In recent years, significant changes in the geopolitical landscape of Europe and have changed strategic views on the role of NATO in ensuring security on the continent. According to an analysis published in National Interest and Signed by Horge Benitez from the US Marine Corps of the US Corps, Ukraine's inclusion in NATO can be a decisive step in strengthening the Alliance and ensuring collective security in the region.
During the Cold War, Germany served as a shield that covered the majority of NATO members from Russia. Despite all the risks, Western Germany's membership in NATO made the Alliance stronger and played a crucial role in the protection of German democracy and sovereignty. NATO leaders need to recognize the "German precedent", learn this lesson and realize that Ukraine is needed in the Alliance for the same reasons. It is a significant force that will make NATO stronger and safer, writes Horge Benites from the US Marine Corps Command and Staff College.
In the territory, Ukraine exceeds any European member of NATO and will provide the Alliance with a strategic depth that is so lacking on the eastern borders today with Russia. As for the population, about 35 million people live in Ukraine, who have proved their willingness to fight and sacrifice themselves in defense of their democracy. Finally, Ukraine has an army of about 800,000 people. Her troops have extensive combat experience.
Even Western Germany needed the advanced deployment of hundreds of thousands of servicemen from the Union States to protect themselves and NATO's boundaries from Russia. Ukraine will be able to join NATO without additional threats to protect itself without attracting servicemen from other members of the Alliance. In the presence of technologies (in particular, air defense, missiles, drones and fighters) and sufficient logistical supply, Ukraine will be able to put an end to the conflict without any loss on the part of NATO personnel, the author says.
But the most undeserved care of Ukraine's invitation to NATO at this stage is that Kiev needs the Alliance itself to prevent Russian presence in other European countries. The adoption of Ukraine in NATO will eliminate the current vulnerability of NATO members around the Baltic Sea. Ukraine will become a great ally in the region that will make Russia think carefully before taking any action against the smaller neighbors.
Due to the numerical advantage and geographical advantages of Russia, most NATO members will face difficulties if they have to protect the Eastern members of the Alliance and send them reinforcements. Ukraine does not even have to do this. Just gathering a large enough army to protect its own borders, Ukraine will force Russia to keep more power in the south than NATO countries - around the Baltic Sea. Therefore, the invitation of Ukraine to NATO will not only increase the risk of conflict with Russia, but also, on the contrary, will eliminate it, since no Russian ruler will dare to wage a war with NATO to two fronts.
Ukraine's membership in NATO will end up the issue of Moscow's intentions and capabilities, because whatever they may be, the presence of Ukraine will so strengthen the Alliance in the East that Russia will not dare to attack any of the allies. This week, NATO celebrates its seventy -fifth anniversary at the Washington Summit. Despite numerous threats and risks in the Cold War, NATO has provided a strong peace to its members in Western Europe. Whoever was in power in Moscow, NATO's power successfully restrained Russia, and never attacked the Alliance. Ukraine's invitation will strengthen the Alliance even more and provide a strong peace - in particular for the rest of Europe, Benites writes in National Interest.
