Discussed a 5-year $100 billion military aid
Stoltenberg proposed a “Trump-Proof” plan
“Requires agreement of 32 member states, fairly nascent.”
| Reuters Yonhap News |
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has proposed a $100 bn military aid package to Ukraine in anticipation of Donald Trump’s potential return to the presidency.
According to the Financial Times on the 2nd (local time), NATO will discuss the $100 bn military aid package for Ukraine over the next five years at the foreign ministers’ meeting held in Brussels, Belgium, for two days starting on the 3rd, marking the 75th anniversary of its establishment.
The military aid package proposed by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg involves the 32 NATO member countries creating a $1 trillion fund to support the Ukrainian military over the next five years. Additionally, for the first time since the outbreak of the Ukrainian war in 2022, NATO plans to take over control of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG), which manages support for Ukrainian weapons, from the United States.
Diplomats reported that Secretary General Stoltenberg explained that the military aid package is a means to shield the mechanism against the “winds of political change” that could arise if Trump returns to power. Trump, who is challenging for re-election, is openly opposed to military support for Ukraine.
NATO diplomats cautioned that the proposal would require the backing of all 32 members and that there were likely to be months of negotiations ahead, during which parts of the proposal could be scaled back. There is also the opinion that Hungary, which is opposed to supporting Ukrainian weapons, may oppose this military aid package.
A diplomatic source said that Secretary General Stoltenberg’s proposal is “fairly nascent” and that allies had asked the NATO chief for more information. NATO’s takeover of the UDCG control has still not been decided. Another diplomat pointed out that while there are some ways to prepare for Trump’s return to power, there is no way to escape the risk of Trump completely, and the proposed $1 trillion is overly optimistic.
Meanwhile, the foreign ministers’ meeting will also discuss the selection of a successor to Secretary General Stoltenberg, whose term ends in October. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte emerges as a leading candidate, receiving support from 90% of the member countries, including the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and Germany. However, opposition from Hungary and Romania may prolong the appointment process.
Sweden, NATO’s newest member as of last month, will attend the foreign ministers’ meeting as the 32nd member state. The conference is also being held to coincide with the 75th anniversary of NATO’s establishment (April 4). For the third consecutive year, it extends invitations to NATO’s four Asia-Pacific partner countries (AP4: South Korea, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand). Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae Yul will represent South Korea.
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