BRUSSELS: NATO foreign ministers are convening in Oslo this week to address divisions over Ukraine’s bid for membership as allies grapple with conflicting views on granting Kyiv a roadmap to accession at the upcoming summit in July.
The request for fast-track membership by Ukraine has encountered hesitation from Western governments, particularly the United States and Germany, who fear that such a move could escalate tensions with Russia and potentially lead to active conflict.
While Ukraine and its allies in Eastern Europe have been urging NATO to take concrete steps to bring Ukraine closer to membership, some allies remain cautious. Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte emphasized the importance of avoiding an interpretation that Russia has successfully prevented Ukraine from joining NATO, stating that it would be regrettable if the outcome of the Vilnius summit on July 11-12 is seen as a victory for Russia.
NATO’s Clarification over Ukraine’s Membership
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg clarified last week that Ukraine’s accession to the alliance would not occur while the conflict with Russia persists. He stressed that membership during an ongoing war is not on the agenda, but the focus should be on what happens once the war ends.
At the 2008 summit in Bucharest, NATO agreed that Ukraine would eventually become a member, but concrete steps such as a membership action plan have not been implemented.
Apart from discussing Ukraine, foreign ministers are expected to touch on the search for a new NATO chief, as Stoltenberg’s tenure is set to conclude in September. Furthermore, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent election victory in Turkey has injected new energy into efforts to resolve the deadlock over Sweden’s NATO membership, which has been hindered by objections from Turkey and Hungary.
However, progress on this matter during the Oslo meeting appears unlikely, as Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will not be in attendance. Nevertheless, talks between Cavusoglu and Sweden’s Tobias Billstrom are expected to take place in the near future.
