BRUSSELS(Imran Saqib Ch) – A two-day conference of Foreign Ministers culminated in Brussels with a significant meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council and a separate assembly with Indo-Pacific allies and the European Union. This day also marked the 75th anniversary of NATO’s establishment. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg celebrated this milestone, stating, “Since 1949, we have evolved into the most potent and triumphant Alliance in history.”
At the ministerial meeting’s closure, Mr. Stoltenberg expressed gratitude for the Allies’ sustained reinforcement of Ukraine. He underscored recent contributions, such as Germany’s allocation of nearly 600 million euros to the Czech-led artillery initiative, the United Kingdom’s supply of 10,000 drones, France’s provision of additional missiles and armored vehicles, and Finland’s new aid package worth 188 million euros. He stressed the necessity for further action, declaring, “We must intensify our efforts and establish our support on a more solid and lasting foundation.” The Allies have now consented to progress planning for an expanded NATO role in coordinating crucial security assistance and training for Ukraine.
The Foreign Ministers also deliberated on the worldwide implications of Russia’s conflict with Ukraine, including backing from China, North Korea, and Iran. Indo-Pacific partners – Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea – along with the European Union, joined the Allies in strategizing ways to enhance cooperation in combating cyber and hybrid threats and promoting new technologies and defense industrial production. The Secretary General emphasized, “In the face of rising alignment among authoritarian powers, NATO and its partners must remain united in defending a global order that is governed by law, not force.”
In a distinct session on Wednesday, NATO Foreign Ministers gathered to discuss NATO’s aid to Ukraine and security challenges in the Alliance’s southern vicinity.
