NATO is preparing a five-year support package of 100 billion dollars for military support to Ukraine, around 1,080 billion kroner. This is an attempt to shield the country from “potential political changes”, according to the Financial Times.
By “potential political changes”, is meant a possible second presidential term for the US’s Donald Trump. Trump is an outspoken opponent of financial support for Ukraine’s warfare against Russia in the wake of the February 2022 invasion.
The proposal has been put forward by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Stoltenberg, who will step down as leader in the autumn, hopes to get the proposal through by the NATO summit in Washington in July.
The fund is intended to lock in long-term financing ahead of a possible Trump term, while providing Ukraine with guaranteed funds for the war. Several claim that this is a replacement for Ukraine’s desire to join NATO, which many consider impossible.
Standing still in the USA
The proposed fund comes at the same time that more Ukraine support from the US has been uncertain. President Biden has so far failed to get through for his planned support package of 60 billion dollars for Ukraine, as a result of great opposition from the Republicans, with Trump at the forefront.
The US’s share in the new, proposed fund will be far less than this. As the fund will probably follow the same funding structure as in NATO’s ordinary budget, the US’s share will be just over 16 billion dollars.
Gun control
If the proposal goes through, NATO will for the first time since the outbreak of the war have control over the supply of weapons to Ukraine. This has so far been governed by the United States.
However, it is uncertain whether this can be done, as the change will require the support of all 32 Member States. It will probably take a long time before the fund is ready, partly because of expected opposition from member states that are critical of arms support, including Hungary.
There are also discussions about whether such a change would make NATO far more directly involved in the war. Russian President Vladimir Putin has long warned that more involvement from NATO will lead to a significant escalation in the conflict.
