NATO offers Ukraine a new HQ in Germany – a "bridge" to Kyiv's eventual membership
By ramontomeydw // 2024-07-01
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The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will offer a "bridge" to Ukraine's eventual membership in the group – in the form of a new headquarters in Germany to manage military assistance to Kyiv. Officials from NATO and the U.S. confirmed the move, adding that the headquarters will be formally announced at the group's upcoming 75th anniversary summit, to be held in Washington, D.C. from July 9 to July 11. The mission will be known as the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) and will work to "reduce duplications and complications from the various kinds of weaponry sent to Ukraine. According to DNYUZ, the NSATU will be based at a U.S. military facility in the city of Wiesbaden in Germany's Hesse state. It will be headed by a three-star general – likely an American – reporting to Gen. Christopher Cavoli, the head of the U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe. NSATU will bring under one umbrella the activities of the current "capabilities coalition" of countries that provide various aspects of military aid to Ukraine like air defenses, artillery, F-16 fighter jets, arms and training. The U.S. and NATO officials who spoke on condition of anonymity added that the NSATU will also coordinate the training of Ukrainian military personnel in allied countries and the longer-term bilateral security agreements that different countries have signed with Ukraine. Former U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO Ivo Daalder explained that putting the NSATU under Cavoli's NATO hat will protect it from any political change in Washington. Because the mission will be under NATO's auspices, it is designed to function even if former U.S. President Donald Trump wins the November presidential elections and returns to the White House. "It's an effort at Trump-proofing, and a deliberate effort to bring Ukraine and NATO closer together to support Ukraine today – as well as into the future," said Daalder, now the president of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs think tank.

NSATU initiative sure to infuriate Russia

The Biden administration has not commented publicly on the NSATU initiative's details. But U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that NATO's 75th anniversary summit would show that allies are taking "concrete steps" to bring Ukraine closer. He added that it would also ensure that Kyiv has a "bridge to eventual membership." According to DNYUZ, the Biden administration and NATO officials came up with the idea as a way to give something solid to Kyiv at the summit – even as they maintain the time is not right for Ukraine to join. The hope is that the mission and the commitment it represents will satisfy Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and lead to a smoother summit. (Related: The outcome of Ukraine's war with Russia will determine whether it achieves NATO membership.) Last year, Zelensky and other Central European nations fervently hoped that NATO would offer Ukraine membership negotiations during the 2023 NATO summit held in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. But the alliance refused to offer Ukraine a fixed timeline and clear path to membership or to allow negotiations on membership to begin, driving Zelensky to voice out his displeasure. All NATO member countries are on board the NSATU's establishment. However, according to Daalder, Germany objected to calling it a "mission" to avoid the implication that NATO was at war with Russia. While the group has yet to declare war with Moscow, its assistance of Ukraine makes it a party to the conflict. Outgoing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg vaguely touched on the NSATU initiative at a June 14 news conference, which followed a meeting of NATO defense ministers on the same day. He called the new mission a "key summit deliverable" and a further step "on Ukraine's path to NATO membership." Stoltenberg reiterated that the initiative would "put our support to Ukraine on a firmer footing for years to come." He added: "These efforts do not make NATO a party to the conflict, but they will enhance our support to Ukraine to uphold its right to self-defense." But ultimately, the NSATU will surely infuriate Russia and further derail potential peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin has imposed two requirements before talks to end the Russia-Ukraine war could begin – Ukraine must pull out all its troops in territories annexed by Russia and must abandon its intent to join NATO. Listen to the Health Ranger Mike Adams explaining that the U.S. and NATO have already decided to take the American people to war below. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

U.S., Ukraine sign 10-year bilateral security agreement backed by nothing. NATO to overstep Russia's red line as it mulls sending troops to train Ukrainian armed forces. NATO chief calls for annual contribution of 40 BILLION EUROS for Ukraine until Russia is defeated. Sources include: DNYUZ.com Brighteon.com
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