met that benchmark. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an alliance of more than 30 countries, and its “Article 5” states that if one NATO member is attacked, “each and every other member of the Alliance will consider this act of violence as an armed attack against all members and will take the actions it deems necessary to assist the ally attacked.” #nato #militaryspending #usallies #usallies #foreignpolicy #uselection #russianthreat

Remarks by President Biden Before Working Session I of the NATO Summit, by Nine O’Clock THE PRESIDENT: Secretary-General, Allies, friends. Seventy-five years ago, when our nations created the Alliance, President Truman said, quote, “We hope to create a shield against aggression, the fear of aggression,” and to “permit us to get on with the real business” of creating “government and society.” For 75 years, our nations have grown and prospered behind the NATO shield. Today, we’re stronger than we’ve ever been. Since, I took office, we’ve doubled the number of battle groups at NATO’s eastern flank in — the United States has; Finland and Sweden have joined the Alliance; and the number of Allies spending at least 2 percent on defense has gone from 9 to 23. That’s not happened by chance but by choice. At our summit two years ago, we launched a plan to modernize our deterrence and our defense. And today, we have to ask ourselves: What is next? How can we keep making the shield stronger? One answer must be to strengthen our industrial base. US Embassy Bucharest, Romania https://lnkd.in/d-BvfxEb

The alliance faces numerous challenges. 🤔 To cope, European members should shoulder more of the collective burden. European states are heavily indebted and EU rules restrict additional borrowing; Europe’s defense plants and shipyards were massively scaled back from their Cold War peaks and are now struggling to expand; and like the US, the European members struggle to recruit defense industry workers and military personnel. It would take Europe at least a decade to reestablish its military to a suitable level.

The real threat to Europe is economic decline, geopolitical marginalisation and perpetual war. 5 consequences of a life without NATO — So the answer is clear. Life without NATO would be more dangerous and less prosperous. Russia and China would be the big winners at America's ...With the end of NATO, Europe and North America would also lose an important framework for legitimizing the collective use of military power.

Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership enhances the Alliance, especially through certain critical assets, such as Finland’s substantial reserve forces and Sweden’s robust defense industry. Ahead of this week’s NATO Summit in Washington D.C., I co-authored a piece with Wilson Beaver about the strategic advantages that Sweden and Finland — the newest members of NATO — bring to the Alliance. You can find the piece below: https://lnkd.in/gjzV9ncu

🪖 Who is the boss in NATO? Clearly the US. And what does that mean for Europe? Check this out. --- ▶️ For decades, the 🇺🇸 shoulder the lion’s share of NATO's expenditure (66%, USD 860 bn [2023]). The second biggest contributor, far behind, is 🇩🇪, followed by the 🇬🇧 and 🇫🇷 . ▶️ Consequently, it's evident whose military doctrine dictates the course of action. A fact that impedes Europeans from making sovereign foreign politics already for decades. This becomes particularly painful when European interests diverge from those of the US, such as in the case of Russia. While the European economy needs 🇷🇺 as a strong partner for their energy supply, Russia means nothing to the US and the US therefore obstruct Russo-European cooperation and understanding where possible (e.g. North Stream II). ▶️ The tumultuous withdrawal from Afghanistan 🇦🇫 in 2021 serves as a stark reminder of Europe's heavy reliance on the US military. During this chaotic event, European allies found themselves largely incapable of independently assessing the situation, instead relying on US protection for evacuation. --- 🗣️ In my opinion, Europeans should coalesce into a unified military force, enabling them to stand on equal footing with the USA, rather than remaining fragmented and overly reliant. Interestingly, the concept of an EU army, complete with standardized uniforms, weaponry, and budget, was on the brink of realization back in 1954. Did you know that? Let me know in the comments ⬇️ Source: https://lnkd.in/djCPmkJ5 , https://lnkd.in/dTF3bWfX , https://lnkd.in/dN-TFGmu #maxfactoftheday #geopolitics #worldaffairs #internationalrelations #defense #NATO #NATO75 #europeanarmy #EUarmy #business #foodforthought #factfulness This is a personal post and does not represent the opinions of my employer.