By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
North Atlantic Treaty Organization Alliance (NATO) members held their 2024 summit in Washington D.C., commemorating 75 years since they signed the North Atlantic Treaty in the District and discussing ways to ensure collective defense.
U.S. President Joe Biden (D) (left) stands alongside NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on July 10, day two of the 2024 NATO Summit in Washington D.C.
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
“In 1949, when leaders of 12 countries, including President Truman, came together in this very room. It had been four years since the surrender of the Axis powers and the end of the most devastating world war the world had ever known,” said U.S. President Joe Biden (D) during his speech at the NATO summit on July 9. “Here, these 12 leaders gathered to make a sacred pledge to defend each other against aggression, provide their collective security and to answer threats as one. They knew to prevent future wars, to protect democracies, to lay the groundwork for a lasting peace and prosperity, they needed a new approach. They needed to combine their strengths. They needed an alliance.”
“Today, NATO is more powerful than ever: 32 nations strong,” touted Biden.
The conference was held from July 9 to July 11, featuring discussions on partnerships, support for Ukraine and strengthening defense and deterrence.
In his speech, Biden pushed that Ukraine will prevail against Russia, stopping any potential Russian invasion efforts in surrounding European countries.
“Make no mistake, Ukraine can and will stop Putin, especially with our full, collective support,” said Biden as he welcomed NATO members to the summit. “Together, we’ve built a global coalition to stand with Ukraine. We’ve provided significant economic and humanitarian assistance. We’ve supplied Ukraine with weapons it needs to defend itself: tanks, armored fighting vehicles, air defense systems, long-range missiles and millions of munitions.”
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky took to social media on July 10 to acknowledge the support Ukraine is receiving from NATO members.
“I am grateful to the United States, Denmark and the Netherlands for taking practical steps to achieve the goal of all Ukrainians: to strengthen the Ukrainian air force with F-16s,” said Zelensky via X, formerly known as Twitter. “This is a clear signal that Russia’s ability to terrorize Ukrainian people, cities and communities will continue to reduce.”
“I anticipate that our air force capability coalition will be strengthened even further through the joining of new participants. F-16s bring just and lasting peace closer, demonstrating that terror must fail everywhere,” he continued.
NATO also held a live-streamed public forum from July 10 to July 11 in Washington D.C., aiming to help the public better understand NATO’s goals and policies through various debates, interactive sessions and panel discussions with NATO leaders.
