The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Alliance is “larger, stronger, better resourced, and more united than ever before,” primarily due to President Joe Biden’s efforts in the past three years, according to a senior administration official on July 6, 2024.
While briefing White House reporters about the upcoming NATO Summit, the official noted that for 75 years NATO has kept America and the world safer. NATO is the strongest defensive alliance in history, and it’s been truly indispensable to Euro-Atlantic security, deterring threats to the United States and our allies.
President Biden will welcome 31 NATO Allies, along with several NATO partners to Washington next week July 9-11 to commemorate NATO’s 75th Anniversary. On the evening of July 9th, President Biden will welcome NATO leaders, and the President and Dr. Biden will host a special commemorative event at the Mellon Auditorium. This venue holds historical significance as the site where the North Atlantic Treaty established NATO on April 4, 1949. This site is also where then-President Bill Clinton hosted a 50th anniversary event in 1999.
On June 17th, President Biden met NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg ahead of 75th Anniversary Summit and discussed a number of issues.
“When President Biden assumed office, he made it his mission to restore America’s standing on the world stage and revitalize and rebuild our alliances and partnerships, most especially NATO. He’s worked to expand the Alliance by welcoming two new members, Sweden and Finland,” said the official. “And he rallied the Alliance to build a global coalition to respond to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has shattered peace in Europe and shaken the rules-based international order, posing the greatest threat to transatlantic security in decades, if not longer.”
“When the Biden-Harris administration took office, only nine Allies were spending at least 2 percent of their GDP on defense,” the official said pointing out now 23 NATO Allies meet or exceed the minimum level of “2 percent of GDP for defense spending.” This marks a significant increase compared to 2021 with more than twice as many countries meeting the benchmark, and nearly eight times more than a decade ago when it was first set.
“We’re manufacturing weapons that improve our military readiness and make the United States and its allies more secure while at the same time strengthening our economy,” the official stated, while adding that National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan will provide additional details regarding capabilities of the United States during his address at the Defense Industry Forum on July 9th preceding the Summit.
Support for Ukraine and Indo-Pacific
The official noted that under President Biden’s guidance, the United States and NATO Allies have provided crucial assistance to Ukraine and strengthened global partnerships, adding that NATO Allies are increasing in “defense and deterrence capabilities.”
During the Summit, US and its NATO allies will showcase robust support for Ukraine reaffirming that Ukraine’s future within NATO is strongly endorsed. New announcements are expected regarding NATO’s military, political, and financial backing for Ukraine, integral to Ukraine’s “bridge to NATO” initiative.
On the sidelines of the summit, President Biden will host an event alongside President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and other allies and partners who have signed bilateral security agreements with Ukraine.
The official added, “The United States will also announce new steps to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses and military capabilities to help Ukraine continue to defend themselves today and to deter Russian aggression into the future. Together, the Washington Summit will send a strong signal to Putin that if he thinks he can outlast the coalition of countries supporting Ukraine, he’s dead wrong.”
On July 11th, NATO will convene a meeting with the European Union and its partners in the Indo-Pacific – Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and New Zealand, to enhance cooperation in the region, the official emphasized noting that through this meeting “We’re also going to send an important message to the rest of the world, including through our partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, as we stand together united and in support of democratic values.”
