Russia and Ukraine are located in a strategic position with a shared border. Despite sharing a common border, both had differences in ideology or policies. Russia claimed to have a connection (culturally, religiously, and politically) with Ukraine’s territory. But Ukraine’s focus is on the Western side and wants to be a part of the EU and NATO. These differences escalated the situation resulting in a conflict of 2014, and then a more intensified situation in 2022. These conflicts highlight the existing differences between Russia, Ukraine, and the Western World, contributing to shaping the major alliances. By implementing sanctions on Russia, the Western response again indicates NATO’s enhanced position in global politics. This article focuses how the Russia-Ukraine strategic location and conflict is shaping NATO’s position in the world.
NATO
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed in 1949 for a collective defense from the Eastern Alliance or Soviets. However, Dr. Jamie Shea, Deputy Assistant Secretary-General for Emerging Security Challenges pointed out that the NATO formation was because of despair and relentlessness during that time. But whatever the reason was, the creation of the WARSAW Pact by the Soviets was a result of NATO which intensified the situation towards the arms race.
However, the WARSAW Pact was dissolved in 1991 but NATO survived till today becoming the strongest alliance. NATO should have ceased when the WARSAW Pact was dissolved. After the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact, the purpose of NATO also diminished and its existence became questionable. But the alliance still endured for these two mandates. First, to deter the rise of militant nationalism. Second, to provide the foundation of collective security to encourage democratization and political integration in Europe. With this existence, NATO expanded towards the Middle East and Eastern Europe. NATO mainly focused on the three core tasks: deterrence and defense; crisis prevention and management; and cooperative security.
This year at 75th anniversary NATO of Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg claimed NATO the most long-lasting and successful alliance in history.
Russia-Ukraine War 2022
Russia had interests in Ukraine not only because they shared a border but also due to deep cultural, economic, and political bonds. Even during a Direct Line, Putin said that Russians and Ukrainians are “one people – one nation”. From this statement, it is evident how much Russia holds Ukraine close and any influence from the West on Ukraine will impact the Russians. NATO and Ukraine have had deep connections since 1990, in the 2008 Bucharest Summit, NATO members reaffirmed Ukraine of its membership to NATO.
Russia alleged Ukraine to join the European Union and annexed Crimea in 2014. Putin in March 2014 by addressing this situation said, “There is a limit to everything. And with Ukraine, our Western partners have crossed the line.”
In 2022, this situation intensified when Ukraine wanted to joining NATO. The Russians, especially Putin, alleged that the US and NATO were violating the pledges made during the 1990s by not expanding their alliance in the former Soviet bloc. However, this fact was denied by NATO which states that such an agreement of not expanding alliances in the former Soviet bloc was not made and NATO has an open door for any members.
The attack in 2022 by the Russians on Ukraine made Western Allies closer and stronger. As NATO’s Article 5 of the Mutual Defense pointed out every member state had to protect or support another country if needed. Therefore, the Western powers and its partners provided aid to Ukraine and criticized Russia for this inhuman act. The NATO member states have been providing short-term and medium-to-long-term assistance through a Comprehensive Assistance Package (CAP). Besides the aid, international sanctions are imposed on Russia. Even many international projects between the different European states were suspended. The G7 countries in which Russia had a major role had put sanctions after the Russia-Ukraine war started.
Ukraine’s Membership in NATO
Just after the days of this conflict, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy submitted a formal application for Ukraine’s membership to NATO by demanding immediate approval of the application. However, alliances and critics have different opinions regarding Ukraine’s membership in NATO.
The NATO members opposed Ukraine being a part of NATO. The United States backed up the support of Ukraine and wanted it to be a part of NATO, and even insisted other members accept. Germany and France oppose Ukraine’s membership because they consider Ukraine unstable for the program and it will impact the peace by making Russia aggressive.
The critics had two opinions. The first opinion says that Ukraine being a part of NATO will deter the situation between Russia and Ukraine. However, this is a wishful situation by the critics because of what happened in 2014 and 2022. After all, Russia alleged Ukraine to be a part of the EU and NATO. So, the critics are unsure of Russia’s reaction once Ukraine joined NATO. The second opinion is the same as that of the alliance countries.
NATO’s Position in the World
The position of NATO in world politics transformed since 9/11. Even the Secretary General of NATO Lord Robertson said that Post 9/11, the transformation of NATO in world affairs had begun. The NATO alliances used Article 5 against the terrorism in Afghanistan post 9/11. Since the Crimea invasion by Russia, NATO countries committed strongly to spending two percent of GDP on defense. However, many European countries fell short of this spending, which came into the spotlight after the 2022 conflict. The Western countries, especially NATO members, supported Ukraine by assisting defense as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a direct threat to the allies’ security. However, the 2014 and 2022 conflicts gave NATO a new direction of imposing Article 5 and supporting Ukraine.
But for the first time Mr. Trump in a joint interview in 2016 with two European publications had considered the NATO alliance obsolete and even on the eve of accepting the Republican nomination for president set conditions for supporting NATO alliances which would depend on their spending in 2016. Recently on Feb 2024, he again pointed out those states that are not spending and would encourage Russia to attack these allies. He even called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a perfect salesman who never returns empty-handed from a country. On one side, presidential nominee Trump is condemning the support to Ukraine, and on the other side, his running mate JD Vance remarked the Russia-Ukraine conflict that doesn’t matter to him. The alliance member states opposed these statements and called out Mr. Trump for these statements.
Conclusion
The tensions between Russia and Ukraine are not coming to an end. The willingness of Ukraine to join NATO and Russia being aggressive in assuming Ukraine joining NATO would impact the world. Many Western analysts claimed that the NATO membership to Ukraine does not seem likely. However, if it does, the situation could become worse, dividing the world into two parts: the Alliance of Russia and NATO Alliances just like the Cold War situation. No doubt, the Russia-Ukraine conflict highlighted a strong Western alliance but the future US elections would determine the role of NATO and world politics. This conflict has given a new meaning to NATO by highlighting strong Western support towards Ukraine.
