The communiqué also recognizes the strategic context beyond the war in Europe. The communiqué rightly turns its attention to Ukraine and accurately depicts the constantly evolving environment facing NATO’s eastern flank. It was critical for NATO to recognize Russia’s egregious actions by name, including the forced deportation of children from eastern Ukraine, the destruction of civilian infrastructure, and sexual violence. A substantial portion of the document focuses on denouncing Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, including human rights abuses, war crimes, and violations of international law. The communiqué zeroes in on Russia at the center of the current context and security environment facing NATO. Sound strategic contextĭoes the communiqué accurately portray the current strategic context and security environment facing NATO? Is the communiqué predicated on any specious assumptions? The theme is clear: NATO is a united alliance and Russia poses the most significant and direct threat to transatlantic security. These declarations are a step forward for the Alliance in reaffirming NATO’s Strategic Concept and moving beyond last year’s communiqué, which furthered the Alliance’s mission to protect the Euro-Atlantic community. This theme holds true throughout the document, in which leaders strongly condemn Russia’s violations of international law, declare the Alliance’s unwavering solidarity with Ukraine, and acknowledge the challenge posed to NATO’s security from the People’s Republic of China (PRC). In the first paragraph of the communiqué, NATO reaffirms the enduring transatlantic bond and solidarity in the Alliance. Not surprisingly, the key theme of the Vilnius communiqué revolves around transatlantic unity, especially in the face of Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine and the broader challenge to the Euro-Atlantic community. Is there a clear theme, concept, or label that distinguishes this communiqué from previous communiqués and strategies? In my view, while there are certainly challenges with the communiqué’s implementation, the ninety-paragraph document successfully provides critical guidance and clear principles that will lead NATO into the next year, when the Alliance celebrates its seventy-fifth anniversary at the next summit in Washington. ![]() The Alliance was clear on the urgency of responding to the threat from Russia while demonstrating support for Ukraine and taking steps toward realizing Ukraine’s future in NATO. The NATO Vilnius summit proved to be an important showcase for transatlantic unity. Ryan Arick Assistant director, Transatlantic Security Initiative They also weighed in on the communiqué’s holes and missteps. While the document’s shortcomings on the question of Ukraine’s membership were well-documented upon its release, our reviewers dug deep into the ninety-paragraph document to assess its groundbreaking regional defense plans, how it cast an eye toward the Indo-Pacific, and more. NATO’s Vilnius communiqué embarks on a new era of deterrence, but punts on key decisionsįollowing the NATO Summit in July, several of the Atlantic Council’s experts analyzed NATO’s Vilnius communiqué, assessing the document based on five criteria.
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