NATO Summit Hosted by Biden to Show Strong Support for Ukraine

The most memorable part of last year’s NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania happened before it even began. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, upset that his country wouldn’t get a timeline for membership, scolded the alliance online. “Ukraine also deserves respect,” he wrote. 

This year, in an effort to avoid a repeat of such tensions, the 2024 NATO summit in Washington has been meticulously planned and coordinated. 

President Joe Biden will host the summit, which is aimed at "managing expectations" among the member states. 

Multiple European officials confirmed that planning began months earlier than usual to ensure a more unified message and avoid misunderstandings. 

The slogan “Managing expectations” has been echoed by many delegations.

Despite these efforts, the events surrounding the summit are proving difficult to manage. 

French President Emmanuel Macron faces political gridlock after parliamentary elections left the National Assembly fractured. 

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has previously been slow to support European aid to Ukraine, added to the complexity by visiting both Zelenskyy in Kyiv and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, framing his visits as a peace mission.

Adding to the concerns is the state of NATO's main backer. 

President Biden is trying to contain a crisis at home following a catastrophic debate two weeks ago, raising questions about his leadership and the potential return of a NATO-skeptic Donald Trump to the presidency. 

Supporting the alliance has been one of Biden’s signature issues, but now many in his own party question his viability as a nominee.

Despite these political challenges, the summit marks NATO’s 75th anniversary with significant achievements in membership and spending. 

Yet, many members are seeking ways to "Trump-proof" their support for Ukraine and protect their own security amidst political distractions. 

Evelyn Farkas, a former Pentagon official focusing on European security, emphasized that the current policy is to support Ukraine, though acknowledging that this could change.

A senior U.S. administration official stated that the summit would reaffirm Ukraine’s future in NATO and announce significant new support for Ukraine. 

“The Washington summit will send a strong signal to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin that if he thinks he can outlast the coalition of countries supporting Ukraine, he’s dead wrong,” the official said.

The biggest part of this NATO summit will be backing Ukraine, with a three-part package outlined for the meetings. 

This includes equipment, such as urgently needed air defense batteries and interceptors for Kyiv. 

NATO will also take a larger role in the aid process, with a new command in Germany to help steer aid to Ukraine. 

Biden will host an event with Zelenskyy and nearly two dozen allies and partners who have signed bilateral security agreements with Ukraine. 

The final part of the package involves discussions on Ukraine's membership, with delegations haggling over the precise wording of the communique.

Despite frustrations in Ukraine regarding NATO's perceived inaction, signs of unity are emerging. 

Zelenskyy predicted positive outcomes on air defense, membership, and security agreements. 

NATO also has reasons to celebrate, such as record defense spending among members and the accession of Sweden.

However, political challenges remain, with the weakened states of American and French leadership posing potential distractions. 

Some officials are skeptical about the notion of "Trump-proofing" the alliance, highlighting that no country in NATO can replace the U.S. economically or militarily. 

Yet, NATO's 75-year history of surviving political transitions suggests resilience.

As Biden hosts this crucial summit, the overarching goal remains clear: to show strong, unwavering support for Ukraine amidst a complex geopolitical landscape.a