"A bad peace could be worse than no peace at all" (NATO)

With the arrival of Donald Trump in power, the North Atlantic Alliance is going through quite a difficult period.

On the one hand, the American president makes seemingly reasonable demands – European member states must spend more on their defence, as the current level of spending is insufficient. On the other hand, many signals from across the ocean suggest that Europe's security is primarily a matter for Europe, and Europeans can no longer blindly count on the United States as a key ally. Strengthening European defence is by nature a long-term effort, while the Russian threat is already very present.

Beyond internal disagreements, the number one problem for NATO has been and remains Russia's aggression against Ukraine. "Russia remains the aggressor, whatever reasons it gives to justify its actions," states the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone in response to a question on Russia's current demands for a ceasefire. He emphasizes that it's up to Moscow to prove its interest in a lasting peace.

Furthermore, when asked whether Ukraine's membership in NATO is still on the agenda, Mr. Dragone replies cautiously: "It was never agreed that every time peace talks would start and end, it would definitely include NATO membership. As things stand, Ukraine's membership in NATO doesn't appear to be part of the ongoing peace negotiations."

(MH with MaSi - Source: Agency - Photo: © Unsplash)