As NATO marks its 75th anniversary, US says Ukraine will eventually join

NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg reminded the United States that it needs allies more than ever as foreign ministers marked the 75th anniversary of the alliance on Thursday in Brussels. NATO has expanded since Russia invaded Ukraine, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying that Ukraine will join.

"Europe needs North America for its security," Stoltenberg said Thursday at a ceremony at NATO's headquarters on the second day of a two-day summit of foreign ministers aimed at shoring up support for Ukraine.

"At the same time, North America also needs Europe. European allies provide world-class militaries, vast intelligence networks and unique diplomatic leverage, multiplying America's might."

The ceremony, which included cake and marching bands, marked the 75th anniversary of the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty on 4 April, 1949, which established the political and military alliance.

What began as a 12-member alliance from North America and Europe now counts 32 members, including two – Finland and Sweden – that joined in direct response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

"Democratic nations, free people chose to join, unlike how Russia expands by annexation or illegal aggression," Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said on Thursday.

Ukraine a candidate

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters that Ukraine itself will join the alliance at some point.

"Ukraine will become a member of NATO. Our purpose at the summit is to help build a bridge to that membership," said Blinken, adding that support for Ukraine remains “rock solid” among member states.

European leaders have been anxious about US support for Ukraine, as a $60 billion aid package is held up in Congress by Republicans.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba attended the summit to press for more air defence systems, which he said they agreed to.

"Allies will undertake an exercise of allocating or finding this – identifying these additional air defence systems in order to bring them to Ukraine, to provide them to Ukraine and help defend our skies,” he told reporters.

On Wednesday, NATO ministers agreed to start planning to play a greater role in coordinating military aid to Ukraine.

Under a proposal by Stoltenberg, NATO would take over work done by a US-led coalition known as the Ramstein group to guard against any cut in support if Donald Trump is re-elected president in November.

Diplomats said that Stoltenberg also proposed a fund of €100 billion to support Ukraine's military over five years.

(with Reuters)