Key points
- The NATO summit in The Hague was not a breakthrough. But important decisions were made.
- NATO countries have agreed to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. Poland is already one of the leaders.
- Executive Director of the Ukrainian Center for Security and Cooperation Dmytro Zhmailo commented on the results of the NATO summit in The Hague.
The NATO summit in The Hague was not a breakthrough for the entire Alliance, although important decisions on defense were made. But the main thing is that the Alliance members adhere to them.
The executive director of the Ukrainian Center for Security and Cooperation, Dmytro Zhmaylo, told Channel 24 about this. It is known that NATO countries have agreed to increase defense spending by 5% of GDP until 2035.
Poland is among the leaders
As Zhmailo noted, the adoption of various declarations and the actual implementation of decisions do not always coincide. Currently, one of the leaders in NATO is Poland, whose defense spending amounts to 4.7% of GDP.
They buy both American and South Korean equipment. But the situation there is not the best. According to sociology, only 10% of citizens are ready to defend their country there. Who will master this equipment then?, Zhmailo said.
The Baltic states are also actively investing in defense. In particular, Estonia is aware that Putin could attack them after the ceasefire in Ukraine. The Russian dictator may well want to test whether NATO is ready to adhere to its Article 5 on the collective defense of the Alliance countries.
Please note! On the eve of the NATO summit, Trump made an ambiguous statement about Article 5. But at the summit itself, he emphasized that the US is with Europe “to the end.”
Ukraine is also working to “wake up” European countries. The threat from Russia is growing – and they need to be prepared.
Against the background of Washington abdicating responsibility for Europe's security, which country can strengthen it? It is Ukraine. We have advanced military experience and technologies. We need funds and additional areas to deploy production. Including on the territory of NATO countries. This will significantly strengthen NATO's eastern flank, Zhmailo emphasized.
Let us add that Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a conversation with Donald Trump at the NATO summit in The Hague. The US President called this meeting pleasant.
