The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is a military alliance established on 4 April 1949. NATO, which was initially established with 12 member countries, has expanded by increasing the number of members over time and has increased its membership to 31 by 2023. The main purpose of NATO is to help the attacked country in the event of an attack between member countries, to maintain international peace and security, to prevent crisis situations by co-operating between member countries. In addition, it aims to help member states develop their military capacities through co-operation in areas such as military training, exercises and technological co-operation, to protect democratic norms and values among member states and to protect the independence and territorial integrity of member states. In line with these objectives, NATO aims to enhance international security through military, political and economic co-operation.
On 24 February 2022, with Russia’s attack on Ukraine, NATO’s attitude attracted attention. Since Ukraine is not a member of NATO, these actions of Russia do not pave the way for the operation of Article 5. According to Article 5; .
“The Parties agree that an armed attack on one or more of them in North America or Europe shall be regarded as an attack on all of them and that, in the event of such an attack, they shall assist the attacked Party or Parties, individually and in concert with others, in exercising the right of individual or collective self-defence recognised in Article 51 of the UN Charter, to take such action as may be necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain security in the North Atlantic area. Any such attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall be immediately reported to the Security Council. These measures shall cease when the Security Council has taken the necessary measures to establish and maintain international peace and security.”
Despite its inability to implement Article 5, NATO took a tough stance against Moscow in the Russia-Ukraine War and imposed sanctions. The European allies, notably Germany, have pledged to allocate more resources for the defence of Ukraine and to increase spending accordingly, and have increased the number of battle groups deployed to NATO members bordering Russia.
Since Ukraine is not a member of NATO, the alliance members are careful to act cautiously in the face of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Despite Ukraine’s efforts, NATO has refrained from sending fighter jets and tanks to Ukraine and has provided military assistance in the form of logistics and support elements.
In order to prevent the Russia-Ukraine War from turning into a NATO-Russia War, NATO maintains its cautious attitude. The aid provided by NATO members to Ukraine and the political and economic sanctions imposed on Russia were effective in the course of the war. Although NATO’s support is very important in preventing Russia from achieving its military objectives over Ukraine and in the resistance that Ukraine has shown in its defence, it is seen as insufficient by Ukraine. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has often called for Western support in this war, and has succeeded in doing so. However, with his call to NATO, he is also trying to draw the alliance into the war. The European members of NATO, who are heavily dependent on Russia for natural gas, oil and grain products, want the war to end for them as soon as possible. However, NATO’s failure to provide full diplomatic support to the parties and to offer solution plans, in short, its behaviour shows the opposite. In this context, NATO is experiencing a dilemma within itself. This is because NATO wants to increase Ukraine’s resilience in order to prevent Russia from emerging victorious from the war, while limiting its assistance to Ukraine in order to prevent the war from progressing further.
On 28 September 2023, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated that Ukrainian forces have made significant progress against Russia and that NATO support to Ukraine will continue. Following his meeting with Zelenski, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that Ukraine was much closer to the alliance and that NATO would participate in the international defence industry forum and establish new partnerships with Ukrainian companies. Stoltenberg stated that NATO allies continue to support Ukraine and that Ukrainian forces will be further strengthened by US framework agreements.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who believes that NATO cannot go any further, is increasing the violence against Ukraine every day in order to be on the winning side in the war. In order for the war between Ukraine and Russia to end as soon as possible, for the peoples of both countries not to be harmed, and for peace and stability to come to the region as soon as possible, it is important for NATO to take part in diplomatic and political dialogues beyond being a military institution and to implement them.
