Revitalized NATO: Speaking at the recent NATO meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that over the last four years, “The Alliance has undertaken the most significant reforms and the most significant strengthening that we’ve seen in decades.”

“NATO is bigger, it’s stronger, its better resourced to meet the challenges ahead. ... We have a new NATO Strategic Concept. It recognizes Russia as the most direct threat to the Alliance, while highlighting the new security environment that we’re operation in with threats from the People’s Republic of China, transnational challenges – from emerging and disruptive technologies, climate change, terrorism.”

Secretary Blinken noted that in 2020 nine NATO Allies were fulfilling their pledge to spend 2 percent of their GDP on defense; today it’s 23. Moreover, he said, with the addition of Finland and Sweden, the Alliance has been “immensely strengthened for the future”.

“And the Alliance itself has strengthened our defense and deterrence capacity. We’ve doubled our presence on the eastern flank. We’ve updated our command structure. ... We’ve bolstered capabilities across all domains, including cyber space and outer space. These enduring commitments, these enduring investments will provide security for our citizens for many, many years to come.”

The greatest illustration of NATO’s unity and determination is the unwavering support the Allies have given to Ukraine since the full-scale Russian invasion, said Secretary Blinken. And it is also, he noted, the greatest example of burden sharing: with the United States providing $102 billion dollars in assistance to Ukraine, and allies and partners providing $158 billion.

“We continue coordinating to ensure that Ukraine has the money, the munitions, and the mobilized forces to fight as necessary through next year – or to be able to negotiate, but from a position of strength,” he said.

“We’re at a critical moment for Ukraine and for the defense of the transatlantic values on which this Alliance was founded,” said Secretary Blinken.

“NATO came together after two world wars as part of a series of institutions that were built to try to ensure that we never had another global conflagration.”

“A stronger NATO,” Secretary Blinken declared, “means more capabilities to deter aggression, more effective Allies to meet more complex challenges, and the peace and stability that allows our people to pursue fuller lives.” VOA/SP