Gerard Hetman’s Post

Lots of people are discussing #NATO, but what is it exactly and why does it exist? Check out this informative article by Jonathan Masters from the Council on Foreign Relations that clearly explains what NATO offers and provides to #Europeans, #Americans, Canadians, and the world. As an alliance, NATO needs to effectively communicate its purpose and this article does just that. #globalsecurity #alliance #foreignrelations

After two centuries of neutrality and two years of diplomatic efforts, Sweden is set to officially join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as its 32nd member on March 7, 2024. Both the White House and the Swedish government confirmed this decision, emphasizing Sweden's strong democracy, capable military, and shared values with NATO. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will deposit the formal documentation in a ceremony with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, marking Sweden's immediate accession to the alliance. The move is seen as enhancing the security of the United States and its allies, with the Swedish flag expected to be raised at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Monday. Sweden's decision to join NATO comes after a historic period of non-alignment spanning two centuries. Despite being militarily connected with the US and European Union, Sweden has remained neutral since the Napoleonic conflicts of the early 19th century, avoiding involvement in both world wars. The shift towards NATO membership was prompted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. While Finland, Sweden's Nordic neighbour, was welcomed into NATO in 2023, Sweden faced diplomatic hurdles, including disputes with Turkey over freedom of expression and objections from Hungary, complicating its accession. As Sweden becomes a NATO member, it will play a crucial role in linking the Atlantic and Baltic states. Currently participating in NATO's Nordic Response Exercise, Sweden's advanced military capabilities, including submarines and Gripen fighter jets, position it strategically within the alliance. Despite some concerns among the Swedish public about sacrifices made for NATO membership, a majority believes it will enhance the country's security. Meanwhile, Russia has announced plans for unspecified military countermeasures in response to Sweden's NATO accession, raising tensions in the region. Source: Reuters, dpa, AFP Assessment This change it is highly likely that this will increase NATO's security and cause significant strategic issues for Russia. In particular the Baltic Sea is now NATO's. Follow us to join the intelligence community! #russia #nato #sweden #security #europe

The appearance of Russian flags over the captured city of Vuhledar marks another step in Moscow’s ongoing military offensive in Ukraine. This development signals that the Kremlin remains committed to its long-term campaign, with President Vladimir Putin continuing to refer to the conflict as a “special military operation.” His goal appears to be the dismantling of Ukrainian statehood and the expansion of Russian influence. Each city that falls under Russian control provides Moscow with a stronger foothold for further advances in Ukraine. #EUToday #StandWithUkraine

❗ The report, written by Lukasz Kulesa, Marcin Terlikowski, Maria Geyer and Andrea Rotter, offers insights and recommendations on Weimar Triangle policy towards Ukraine and Russia, based on a workshop with experts from France, Germany and Poland, convened in Warsaw by #PISM and Hanns Seidel Foundation. #EuropeanSecurity #WeimarTriangle 📑 You can download the report here ➡ https://tiny.pl/dqst9   ➡ Beyond increasing bilateral military support for #Ukraine, #France, #Germany, and #Poland could announce a Weimar Assistance Package that addresses Ukraine’s military needs and look into establishing a Consultation Mechanism with Ukraine, to prepare for contingencies and worst-case scenarios such as Ukraine’s military setbacks or withdrawal of U.S. support. ➡ The Weimar Triangle's future approach to #Russia could involve strengthening #NATO deterrence, presenting a set of guiding principles for a long-term Western strategy toward Russia, and developing a common Weimar position on any potential Russian diplomatic initiatives. ➡ The Weimar Triangle, comprising France, Germany, and Poland, could play a more active role in shaping European security. The report suggests measures for enhancing cooperation and developing a common approach towards Ukraine and Russia. #EuropeanSecurity #WeimarTriangle 🔹 Many thanks to all engaged in the project, especially to the experts from the Weimar Triangle states who participated in the November 2023 workshop!

REALLY BIG NEWS!! Sweden formally joins NATO military alliance, ending centuries of neutrality Sweden has officially joined military alliance NATO. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson traveled to Washington, D.C., this week to hand over the final documents. The country first bid to join the alliance in May 2022. But resistance from NATO member Hungary delayed the process. Sweden officially joined NATO as its 32nd member on Thursday, almost two years after first applying to the military alliance. Earlier on Thursday, the Swedish government said in a statement it was holding an extraordinary meeting to vote on joining NATO after all current members had approved its accession to the military alliance. The news was then confirmed later Thursday with a statement from NATO, with Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg saying the country was “taking its rightful place at our table.” “Sweden’s accession makes NATO stronger, Sweden safer, and the whole Alliance more secure. I look forward to raising their flag at NATO HQ on Monday,” he added. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson traveled to Washington, D.C., this week to hand over the final documents. The country first applied to join NATO in May 2022, not long after Russia’s war on Ukraine began. This marked a significant change in Sweden’s previous policy of military non-alignment which stretches back to the Napoleonic Wars. Finland became an official member of NATO last April, also prompted by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine. Authorities in both Helsinki and Stockholm decided that in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, their nations were no longer safe on their own and applied to join the alliance a few months later.  NATO members Hungary and Turkey delayed the process of Sweden’s accession, with both countries only voting in favor of it this year. All existing members must approve a new country joining the alliance, whose key principle is that an attack on one of them is an attack on all of them. Hungary’s governing party, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, long opposed Sweden’s NATO membership amid Sweden’s criticism of the state of democracy in Hungary. The prime ministers of both countries met in Budapest, Hungary, last month and committed to work through differences, saying they would “die for each other.” Turkey, meanwhile, ratified Sweden’s NATO membership in January. It had previously said that Sweden was too tolerant of group’s that Turkey’s government views as security threats. Anti-Muslim protests in Sweden last year further soured relations. https://lnkd.in/gDqnx2Bc #broker #brokers #mortgage #mortgagebroker #mortgagebrokers #loanoriginator

Top NATO diplomats decide to create bloc’s mission on Ukraine — Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski noted that the mission will not participate in combat in Ukraine BRUSSELS/ The North Atlantic Treaty Organization will create a mission to support Ukraine, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said following a meeting of top NATO diplomats in Brussels. "We have made the decision to establish a NATO mission [on Ukraine]. This doesn’t mean that we’re entering the war, but rather that we’ll now be able to utilize NATO’s coordinating, training and planning capabilities to support [Ukraine] in a better manner," the Polish Foreign Ministry quoted him as saying on the X social network. Earlier, Sikorski announced plans on creating such a mission before the meeting in Brussels. He noted that the mission will not participate in combat in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron said on February 26 that some 20 Western countries taking part in a recent Paris meeting on further assistance for Kiev had discussed the possibility of sending ground troops to Ukraine. According to the French leader, no consensus was reached on the issue but such a possibility cannot be ruled out in the future. After the meeting, most of the countries that took part in it, including Poland, stated that they had no plans to send troops to Ukraine and oppose the idea of direct involvement in military operations against Russia. #business #finance #financialservices

SWEDEN´S NATO ACCESSION IN CHINESE MEDIA In Chinese state media, #Sweden’s recent #NATO #accession is discussed with a negative overtone based on general sentiments towards the military bloc. 🇨🇳🗞️ 🇺🇸⚡️ Unsurprisingly, Russian state-promoted narratives on NATO’s purpose to maintain US hegemony and seek confrontation are widely reproduced. 🇸🇪🙅 Meanwhile, NATO-critical voices from Sweden itself are also amplified to depict the accession as unpopular among the majority of the country’s population. 🇪🇺🪖 Overall, Chinese state media intends to convince its readers that Europe will become less safe due to NATO’s expansion. Article by Sebestyén Hompot   Article available here: https://lnkd.in/e3Uzbjwj

#NATO75LV20 For NATO, its 75th anniversary; for Latvia, its 20th anniversary of joining NATO! Twenty years ago, Latvia and its Baltic sisters joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, an alliance that provides the cornerstone of defense upon which Latvia has established itself as an independent, democratic nation. NATO protects our Latvian-American interests of freedom and security in Latvia and beyond. Today on NATO’s 75th anniversary, ALA expresses its deepest gratitude to its countless members, donors, volunteers, partners, past leaders and friends who helped gain support from the United States and enable Latvia’s accession into the Alliance. Without robust U.S. leadership to support the Baltics then – and a strong NATO now – Latvia would fall victim to the same brutal assault that Ukraine suffers today at the hands of the murderous Putin regime. We invite you to reflect on those efforts – and the value that they yield 20 years later – chronicled by our partner advocacy organization, the Joint Baltic American National Committee (JBANC): The Baltic Journey to NATO:

Reorganising Wagner as Africa Corps enables Russia to expand its Africa strategy through direct state means. The Russian military company Wagner appears to have been renamed the Africa Corps by Moscow, and brought under the control of Russia's Defence Ministry. What does the government takeover of the company mean for security in Africa? Russia's economic, diplomatic and military interests in Africa have been increasing in the past few years. And while Russia-Africa summits enable the country to wield

#UKRAINERUSSIAWAR. Russian plane from New York to Washington. Zelensky signs security agreements with EU. Moscow attacks Ukrainian airports ready to host Western planes and weapons The Financial Times fears that European NATO countries lack military resources and will not be able to send enough soldiers to the front in the event of a war with Russia. On paper, NATO’s European allies have a total of 1.9 million troops, enough to counter Russia. However, in reality, it will be difficult for NATO countries to attract more than 300 thousand people to participate in a potential military conflict, and even more so, it will take months to recruit such a number of people. #agcnews #russia #ukraine #War https://lnkd.in/dCugTKbC