75th, the summit

As NATO marks 75 years with a summit in Washington, D.C., it does so at a time when the alliance is facing unprecedented challenges and opportunities to reinforce its core values and strategic objectives. Tuesday’s brutal strike on a children’s hospital in Kyiv placed all this in stark relief and fully underlined the cruelty of Russia’s aggression and NATO’s duties in defending democratic values and international security.

Strengthening Support to Ukraine

This summit takes place against the background of a continuous Russian attack against Ukraine.

To support Ukraine “as long as it takes” is not good enough — it is about whatever it takes,

and, far greater, comprehensive strategy needs to be devised in order to prevent an overwhelmed Ukraine. Key allies need to take responsibility for more action. NATO’s new secretary-general should make this a priority so that Ukraine can receive clearer signals and substantive aid for defending its sovereignty.

Strategic Decisions and Military Aid

At the strategic level, NATO should provide more military aid to Ukraine, especially in terms of air defense, and adapt its rules of engagement for supplied weapons in response to yesterday’s attack on a children’s hospital in Kyiv. It should also be prepared to extend the perimeter of defense, as highlighted by the Polish-Ukrainian security cooperation agreement.

This agreement raises the question of whether it can defend against Russian missiles over Ukrainian territory — a crucial point for NATO to address.

Commitment to Ukraine’s Membership in NATO

NATO should reiterate Ukraine’s potential full membership in the Alliance. Whereas the latter is complex, the allies can take significant measures in order to integrate Ukraine into the fold.

The Washington summit should be more ambitious than the timid formulations of previous summits

and outline clear and credible prospective membership for Ukraine, including practical measures to help Ukraine defend itself, thereby letting Russia know that firm intent has pivoted toward gearing up Ukraine for integration into NATO.

Addressing Internal and External Challenges

The alliance is also a forum for both internal crises and external threats. It should, therefore, be stressed that cohesion within NATO comes about at a time when political winds are changing across its member states. The device the Alliance adheres to needs to project unity and strength, and it ought to project itself such that there can be no misunderstanding of the resolution to mutual defense. It includes ensuring regional plans putted at the Vilnius summit last year get implemented, pushing back against Sino-Russian cooperation in hybrid, economic, and space domain tandem approaches.

Mobilizing Resources and Leadership

It is only NATO and its member states that have the resources unmatched by others, which can guarantee victory if properly mobilized. For this to happen, there has to be honest leadership and a national strategy in each member state, and efforts put into explaining clearly the common goals and expectations of all citizens. Such leaders are needed in the alliance who will inspire societies to accept and manage the risks — fostering a sense of collective duty and purpose.

As NATO turns 75, the shocking recent attacks on children represent a stark reminder of what is at stake.

The Alliance should move beyond rhetoric,

and resolute and coherent actions to reinforce Ukraine, harden its defenses, and uphold fundamental values for which it stands, would be forthcoming. For NATO, formed in response to Russia’s threats against European security, this week’s Washington summit represents an opportunity to come out and assert its will and adaptiveness in an evolvingly turbulent geopolitical environment.

Now is the time for strategic clarity and strong support, to which NATO has a duty to rise, ensuring security and stability not only for its member states but also for the wider international community as such.