NATO mulls takeover of US-led planning for arming Ukraine
By: JOHN VANDIVER STARS AND STRIPES • April 3, 2024
RE: Read more at:
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/eur...-13479283.html
Source - Stars and Stripes
[NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg speaks to reporters April 3, 2024, before the start of two days of meetings of NATO foreign ministers at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels. (NATO)]
STUTTGART, Germany — Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other leaders this week will review a proposal to make NATO the planning hub for arming Ukraine as the alliance looks for ways to shake up an effort that’s been spearheaded by the United States at Ramstein Air Base for the past two years. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, speaking at the start of a foreign ministers meeting Wednesday at his headquarters in Brussels, said the time has come to shift the dynamics of allied support. “Ministers will discuss how NATO could assume more responsibility for coordinating military equipment and training for Ukraine, anchoring this within a robust NATO framework,” Stoltenberg said.
While a final decision wasn’t expected this week, the proposal would help ensure a more reliable and predictable security assistance system for Ukraine over the long haul, Stoltenberg said. The discussions in Brussels come as Russia ramps up the scale of its attacks on Ukraine. At the same time, weapons delivery from the West has dwindled. Thus far, the U.S. has been the center of gravity for coordinating efforts to arm Ukraine’s military. The so-called Ramstein Group, led by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, has been the face of that effort and involves more than 50 countries that meets periodically at the U.S. Air Force hub in Germany. Meanwhile, a subordinate group at U.S. Army Europe and Africa headquarters in Wiesbaden serves as ground zero for putting support plans into action. Stoltenberg declined to say if a new NATO effort would spell the end of the U.S.-led Ramstein Group.
But he did say uncertain funding support in Washington, where Congress has failed to reach an agreement on support for Ukraine, was hurting the war effort, forcing Ukraine to ration artillery shells. “Any delay (in Washington) has real consequences on the battlefield,” Stoltenberg said. While Stoltenberg didn’t connect the proposal to make NATO the focal point for arming Ukraine to dysfunction in Washington, he did say that more alliance involvement would send a message of resolve to Moscow. “Doing more under NATO would make our efforts more efficient and more effective,” he said. “Moscow needs to understand that they cannot achieve their goals on the battlefield and they cannot wait us out.”
The aim is to set the stage for a peace agreement, Stoltenberg said, adding a stronger NATO role “is the way to end this war.” Stoltenberg said the goal is to have a final agreement on a larger NATO role ready in time for the alliance’s July summit in Washington, where heads of state will mark NATO’s 75th anniversary.
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Personal note: Let me express my feelings on this post - see below:
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Note: If NATO [buckles] - it will then send a message to the other's around the
globe - that NATO is weak. Sure it's costly - but to maintain a secure World Order
it must be policed - to quell such actions and prevent the weak from being abused
by strong armed tactics.
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The few last few decades have shown an increase of such aggression as we've
not seen during the last decade - or more.
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But the world order [NATO Members] are stepping up and condemning those
who would persecute the weak & for us to due otherwise is the worst scenario.
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When the top heavy handed nations around the globe try to extend their
strong-handed tactics "we" (NATO) - need to be there for them - or we loose
face and watch the weak be persecuted.
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Only a strong World Order of operation(s) can put these scenario's to rest.
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Let's keep up with what we have - NATO was formed for such purposes and
only as a team - can we counter & resolve such actions against these aggressors!
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God Be With "all" those who stand up for the weak and persecuted! For they will
be remembered by those who would otherwise have been persecuted by their foes.
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Boats