Early in his term, former President Donald Trump sent globalists everywhere into hysteria with his criticism of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO.
Campaigning for president, and speaking a quarter-century after the Soviet Union imploded, Trump called NATO “obsolete.” As president, he ripped our “allies” for failing to fund their respective militaries at levels prescribed by the treaty, thus burdening U.S. taxpayers for the cost of their defense. And Trump declined to say he would abide by Article V of the treaty, which essentially says that an attack on one NATO member was an attack on all.
In mid-June 2017 Trump said he would agree to provisions of Article V – and Vox spoke for many globalists – on the left and the right – with a headline that read, “Trump just committed to NATO’s Article 5. Finally.”
Now, those who press for wars that they themselves will never fight may get what they hoped for.
Two months ago, current President Joe Biden showed he was an anti-Trumper.
“America’s back,” Biden told a gathering of European officials at a security conference in Munich.
“I know the past few years have strained and tested our transatlantic relationship, but the United States is determined – determined – to re-engage with Europe, to consult with you, to earn back our position of trusted leadership,” Biden added.
He also maintained, “An attack on one is an attack on all. That is our unshakeable vow.”
Apparently Ukrainian officials heard Biden – and may be testing his faithfulness to Article V.
Russia has built up its military forces along the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, parts of which are controlled by separatists loyal to Moscow. Accordingly, military skirmishing in the region is increasing in intensity, according to news reports.
Ukraine is not a member of NATO. But fearful of Russian aggression, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky this week encouraged NATO to fast-track its membership.
Zelensky then added pressure with a tweet following his talks with the leader of NATO.
“Reforms alone will not stop Russia,” he tweeted. “@NATO is the only way to end the war in #Donbas. Ukraine’s MAP (Membership Action Plan) will be a real signal for Russia.”
For all the bluster exerted by Democrats when Trump temporarily stalled military aid to Ukraine in 2019, which led to his first impeachment, the White House demurred on Ukraine’s request.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters when asked about Ukraine’s latest push to join the Western military alliance.
“We are strong supporters of them,” she added. “But that is a decision for NATO to make.”
Well, Ukraine may make that decision for Biden.
According to Rick Rozoff, a columnist for Antiwar.com, Colonel-General Ruslan Khomchak, Ukraine’s top military commander, invoked Article V in encouraging his countrymen to remain steadfast despite Russia’s aggression.
“Ukraine is supported by the entire civilized world. We are not alone in the face of the enemy,” Khomchak said.
“We have intensified the military dialogue with NATO at the strategic level and deepened cooperation in the Black Sea region. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are taking part in collective training events for troops, including in NATO exercises on the subject of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.”
At the same time, an American delegation visited the region. And U.S> Col. Brittany Stewart told reporters, “The U.S. government is deeply concerned over the situation that is developing near the borders of Ukraine and in every possible way supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.”
Note: Every possible way.
Regarding Khomchak’s comment about the Black Sea, Rozoff reported that this week both the U.S. and Russia announced the dispatching of ships there.
As Rozoff observed, “Without doubt, we are witnessing the most serious escalation of tensions between the world’s two major nuclear powers since the first Soviet troops crossed the Oxus River to enter Afghanistan in late 1979. In fact maybe since the Cuban Missile Crisis.”
Biden has committed us to NATO, and he will definitely show he’s an anti-Trumper if he gets us in a shooting war with Russia.
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