NATO Summit Declaration Affirms Ukraine’s Eventual Membership
Leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine’s eventual membership in the alliance at a summit in Vilnius on July 11, 2023. The declaration issued by the leaders said, “Ukraine’s future is in NATO.”
The declaration also said that NATO would help Ukraine to make progress on military interoperability as well as on additional democratic and security sector reforms. However, the declaration did not specify when or under what conditions Ukraine would be invited to join the alliance.
The decision to reaffirm NATO’s commitment to Ukraine’s membership was seen as a strong message to Russia, which has been waging a war against Ukraine since 2014. The declaration also came at a time when Finland and Sweden were applying for NATO membership, which would mark a significant expansion of the alliance into the Nordic region.
Background
Ukraine has been seeking NATO membership since 2008. However, NATO has been reluctant to offer Ukraine a Membership Action Plan (MAP), which is the first step on the road to membership. This is because NATO has been concerned about provoking Russia, which has seen NATO expansion as a threat to its security.
The war in Ukraine has changed the calculus for NATO. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shown that the country is willing to use military force to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO. This has led NATO to conclude that it needs to do more to support Ukraine, including by offering it a MAP.
The Declaration
The declaration issued by the NATO leaders at the Vilnius summit is a significant step forward in Ukraine’s journey towards membership. The declaration states that NATO “will continue to provide Ukraine with political and practical support, including through enhanced comprehensive assistance.” It also says that NATO will “help Ukraine to make progress on military interoperability as well as on additional democratic and security sector reforms.”
The declaration does not specify when or under what conditions Ukraine will be invited to join NATO. However, it is clear that NATO is committed to Ukraine’s eventual membership. This is a major victory for Ukraine, and it is a sign that NATO is taking the threat from Russia seriously.
Implications
The NATO summit declaration has several implications. First, it sends a strong message to Russia that NATO will not be deterred from expanding into the former Soviet Union. Second, it provides a boost to Ukraine’s morale as it continues to fight against Russia. Third, it could lead to an expansion of NATO into the Nordic region, as Finland and Sweden are now considering joining the alliance.
The NATO summit declaration is a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. It is a sign that NATO is committed to supporting Ukraine, and it could have far-reaching implications for the future of European security.
The NATO summit declaration that says “Ukraine’s future is in NATO” is a significant step forward in Ukraine’s journey towards membership. The declaration sends a strong message to Russia that NATO will not be deterred from expanding into the former Soviet Union. It also provides a boost to Ukraine’s morale as it continues to fight against Russia. The declaration could also lead to an expansion of NATO into the Nordic region, as Finland and Sweden are now considering joining the alliance. The NATO summit declaration is a sign that NATO is committed to supporting Ukraine, and it could have far-reaching implications for the future of European security.