NATO Summit in Madrid / Discussions on expanding the alliance and responding to Russia

The meeting comes at a difficult time, sparked by Russian aggression against Ukraine. During the meeting, the leaders are expected to show their unity in support of Kiev, decide on increasing the presence of NATO forces on its eastern flank, and adopt a strategic concept on the alliance’s priorities for the next decade.

The streets of the Spanish capital are very busy. “Madrid is impassable by its large number of people, traffic and security.” says a resident.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization meets this week in Madrid in an urgent period of reaffirmation of its original mission, that of preventing Russia’s aggression against Western democracies, reports VOA.

The President of the United States and other leaders of the most powerful military alliance in the world, want to show strength and unity in support of the resistance of Ukraine to the fierce attack of the forces of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The 30 NATO members are expected to increase support for Ukraine, increase the presence of their forces on the east side of the alliance and adopt a strategic concept, which sets out the main priorities for the next decade, with particular emphasis on international military ambitions. China’s growing.

“It is a high-level meeting that takes place in one of the most dramatic moments of the European Union’s relations with Russia and also with the United States. It is a very important meeting. “This is the first time this has happened during a war in Europe.” says Javier Solana, former NATO Secretary General.

The Russian attack on Ukraine has returned NATO to its original principles.

Russia is the main issue and adversary the alliance faces. The summit in Madrid will discuss ways to support Ukraine and strengthen defense along NATO’s eastern borders, with countries like Romania and the Baltic states worried that they could be Vladimir Putin’s next target.

NATO’s eastward expansion, in what Mr. Putin sees as a traditional sphere of Russian influence, leads to the core of Moscow’s rationale for its attack on Ukraine.

Before the war, President Putin urged NATO to halt enlargement and withdraw its forces from the east. But the Russian attack is causing the opposite.

The Alliance is trying to maintain a delicate balance by arming Ukraine, but without entering into a direct confrontation with Russia, which possesses nuclear weapons.

That is why Ukraine’s entry into NATO is not foreseen in the near future, despite the fact that this country entered the path of membership, together with Georgia, in 2008.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to address NATO leaders in a video link, but he has acknowledged that NATO membership is a distant goal and that he is now focused on his country’s membership in the European Union.

However, alliance expansion can occur. Finland and Sweden have abandoned their neutral status, seeking NATO membership, as a safeguard against an increasingly aggressive Russia.

But Turkey, which has NATO’s second-largest army, is an obstacle to the goals of Sweden and Finland, at least for now.

“Turkey has not objected irrevocably, but it wants its security concerns resolved.” says Salvador Sanchez Tapia, professor at the University of Navarre.

Sweden and Finland need the unanimous support of all NATO members, but Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan continues to insist that he will allow the Nordic duo to join NATO only if they change their stance on Kurdish rebel groups. which Turkey considers terrorist.

Turkey is also seeking the extradition of members of Kurdish organizations opposed to the Turkish president’s government and the lifting of restrictions on arms exports to Turkey.

““We will not change our position until Sweden and Finland take clear, concrete and determined steps to fight terrorism.” Mr Erdogan said two weeks ago in the Turkish parliament.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg held talks with Turkey, Sweden and Finland last week in a bid to overcome the stalemate, but there is no guarantee that progress will be made at the Madrid meeting.

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