"Ukraine belongs among the NATO member states"

Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson says there is a strong solidarity between the countries at the NATO summit in Washington, DC. NATO is now the strongest defence alliance in history, 75 years after the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty in 1949. It is also clear that the European leaders can agree that assistance was delivered to Ukraine too late and that Ukraine should, indeed, be a member of NATO.

Benediktsson says the meeting is historical in many ways, both because of the 75 years since the signing of the treaty and Sweden’s seat at the table, but also because the meeting is the last one chaired by Jens Stoltenberg, the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Stoltenberg has held this position for a decade and Benediktsson says the alliance has changed a lot since then, for example, considering much higher funding for defence and security.

“This is also a historic meeting, of course, because it’s been 75 years since the alliance was founded and now there are 32 countries, with Icelanders among the 12 founders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. For us, it’s very special to witness how strong, long-lived and powerful this alliance has been. This is the strongest defence alliance in history and it has never been stronger,” he says to mbl.is.

Consensus on financial support for Ukraine

In addition, many countries are using the meeting to emphasize their support for Ukraine and to sign agreements on such matters, as Iceland did in June.

“It’s true that some countries have been highlighting their long-term support for Ukraine with additional contributions. We Icelanders signed a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine in Stockholm in June, and other countries have been making similar agreements here in Washington, or underscoring their long-term support. The countries are here together to ensure a consensus and structure of long-term support through a special new arrangement that NATO will manage, and therefore they will be supported until next year, with a special financial support.”

It is important to face attacks against the international system with determination

When we look at the words of Mr. Stoltenberg from earlier today, as reported by CNN, where he warned that if Russia did its mission, it would encourage Iran, North Korea and China, Benediktsson says these countries do not adhere to the basic values of NATO.

“There have been considerable quotes from what the founding agreement of the Atlantic Treaty, which was the impetus behind the signing of the 1949 treaty, says. This alliance is about securing peace, defending freedom and democracy and the self-determination of nations and the states you mentioned have not stood up for similar values. Just in that light, there is a great deal of solidarity here at the meeting about how important it is, and more important than ever, to show solidarity and cohesion. To show a united front between the countries that come together under the NATO flag and those that defend these same values that have secured peace and prosperity in our part of the world. Every attempt to attack the international system and a world based on international law must be met with the utmost determination, and it is a good feeling to find this great consensus about these values here in Washington,” Benediktsson says.

“Everything points to that direction”

When asked how the situation has developed in relation to Ukraine at the meeting, he says the leaders are facing the fact that assistance has been delivered to Ukraine late.

“I think that the European countries in general cannot ignore the fact that it has taken too long to unite Europe’s forces in support of Ukraine. There have been difficulties in weapon production and there have been certain weaknesses in the supply of weapons, among other things because of the diversity of production in Europe, which means that people cannot supply a uniform product. But there have been many changes in the last two years and the machines have started to move at a completely different speed. So even though the response could have been more powerful and faster, there have been many changes in the last two years since Russia invaded and there has never been more solidarity about improving the planning, increasing the funding and aligning the ties,” he says. This is done so that Ukraine can not only deter the attack but also simply to show a strong resistance when borders and international law are under attack.

“The debate has been that more could have happened sooner, but everything is moving in the right direction and the consensus has never been stronger. Now, Ukraine belongs among the NATO member states, although it has not been timed for that, it is clear that everything points to that direction,” Benediktsson conclude s.