"Ukrainian identity" stirs up NATO summit, cluster bombs create division, and the issue of expansion deepens differences. Russia | NATO | Ukraine
Global Times comprehensive report: "NATO's unity will be tested at the summit." With the NATO summit held from July 11th to 12th in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, multiple Western media outlets reported on this topic that this military alliance is facing new pressure as Russia's special military operation against Ukraine is not yet over. The most severe challenge is how Ukraine can integrate into NATO. According to a report on the CNBC website in the United States, some member states believe that Ukraine should fulfill its commitments on the issue of joining NATO, which can also be a necessary step to prevent "Russia's invasion of Eastern Europe"; Other member states are concerned that the actions may be seen as provocation and could escalate into broader conflicts. The Guardian believes that in the context of Ukraine's accession to NATO, the Vilnius summit will focus on other commitments to Kiev, and it is expected that countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany will guarantee other military assistance and training. However, due to widespread criticism from the United States, including its allies, over the decision to provide cluster bombs to Ukraine, the outside world remains cautious about what assistance NATO leaders can provide to Ukraine and what security commitments they will ultimately make. On the 10th local time, US President Biden and British Prime Minister Sunak held a meeting in London, with "whether Ukraine can join NATO" and "providing cluster bombs to Ukraine" being two key issues.
Ukraine's accession to the treaty? No consensus reached among members
"Ukraine's accession to the treaty may become a 'dramatic' topic," wrote the German newspaper Frankfurt Review in a report on the upcoming NATO summit on the 11th. The report states that this summit requires important decisions to be made on the future of Ukraine and NATO. Ukraine hopes to receive specific commitments to join NATO. Joining NATO requires unanimous agreement from member countries. At present, the Baltic countries and Poland have expressed their support. But so far, the United States and Germany have not done so. Before the official summit, diplomats attempted to reach a "comprehensive consensus". NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg will work towards unity.
After the conflict between Russia-Ukraine conflict, Ukraine has always hoped to accelerate the process of integration with NATO. This issue has become a key topic of intense negotiations between the 31 NATO member countries for months, and one of the most important agendas of this NATO summit. However, there are differences within NATO regarding when to invite Ukraine to join. NATO's "Eastern Wing" countries hope to take swift action, believing that this can "deter Russian aggression.". However, countries such as the United States advocate adopting a more cautious approach.
According to CNN, US President Biden said in an interview with the media on the 9th that Ukraine was "not ready" to join NATO. It was "premature" for Ukraine, which was still in the midst of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, to begin the process of joining NATO. Biden also said that only after the end of the Russia-Ukraine conflict can NATO consider Ukraine's "accession". NATO members have not reached a consensus on when to allow Ukraine to join NATO. German government sources also stated that "there is no consensus among allies." The source revealed that from Germany's perspective, the current focus should be on helping Ukraine in a very specific way. The German newspaper Bild reported, citing NATO insiders, that the German government and the US government hope to jointly reject Ukraine's request to join NATO.
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The Guardian reported that Sunak had expressed his desire to collaborate with allies to discuss ways for Ukraine to join NATO. But after his meeting with Biden ended, his spokesperson stated that the specific mechanism remains to be discussed. The spokesperson also stated that it is inappropriate for Ukraine to join NATO while the war with Russia is ongoing.
Before the official NATO summit, many Western media believed that Ukraine was pessimistic about joining NATO before the Vilnius summit. However, according to a report by the Ukrainian National News Agency on the 10th, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba stated on the same day that after tense negotiations, NATO member countries have reached a consensus that Ukraine can bypass NATO's "member state action plan". This is also a long-awaited decision by Ukraine, which will accelerate Ukraine's path to NATO. As of the 10th, there is currently no relevant news from NATO. A Western official told Agence France Presse on the 10th that the "Member State Action Plan" is just one step towards joining NATO, and even if the plan is cancelled, Ukraine still needs to undergo further reforms.
CNN reports that under the continuous state of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, "Ukraine's accession to NATO" may become one of the biggest tipping points of the organization. The report quoted analysts as saying, "Ukraine and many NATO allies are calling for clearer paths, roadmaps, and some kind of statement in Vilnius to show Ukraine what it needs to do to join the organization. I think this is very important for NATO's credibility."
Russian presidential press secretary Peskov stated on the 10th that Ukraine's accession to NATO will have "very negative" consequences for European security and requires a firm response from Russia.
The controversial decision by the US may "divide NATO"
Some Western media believe that in the absence of a commitment to Ukraine joining NATO at the Lithuania summit, NATO is expected to focus on discussing how to provide assistance to Ukraine. On the 9th, the US "Political News Network" reported that Washington is eager to reach an agreement with NATO allies Britain, Germany, and France on providing Ukraine with a package of security commitments in order to submit the relevant agreement to the entire military alliance at the NATO summit. It is reported that the four countries have been discussing this issue with Ukrainian leaders for several weeks and have made contact with other allies within NATO, the European Union, and the G7. The governments of the four countries plan to announce a framework agreement at this summit, hoping that other member countries can make security commitments together with them.
According to the Munich Mercury on the 10th, a senior German government official revealed on the same day that Germany will make an important new commitment to provide military equipment to Ukraine at the NATO summit to support Kiev's counterattack against Russia. The official stated that the commitment was "very substantial". The official also stated that the NATO summit will not issue an "invitation to join" to Ukraine, emphasizing that Berlin is more inclined towards "specific assistance" rather than "symbolic assistance.".
As the United States attempts to reach an agreement with its allies on aid to Ukraine, its decision to provide cluster bombs to Ukraine has been widely questioned. According to the BBC, since two thirds of NATO members have signed the Oslo Convention on Cluster Munitions, Spain, Germany and other countries have expressed their disagreement with the relevant decisions of the United States.
According to Agence France Presse on the 10th, during a meeting with Sunak on the same day, Biden stated that the decision to provide relevant weapons was "very difficult", but the Ukrainian army conducting the counterattack had "run out of ammunition". The report mentioned that after the US decided to provide cluster bombs to Ukraine, Sunak did not directly criticize them. The Daily Telegraph of the UK reported on the 10th that during a meeting with Biden, Sunak stated that the use of cluster bombs in Ukraine is "not encouraged".
"The United States hopes to provide cluster bombs: decision to potentially split NATO," German newspaper "Munich Mercury" reported on the 9th that Biden announced the delivery of cluster bombs to Ukraine, but within NATO, delivery has caused problems. It is expected that Biden will answer questions from allies in Lithuania. The Canadian newspaper Obligatory commented that the United States' decision to provide cluster bombs to Ukraine has crossed a new line. On the 10th, Agence France Presse commented that as Western leaders gather in Lithuania, the controversial decision of the United States has triggered a "rare lack of unity".
Biden's NATO commitments are under increasing scrutiny
According to BBC reports, in addition to the aforementioned differences, there are also differing opinions among NATO member countries regarding the selection of the next Secretary General and Sweden's accession to NATO. The Los Angeles Times reported on the 9th that the cohesion among NATO member states is being undermined by endless debates. The New York Times reported on the 10th that unity within NATO is becoming difficult to maintain.
NBC believes on the 10th that the White House's message about Biden making NATO "more united" than ever before may be increasingly scrutinized in the coming days. Biden will emphasize in his speech on Wednesday local time how the United States can work with allies and partners to support Ukraine, defend democratic values, and take action to address global challenges. However, internal disagreements within NATO may undermine the United States' commitment to revitalizing NATO.
On the 10th, the Russian newspaper "Shimbun" reported, citing Russian experts, that the organizers of this NATO summit intended to demonstrate European Atlantic unity and send a clear signal to the world that the era of NATO's "brain death" as described by French President Macron has passed. But it has been proven that Macron's statement is correct. Behind the guise of transatlantic unity lies the contradictions among member states. The Ukrainian crisis has exposed the rigidity and obsolescence of this military alliance. The "unity" formed by NATO countries on the basis of anti Russia will only cover up the expanding differences between some countries.
[Global Times Special Correspondent in Britain, Germany and France Chen Jiacun Aoki Yu Qi Global Times Special Correspondent Zhen Xiangyu Yang Liu Zhi]]
