London
             NATO celebrates its 72nd anniversary this week. This alliance faces new challenges and ongoing threats. Western allies have expressed concern about Russia's build-up of troops and military equipment in the border areas of Ukraine in recent weeks. The Russian army is conducting exercises in Crimea. Russia forcibly annexed Crimea belonging to Ukraine in 2014.
Moscow said that these military deployments are to ensure Russia’s own security and “do not pose a threat to anyone.” But Ukrainian President Zelensky urged NATO to accelerate the process of Ukraine’s accession to NATO, on the grounds that it would send a “real signal to Russia”. ."
The Western Allies signed the "Washington Treaty" 72 years ago in accordance with the principle of collective self-defense to establish NATO to guard against threats from the Soviet Union. The fifth clause of the treaty clarifies this principle.
Jonathan Eyal, deputy director of the British Royal Armed Forces Research Institute, said Russia continues to be NATO’s biggest challenge.




Al said to VOA, “President Zelensky’s call is a reminder that not only NATO continues to be a republic of the former Soviet Union but also the focus of attention of countries eager to get rid of Russia’s continued sphere of influence, but NATO is ultimately the only role in Europe. Security architecture."

Al said, “Russia is not only willing to threaten other European countries through force, but it did use force to forcibly annex the territory of another country less than 10 years ago. So, this really highlights NATO as the center of European security architecture. status."

This central position continues to attract new members to NATO. North Macedonia joined NATO in March 2020. The Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina has become an official candidate country, and both Ukraine and Georgia are eager to join NATO.


At the same time, US President Biden reiterated that the United States is determined to safeguard NATO. His predecessor Trump once said that NATO was “outdated,” which shocked the transatlantic alliance. Trump subsequently changed his position.

Al said, "President Biden immediately eliminated all such doubts after entering the White House." "This president has been protecting NATO in Congress for the past 40 years, emphasizing that NATO not only does not consume US resources, but also doubles the strength of the United States. increase."





Simona Soare, a senior associate analyst at the European Union Security Institute, said Biden is also urging NATO to deal with other strategic threats.