This moment may define our children’s future – POLITICO

That’s the reason, on its seventy fifth anniversary, we reiterate NATO’s founding precept: An assault in opposition to considered one of us is taken into account an assault in opposition to all. One for all and all for one. Collectively, we are going to defend each inch of NATO territory and stand united in opposition to any future Russian aggression.

For years, Putin has unfold lies and false narratives to justify his struggle. One in all these narratives is that NATO represents a risk to Russia. However the reverse is true: At this time, nations are once more becoming a member of NATO as a result of they really feel threatened by Russia. Finland and Sweden had lengthy held a proud custom of neutrality. Nonetheless, following Putin’s invasion of a peaceable neighbor, they exercised their sovereign proper to freely select alliances and have now fortified our ranks.

For Europe to be at peace, Russian imperialism have to be stopped. We can’t permit for any “grey zones” as a result of Putin sees them as an invite to undermine territorial integrity and sovereignty, draw imaginary strains on the map and, finally, use navy power. His full-scale invasion of Ukraine has additionally confirmed {that a} coverage of concessions vis-à-vis Russia, within the hopes that it may convey peace or stability again to the Continent, is naive.

That is why European allies ought to shoulder their justifiable share of NATO’s collective burden and exhibit readiness to take extra accountability for Europe’s protection. The enduring transatlantic bond stays the bedrock of our safety, and we Europeans should handle a few of the most pressing shortcomings which have turn into painfully apparent through the previous months and years: functionality gaps, the readiness of our forces, manufacturing capability, logistics, standardization and interoperability.

The U.S. has lengthy taken on extra of the burden than the remainder of our Alliance. However collective protection is our collective effort. In that respect, we reaffirm the significance of a stronger and extra succesful European protection — one which contributes positively to international and transatlantic safety and is each complementary to and interoperable with NATO.

To tackle this better accountability for our joint safety, we European allies ought to take the next steps: