Against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and a highly polarized US election, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will celebrate its 75th anniversary during a summit in Washington, D.C. this week. The summit agenda will be dominated by three topics: NATO’s response to the war in Ukraine, bolstering allied defense and deterrence, as well as strengthening NATO partnerships, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. While highlighting a history of strength and cooperation of the alliance, NATO will need to present a plan that addresses these continued challenges to international security. 

NATO was originally founded with three broad aims of deterring Soviet expansionism, combatting nationalist militarism in Europe, and encouraging European political integration. The alliance has survived the fall of the Soviet Union and a growth in membership that points to success in ensuring the security of its allies. While these aims have been met, the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to threaten security on the European continent. Russia’s invasion has brought NATO to the forefront for states as a key tool for defense. With Russia posing a greater threat to the region, NATO has welcomed Finland and Sweden as members in the past two years. A record number of NATO members are also meeting the 2% GDP spending target on defense. Both the increase in membership and spending point towards the continued challenge that Russia poses to the security of NATO members. At the same time, these increases reflect the continued need for NATO as a unifying alliance for members to effectively coordinate a defense strategy. 

The United States has long served as a leader within the NATO alliance, historically contributing the greatest amount of money to the alliance. The upcoming presidential election here at home will have considerable repercussions on the relationship of the United States and NATO. President Biden aims to use the upcoming conference to reaffirm US support for the alliance and express solidarity with Ukraine, while Former President Trump has taken a critical approach towards the alliance. Recently, the former President sparked concern among officials at home and abroad after declaring he might not defend NATO members who fail to meet the 2% defense spending target. His rhetoric follows that of his first term in office, where he aimed to lighten the uneven burden the United States carries in financing the alliance. As both candidates present their foreign policy goals to voters, NATO will be able to use the summit to make its own case for the support of the American public.  

A critical question that must be answered at the upcoming conference is NATO’s relationship with Ukraine amidst ongoing Russian invasion. While it has been indicated that Ukraine will not receive a formal invitation, President Zelensky has been invited as an observer. This invitation will allow leaders to express solidarity with Ukraine without facing the larger complications that Ukrainian membership poses. As Ukraine makes the case for accession, the Article 5 mutual defense clause poses one of the greatest barriers. Article 5 outlines that if an ally is attacked, all other members will come to their aid. With Article 5 in place, however, Ukrainian membership risks direct conflict between NATO and Russia. Rather than focusing on Ukrainian membership at the summit, allies can use the forum to identify ways to support Ukraine’s defense. 

In the United States, aid towards Ukraine and support for NATO are two primary foreign policy discussions that will be on the table during the conference this week. As NATO celebrates seventy five years of history of the transatlantic partnership, this conference will be an opportunity for the alliance to make the case for its continued relevance. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has renewed the need for a transatlantic alliance that is prepared to defend allies against Russian expansion and security threats yet to come. 

For more information on the upcoming conference in Washington and the role of NATO in the world, check out the recent podcast between Tim Horgan, the Executive Director of the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire and Daniel Kochis, a senior fellow in the Center on Europe and Eurasia at Hudson Institute: World Affairs Council of New Hampshire - Episode #67 - July 2024 

By: Lucas Gendron, WACNH Intern