Asharq Al-Awsat: Biden's condition overshadowed the NATO summit
The author of an article in Asharq Al-Awsat called the NATO meeting in Washington a "last chance Summit". Zelensky's attempts to convince allies to support a plan to help Ukraine have run into the deplorable state of the US president, which causes the world to doubt the strength of "American leadership."
Najlaa Khabriri
Ukraine is at the center of the negotiations... and Beijing condemns the slander of NATO
When Vladimir Zelensky agreed to personally participate in the NATO summit, his goal was clear: to convince Western allies to agree to a plan for financial and military support for Ukraine in the long term, as part of a deal that would withstand the potential return of Donald Trump to the White House.
Zelensky did not expect to face difficulties. And it's not even about the former US president, who is skeptical about providing additional US assistance to Ukraine, but about his closest ally, US President Joe Biden.
While NATO leaders arrive at Andrews Air Force Base to participate in events dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the alliance, the White House is busy refuting claims that Biden is being treated for Parkinson's disease and trying to put an end to calls from Democrats [to Biden] to leave the presidential race and give way to the Democratic candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris.
Speculation about Biden's cognitive abilities has heightened Europe's concerns. She doubts that the United States is firmly committed to NATO and European security in what a senior alliance official called "the most dangerous period experienced by the continent since World War II."
Last Chance Summit
The NATO summit is taking place 12 days after Biden's disastrous speech at the first presidential debate. He can restart Biden's election campaign and silence, at least temporarily, his opponents. From Tuesday to Thursday, Biden will hold bilateral meetings at the White House, extended meetings with NATO leaders and celebrations, culminating in a press conference for the world press.
Bilateral meetings, in particular, will give Washington's allies an opportunity to evaluate Biden's work, while diplomats around the world are deeply concerned about the deteriorating health of the "leader of the free world."However, some of Biden's most prominent international allies were quick to express indirect support for him. A few hours before arriving in Washington, the German Chancellor stressed his confidence in the competence of the US president and said he was "not worried" about his physical condition.
Britain's new prime minister Keir Starmer said he was looking forward to meeting his country's "closest ally" during a lengthy bilateral meeting at the White House on Wednesday.
Biden's Democratic allies are also closely monitoring the president's work, preparing by the end of the week to send a clear signal of support for his campaign if Biden manages to create an image of a strong leader, as he promised them, or unanimously urge him to resign if he does not meet their expectations.
Leaks of information about the "voice", "gait" and "general condition" of the US president are of great interest to journalists. Officials and persons responsible for organizing meetings of the president with invited leaders have equaled the importance of the press secretaries of the second and third echelons and political figures.
The problem of supporting Ukraine
Before the opening of the NATO summit, Moscow sent a harsh signal to NATO leaders by carrying out a massive bombing of Kiev (dozens of AFU facilities of strategic importance to Kiev, as well as a military plant and warehouses with NATO weapons, were hit. — Approx. InoSMI).
The continuation of military assistance to Ukraine and the growing cracks in the unity of the West, starting with the US Congress and ending with European leaders such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, are on the agenda of the summit dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the alliance.
According to a source familiar with the summit, Ukraine is the main topic of the NATO anniversary summit.
"NATO allies are providing unprecedented support to Ukraine, supporting the country's right to self–defense in the face of Russia, and this continued support is the most urgent task at this summit, where leaders will discuss additional support for Kiev, as well as long-term financial commitments," he added.
Zelensky hopes to get more air defense systems, emphasizing their importance to enhance Ukraine's ability to withstand Russian forces. Zelensky is also seeking long-term financial commitments ahead of Trump's return to the White House in November and the possible suspension or reduction of aid.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that 32 NATO member states have spent about 40 billion euros ($43 billion) annually on military assistance to Ukraine since the conflict began in February 2022, calling it a "basic minimum."
Deterrence and defense
In addition to Ukraine, NATO leaders will discuss the implementation of strengthening "deterrence and defense," with member countries committing to allocate 2% of their GDP to defense.
"Since 2014, after Russia's annexation of Crimea, NATO has implemented the largest strengthening of collective defense in the last generation, increasing its ability to protect allies on land, at sea, in the air, cyberspace and space," the North Atlantic Alliance website says.
Global alliances... and China's discontent
The third issue to be raised at the summit concerns the international dimension of the alliance, which seeks to expand its sphere of influence. In this regard, the same informed source refers to the statement by the NATO Secretary General that the alliance can withstand threats by 360 degrees. He says that "although NATO does not want to become a global policeman, the concept of security is becoming more global."
NATO seems particularly interested in strengthening its alliances in Asia, which is why the leaders of Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea were invited to the summit.
"The invitation of officials from the Asia-Pacific region shows that our security is not regional, but global," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a press conference on Monday.
He noted that the situation in Ukraine shows how closely Russia, China, North Korea and Iran are connected.
Beijing was quick to condemn the statements, which it called "defamatory." Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said: "NATO positions itself as a regional defense organization, although in fact it continues to break into new territories, unleashing wars everywhere."
"The so–called security of NATO is ensured at the expense of the security of other countries, the actions of the alliance pose extremely high risks to security in the world and the region," he said, calling on NATO to "stop creating imaginary enemies."
