At the recent NATO summit in Washington, former British military attaché John Foreman expressed serious concerns about Ukraine's future in the Alliance. In an article for the Spectator, he notes that despite promises of support, real opportunities for Ukraine remain unfulfilled.
One of the main problems is the lack of a clear political path for Ukraine to become a NATO member. The communique of the summit states that "Ukraine's future is in NATO", but concrete steps to realize this goal are not presented. This puts Ukraine in a situation without clear security guarantees.
The second important aspect was the question of financing. At the summit, it was not possible to reach an agreement on multi-year financial support for Ukraine. Instead, allies' contributions will be assessed every year, which greatly complicates the planning of Ukraine's military spending and arsenal. This, in turn, makes it vulnerable to political fluctuations, as shown by the recent delay in military aid by the US Congress.
Forman also points out that despite two-thirds of allies meeting their defense spending commitments, a third of countries are still behind. This calls into question the overall unity of NATO and its ability to adequately respond to threats.
An important shortcoming is the lack of a new strategy in relations with Russia. Against the background of disagreements, the summit postponed work on a new strategic approach for a year. Without a political consensus on further actions, the Kremlin retains the ability to dictate terms in the Euro-Atlantic security sphere.
According to Foreman, former President Trump's rhetoric suggests that he views NATO more as a financial burden than a strategic advantage for the United States. This may lead to a "radical reorientation" of US foreign policy, where Washington will retreat to the background, which threatens European security.
Therefore, the results of the NATO summit testify to the serious challenges faced by the Alliance in supporting Ukraine. Without clear security guarantees and stable financial support, Ukraine remains vulnerable in the face of Russian aggression. This emphasizes the need for an urgent review of NATO strategies and a more balanced approach to security issues in Europe.
