NATO is facing new challenges for the 70th anniversary

April 4, NATO celebrated its 70th anniversary. Established in 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was intended to confront the USSR and armed defense against a possible attack by the „Reds”.

Over the years, NATO has survived the victory over the USSR in the Cold War, confrontation with the countries of the Warsaw Pact. It was on the verge of disbandment. After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, the meaning of the existence of the organization disappeared. Russia of the 90s did not pose any threat, begged for loans, and with great gratitude received humanitarian aid.

But in the 2000s, the forgotten threat of all began to remind of itself again. At the Russian landfills began to ride new tanks, modern aircraft appeared in the sky. The bloc’s defense was asked by the former socialist countries and the Baltic states.

And on the eve of the 70th anniversary, the block faces new challenges. The trouble came from no waiting. The internal contradictions of the Allies, related to the amount of funding, led to the fact that US President Donald Trump raised the question of the possible withdrawal of the United States from NATO. Such a step would jeopardize the existence of the bloc, because America is contributing the largest sums to the budget of the bloc (in 2018, total defense spending amounted to $ 936 billion, of which 67% were contributed by the United States).

The second equally important point is the tense situation on the eastern border of the block, caused by the armed opposition of Ukraine with Russia. Brussels adopted economic measures, expressed in sanctions against Moscow. In addition, US Permanent Representative to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison said that the North Atlantic Alliance is going to ensure the safe passage of Ukrainian ships through the Kerch Strait. To this end, the Organization will send warships to the Black Sea.

By repeating a situation similar to the November clash, NATO has the risk of being drawn into a full-scale armed conflict, defending a country that is not part of it. And this is not necessary for Brussels. Yes, and the Russian authorities are unlikely to want such a development.

Therefore, I would like to wish the bloc a successful existence, wise leadership. And of course the peace. After all, for this it was created.

Authorship: Vitaliy Timoschuk
Source: WolneMedia.net