In brief
In a recent interview with the BBC, NATO's military committee chair, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, reinforced the alliance's unwavering support for Ukraine, stating their goal is to reach a long-lasting peace. He described the current status of the Russia-Ukraine war as a strategic failure for Russia and highlighted the importance of collaboration among NATO members to enhance air defense capabilities in response to continued threats.
Nato will stand with Ukraine up to the day in which we will have them sitting around the table for a long-lasting peace, a senior official from the military alliance has told the BBC. Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, chair of Nato's military committee since January, added that from an operational perspective, he considered the Russia-Ukraine war was bogged down, and it was almost time to sit and talk because it's a waste of lives. Highlighting that Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 had resulted in two more nations joining the Western alliance – Finland and Sweden – Adm Dragone described the war as a strategic failure for Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite slow, incremental advances by Russia on the battlefield. He stated, They will not get a friendly or puppet government like in Belarus. Putin will not succeed. When asked about European nations' readiness to continue supporting Ukraine's defense, Adm Dragone expressed confidence, noting a collective awareness among countries regarding their own defense needs. In June, NATO members agreed to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, a suggestion long urged by former US President Donald Trump. Regarding Russia's recent announcement about nuclear-powered weapons, Adm Dragone downplayed concerns, asserting that NATO is a defensive nuclear alliance. We are not threatened by them, he said, emphasizing NATO's readiness to defend its member nations. On the potential for future invasions, Adm Dragone suggested that if an attack were to occur, it might be in the Baltic states. He reassured that NATO would respond under Article 5, which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all. He reinforced the commitment of the US to this collective defense. Adm Dragone highlighted air defense as NATO's top priority, especially in light of recent incursions by Russian drones into Poland and Romania. Plans for a 'drone wall' on NATO's eastern borders are underway, aiming to integrate and upgrade existing air defense systems. Despite no indication that Russia is shifting course in the war, and recognizing some member nations' growing opposition to continued support for Ukraine, Adm Dragone spoke positively about the alliance's strength and cohesion, underscoring that NATO will remain committed to supporting Ukraine until peace prevails.
