SUMMARY of the Article “75 years of Nato,” by Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Dawn, July 21st, 2024
In commemorating NATO’s 75th anniversary at the Washington Summit, discussions were predominantly focused on the Russia-Ukraine war. The summit’s declaration strongly condemned Russia’s “brutal war of aggression” and its “irresponsible nuclear rhetoric.” NATO’s 32 members pledged enduring support to Ukraine, promising 40 billion euros for security assistance in the upcoming year. Furthermore, NATO has stationed over 500,000 combat-ready forces on its eastern flank and affirmed that “Ukraine’s future is in NATO,” committing to Ukraine’s full integration into the Euro-Atlantic community. The historical backdrop of NATO-Russia rivalry dates back to the Cold War, initiated by the North Atlantic Treaty signed on April 4, 1949, by 12 Western European and North American countries to counter the Soviet threat. The Soviet Union’s counteraction was the formation of the Warsaw Pact in 1955. The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked the end of this rivalry, but NATO’s eastward expansion continued to irk Russia. Despite the formation of the NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council in 1997 and Russia’s inclusion in the G8, Moscow remained concerned about NATO’s presence near its borders. NATO’s suspension of cooperation with Russia followed the annexation of Crimea in 2014, leading to the deployment of multinational battlegroups in Eastern Europe. The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine heightened tensions, with NATO declaring Russia a direct threat to Euro-Atlantic security and supporting Ukraine’s defense efforts without deploying troops. Post-summit, NATO announced additional battlegroups in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia, and recognized Bosnia, Georgia, and Ukraine as aspiring members. The summit also emphasized strengthening partnerships in the Asia-Pacific, inviting Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea. The declaration criticized China for enabling Russia’s war but did not mention India, despite its close ties with Russia. Financially, NATO members had committed to spending at least two percent of their GDP on defense since the 2014 Wales summit, a goal not yet met by a third of the members. NATO’s current mandate extends to promoting democratic values and engaging in crisis management, suggesting a possible expansion of NATO’s influence into the Asia-Pacific region, aligning with US-led Western dominance.
Easy/Short SUMMARY:
NATO celebrated its 75th anniversary with a summit in Washington, focusing on the Russia-Ukraine war. NATO condemned Russia’s actions and pledged long-term support for Ukraine, including 40 billion euros for security. NATO has stationed many troops in Eastern Europe and promised to help Ukraine join NATO. The rivalry between NATO and Russia dates back to the Cold War. NATO was created in 1949 to defend against the Soviet Union, which formed its own alliance, the Warsaw Pact. After the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, NATO expanded eastward, worrying Russia. When Russia took Crimea in 2014, NATO stopped working with Russia and sent troops to Eastern Europe. In 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, and NATO supported Ukraine without sending its own troops. After the summit, NATO sent more troops to Eastern Europe and recognized new members. NATO also wants to work more with countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Some NATO members haven’t met their defense spending goals. NATO aims to promote democracy and manage crises, and it might expand its influence in Asia.
SOLUTIONS to The Problem:
Increased Diplomatic Engagement
Engage in continuous dialogue with Russia to address security concerns and avoid misunderstandings.
Enhanced Security Assistance
Provide Ukraine with advanced defense systems and intelligence support to strengthen its position against Russian aggression.
Economic Sanctions
Implement stricter economic sanctions on Russia to weaken its ability to sustain military operations.
Strengthening Eastern Flank
Deploy additional NATO forces and resources to Eastern European countries to deter further Russian advances.
Support for Aspiring Members
Offer more robust support and fast-track membership processes for aspiring NATO members like Ukraine, Bosnia, and Georgia.
Cybersecurity Measures
Increase cybersecurity cooperation among NATO members to protect against potential Russian cyberattacks.
Public Awareness Campaigns
Educate the public in NATO countries about the importance of collective defense and the threats posed by Russian actions.
Humanitarian Aid
Provide substantial humanitarian aid to Ukraine to support civilians affected by the conflict.
Strategic Partnerships
Strengthen alliances with non-NATO countries in the Asia-Pacific to counterbalance Russian and Chinese influence.
Regular Military Exercises
Conduct regular joint military exercises to improve coordination and readiness among NATO forces.
IMPORTANT Facts and Figures Given in the article:
- NATO’s 75th anniversary was marked by a summit in Washington.
- NATO’s 32 members pledged 40 billion euros in security assistance for Ukraine.
- Over 500,000 NATO forces are stationed on the eastern flank.
- NATO was formed on April 4, 1949, by 12 Western European and North American countries.
- The Warsaw Pact was formed by the Soviet Union in 1955.
- NATO-Russia cooperation was suspended in 2014 after Russia annexed Crimea.
- In February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine.
- Additional NATO battlegroups were deployed in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia.
- NATO members committed to spending at least two percent of their GDP on defense since 2014.
MCQs from the Article:
1. When was NATO formed?
A. 1945
B. 1955
C. 1949
D. 1991
2. How much security assistance did NATO members pledge for Ukraine within the next year?
A. 20 billion euros
B. 40 billion euros
C. 60 billion euros
D. 80 billion euros
3. Which event led to the suspension of NATO-Russia cooperation in 2014?
A. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
B. Formation of the Warsaw Pact
C. Russia’s annexation of Crimea
D. Dissolution of the Soviet Union
4. How many NATO forces are in high readiness on the eastern flank?
A. 100,000
B. 250,000
C. 500,000
D. 750,000
5. Which countries were recognized as aspiring NATO members at the summit?
A. Japan, Australia, South Korea
B. Bosnia, Georgia, Ukraine
C. India, China, New Zealand
D. Poland, Hungary, Romania
VOCABULARY:
- Aggression (noun) (جارحیت): Hostile or violent behavior or attitudes toward another.
- Solidarity (noun) (یکجہتی): Unity or agreement of feeling or action.
- Annexation (noun) (الحاق): The action of annexing something, especially territory.
- Dissolution (noun) (تحلیل): The closing down or dismissal of an assembly, partnership, or official body.
- Rhetoric (noun) (بیانیہ): The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing.
- Coercive (adjective) (جبری): Relating to or using force or threats.
- Combat-ready (adjective) (جنگ کے لیے تیار): Prepared and equipped for fighting.
- Integration (noun) (انضمام): The process of combining or adding parts to make a unified whole.
- Commitment (noun) (عہد): A promise or firm decision to do something.
- Multinational (adjective) (کثیر القومی): Including or involving several countries or individuals of several nationalities.
- Deployment (noun) (تعیناتی): The movement of troops or equipment to a place or position for military action.
- Provocation (noun) (اشتعال): Action or speech that makes someone angry, especially deliberately.
- Ironclad (adjective) (ناقابل تردید): Very certain and unlikely to be changed.
- Aspiring (adjective) (آرزو مند): Directing one’s hopes or ambitions toward becoming a specified type of person.
- Mandate (noun) (حکم): An official order or commission to do something.
- Dominance (noun) (غلبہ): Power and influence over others.
- Counterbalance (verb) (توازن قائم کرنا): To have an effect that is equal and opposite to something else.
- Cybersecurity (noun) (سائبر سیکیورٹی): Measures taken to protect a computer or computer system against unauthorized access or attack.
- Humanitarian (adjective) (انسانی ہمدردی): Concerned with or seeking to promote human welfare.
- Readiness (noun) (تیاری): The state of being fully prepared for something.
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dawn.com
75 years of Nato
Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry
AT the Nato Summit in Washington this month, marking 75 years of the alliance’s existence, the Russia-Ukraine war dominated discussions. The summit declaration condemned Russia for its “brutal war of aggression” against Ukraine, and its “irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and coercive nuclear signalling”.
Expressing full solidarity with Ukraine, Nato’s 32 members pledged long-term security assistance for Ukraine, including a new baseline funding of 40 billion euros within the next year. Nato has deployed combat-ready forces on its eastern flank; over 500,000 forces are in high readiness. The declaration also announced that “Ukraine’s future is in Nato” and the alliance would take further steps to support Ukraine’s “irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration”.
The Nato-Russia rivalry goes back to the time of the Cold War between the US and Soviet Union. Nato was born on April 4, 1949, when 12 countries from Western Europe and North America came together in Washington, D.C. to sign the North Atlantic Treaty. Under Article 5 of the treaty, the members committed to defend each other through political and military means and counter the threat posed by the Soviet-led communist world. President Harry S. Truman’s historic address to the US Congress in March 1949 is noted as the start of the Cold War.
Moscow reacted by forming a political and military alliance between the Soviet Union and East European states — the Warsaw Pact of 1955. A bitter rivalry ensued, which ended only with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Nato recalibrated its mandate and began expanding eastwards, much to the discomfort of Russia, the Soviet Union’s successor state. To pacify Russian concerns, a Nato-Russia Permanent Joint Council was formed in 1997, and Russia was admitted to G7, making it G8. However, Russia’s leadership, particularly President Vladimir Putin, had concerns that Nato wasn’t sensitive to Russian security needs and was violating its commitment not to move “an inch eastwards”. Some Western scholars have argued that this commitment was only discussed but never agreed. However, Moscow’s main concern, that lethal missiles should not be deployed in states bordering Russia, was never addressed.
Nato-Russia rivalry goes back to the time of the Cold War.
When Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, Nato suspended cooperation with Russia and started deploying multinational battlegroups in the Baltic states and Poland. In February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. The Nato countries declared Russia “a direct threat to Euro-Atlantic security” and decided to lend full support to Ukraine’s war effort. However, fearing global escalation, Nato chose not to deploy its own troops in Ukraine.
After the summit, the Nato secretary general announced that four additional battlegroups had been deployed in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia. As if to provoke Russia further, Bosnia, Georgia and Ukraine were also recognised by Nato as “aspiring members”. The summit declaration affirmed an “ironclad” commitment that every inch of allied territory would be defended as per Article 5 of the treaty.
A notable feature of the summit was a commitment by Nato members to strengthen partnerships in the Asia-Pacific. Four non-Nato countries (Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea) were invited to the summit as “Indo-Pacific partners”. Will Nato expand its ambit to the Indo-Pacific region? The summit declared that “Indo-Pacific is important for Nato given that developments in that region directly affect Euro-Atlantic security”.
While the summit declaration criticised China for being “a decisive enabler of Russia’s war”, it made no reference to India, even though India has maintained close economic and military ties with Russia and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Moscow coincided with the Nato summit. Some American analysts have argued that the Indo-Russia relationship serves as a “modest check” on a growing Russia-China partnership.
As for financing of Nato operations, the Wales summit in 2014 had decided that each member state would spend at least two per cent of its GDP on defence. However, nearly one-third of Nato members have still not met this commitment. US leaders, particularly Donald Trump, have often admonished Europeans for not paying enough for Europe’s defence.
As per Nato’s website, the alliance seeks to promote democratic values, cooperate on defence and security-related issues, and undertake crisis management operations. This is a mandate broader than the one Nato had started out with. Nato appears to have become an instrument in the hands of the US-led West to assert its dominance over the world order. Since major centres of power have emerged in Asia, particularly China, Nato’s further political and military involvement in Asia Pacific cannot be ruled out.
The write is a former foreign secretary and chairman of Sanober Institute, Islamabad.
Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2024