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https://theconversation.com/why-is-nato-expanding-its-reach-to-the-asia-pacific-region-209140>
"Since Russia invaded Ukraine last year, NATO meetings and summits have been
receiving significantly more attention compared to previous years. And there
are several big-ticket items on the agenda at the upcoming summit in Vilnius,
Lithuania, which begins on Tuesday.
The foremost issue is, of course, NATO’s future military support to Ukraine in
its ongoing war against Russia, particularly in the wake of reports of weapon
delivery delays and the United States’ controversial decision to send cluster
munitions to the Ukrainians.
The allies will also discuss Ukraine’s potential membership in the group.
Ukraine is seeking an invitation and a roadmap to eventually join NATO, which
the US and Germany, in particular, have resisted while an active war is
occurring.
The members will also agree on the first major overhaul of NATO’s military
plans since the Cold War and an increase in their individual defence spending.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is looking for commitments from all 31
members to spend at least 2% of their gross domestic product on defence –
something that was considered an aspiration rather than a baseline a decade
ago."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
