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The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has unveiled a three-pronged plan to bring Ukraine into the fold.
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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg detailed the plans, which include F-16 fighter jet training, during the 2023 NATO summit run over 11 and 12 July in Vilnius, Lithuania.
It’s understood a new multi-year assistance program for Ukraine will be set up to transition from Soviet-era to NATO standards, training and doctrines; help rebuild Ukraine’s security and defence sector; and cover critical needs like fuel, demining equipment, and medical supplies.
A new NATO-Ukraine Council will be established for crisis consultations and decision making, with the inaugural forum held at the NATO Summit this week.
Plus a reaffirmation that Ukraine will become a member of NATO and agreements to remove the requirement for a Membership Action Plan.
“What allies have agreed today is strong, united, and positive message to Ukraine. About enduring support, but also a positive message on the path forward for membership,” said Stoltenberg.
“This includes this package of practical support to enable full interoperability between Ukrainian armed forces and NATO forces.
“Allies are also providing substantial military support, because the most urgent task now is to ensure that Ukraine prevails, because unless Ukraine prevails, there is no membership issue to be discussed at all.
“Over the last few days, allies have made substantial new announcements: France has announced that they will deliver long-range cruise missiles, Germany just announced a new package with air defence and armoured vehicles, and the US made yet another big announcement of more military support, and many other allies have made many different types of support, including the establishment or coalition to provide training for F-16 fighter jets.
“At this at the end of the day, it has to be allies that assess as we always do, when we have enlargement, whether their conditions are met and then make the decision on an invitation. The important with the communiqué today, is that we have the tools to ensure that Ukraine moves towards a membership.
“We have, for the first time, invitation as part of the language. And we have, for the first time, removed the requirement for the Membership Action Plan. So this is a big step, (there’s) never been stronger language from NATO on membership, and never been a more specific announcement on what we are actually going to do to ensure that Ukraine becomes a member of the alliance.”
In addition, NATO provided new regional plans for 300,000 troops to be brought up to high readiness, including substantial air and naval combat power. Allies also approved a new Defence Production Action Plan to accelerate joint procurement, boost production capacity and enhance allies’ interoperability.
NATO allies made an enduring commitment to invest a minimum of 2 per cent of their Gross Domestic Product in defence. Eleven allies meet or exceed the benchmark this year and this number is expected to grow substantially in 2024.
The group also discussed the challenges that a “coercive”, not-adversary China poses to Euro-Atlantic security through substantial military build-up, nuclear modernisation, lack of transparency, and threats against a rules-based international order.
