Russian retreat in Ukraine crucial to NATO’s longevity | DW News

Hello, I'm Terry Martin. Thanks for joining us. NATO foreign ministers have gathered in Brussels to mark the alliance's 75th anniversary. April 4th marks the signing of the treaty in Washington in 1949 that established the transatlantic alliance against the perceived threat of the Soviet Union. Seventy-five years later, Russia's invasion of Ukraine has revitalized NATO's purpose. This week, the organization's foreign ministers are discussing a long-term aid package for Ukraine. In response to the anniversary, Russia's foreign ministry says it has no intention of entering a conflict with NATO countries. At a ceremony in Brussels, NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg stressed the value of unity between the members of the alliance. Europe needs America for its security. 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. Our Brussels bureau chief, Alexandra von Neumann, is covering this story. Alexandra, Jens Stoltenberg there has made an appeal for unity between the US and Europe within NATO. How unified is the alliance at this point? Well, the alliance at the moment is united, but of course the presidential election coming up in the US is looming large over every meeting of NATO allies. And it is enough for Donald Trump to question his commitment to the alliance on the campaign trail to send tremors across Europe. So, and knowing that, you understand how important it is for Jens Stoltenberg to call for unity, to make clear that the membership in the alliance is also in the interest of the United States. And that is also the aim of his proposal that he has put on the table for NATO to take a bigger role in coordinating the delivery of aid and also weapons to Ukraine, because he is trying to ensure a predictable and reliable help for Kiev, regardless of what is happening in the US, regardless of who is going to win the presidential election there. And this is also a signal to Washington that it is not only the US that is, you know, paying for the aid for Ukraine, that the Europeans are eager, ready and determined also to do so and to support Ukraine. Now, the alliance was founded to counter a perceived threat from the Soviet Union. Seventy-five years later, Russia now appears to be again the biggest threat to NATO. Is that how NATO sees it? Yes, there is no doubt about that. And during the ceremony today, the ceremony that was marking the 75th birthday of the alliance, we heard from many foreign ministers from countries that joined the alliance in 1999 or 2004, countries that remember what it is like to be under Soviet occupation or Soviet influence. And they were talking about that time. One of the foreign ministers here, I think it was the Estonian foreign minister, said that it was at that time a crazy decision to join NATO, to decide for themselves what kind of path they want to choose, regardless of what Russia was saying. And this is a big topic here, that Russia is again a big threat to NATO members. And the Latvian foreign minister was also talking about the biggest challenges maybe in the future, how to deal with Russia, how to deal with this threat that Russia is posing to the alliance. Now, NATO is backing Ukraine, providing as much aid for it as it can. To what degree is NATO's future dependent on the outcome of developments in Ukraine? To a big degree, I would say. We heard from the German foreign minister today who said that we need to remember that the war in Ukraine is just an eight-hour drive from Berlin. So you understand that many members of the alliance are worried that they could be next if Russia wins this war. And that is why they want to support Ukraine. But they need to do more because at the moment the Ukrainian forces are struggling, they are running out of ammunition and their front lines are reportedly at risk of collapsing. Alexander, thank you very much. That was our Brussels bureau chief, Alexander von Neumann. Now, the Ukraine aid proposal that NATO has put forth is being debated as NATO marks its 75th anniversary. The alliance was founded after the Second World War, as I said, to counter the perceived threat posed by the Soviet Union. And as the alliance looks to future challenges, one member state's challenging role, changing role rather, has come into sharp focus. NATO's first secretary-general, Lord Ismay, famously said the alliance was created in 1949 to keep the Soviets out, the Americans in, and the Germans down. Seventy-five years later, the dozen original members have added 20 more. They're still focused on keeping Russia out, as it wages a war at the borders of the alliance, and the Americans in as essential guarantors of Europe's security. But the original desire to keep Germany down is long gone, and some observers accuse Berlin of using history as an excuse to underperform in military spending and readiness. Being down after the end of the Cold War really became the thing. And it meant free riding. And what you can see now is an increasing number of countries ganging up on Germany, and rightly so, because they've got the memo, they've understood what needs to be done, that point and that purpose, and how to do it. And until Berlin gets there, though, we won't see the necessary unity in Europe to actually achieve that goal. That message that any crack in NATO cohesion or capabilities could encourage Kremlin aggression is regularly reiterated by frontline allies feeling more vulnerable since Moscow launched full-scale war on Ukraine in 2022. Countries like Estonia, where it's not just the 75th anniversary of NATO's founding after World War II, but also of the brutal Soviet exile of thousands of citizens. My mother was deported on her 15th birthday on 24th of March, 1949. My father's family had a farm on the island that was hit by a German bomb in 1941. So, perfect example of how it feels to be caught in the middle. These days, the middle for European allies may feel like it's between Moscow and Washington due to concern about declining U.S. support for transatlantic ties, especially ahead of November elections, that could bring the anti-NATO Donald Trump back to power. The first Trump term, of course, was not an easy time either. But at that time, you could still hope that Russia has also staked in its relationship with the West, and that has a moderating effect on its behavior. Now, that is no longer the case. I decided to conduct a special military operation. Is that what we hoped for when the Berlin Wall came down? Clearly not. Jamie Shea saw plenty of anniversaries in almost four decades at NATO, his last post dealing with emerging security challenges. To be fit for future birthdays, Shea says, the alliance needs to also see beyond Russia. Allies face other forms of threat, and if NATO doesn't help them deal with those other kinds of threat, whether it be climate change or cyber attacks or critical infrastructure protection or whatever, it will be less relevant in those particular capitals. For almost 75 years, this great alliance has shielded our nations. This anniversary, though, amid all the praise for NATO's longevity, there's broad agreement that the best way the alliance can defend itself against future Russian advances is ensuring there's a Russian retreat now in Ukraine.