NATO will mark its 75th year at a three day summit in Washington this week. President\u00a0Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine is scheduled to attend the proceedings, during which the alliance is expected to\u00a0offer, in lieu of membership, what has been described by Biden administration officials as a \u201cBridge to NATO.\u201d<\/p>\n
In other words, a promise of accession, not unlike the one proffered by the alliance 16 years ago at the NATO summit in Bucharest.<\/p>\n
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We believe that prioritizing Ukraine\u2019s NATO membership is dangerously misguided. It is unarguable that the human costs of the war in Ukraine \u2013 and the concomitant costs to the European economy and the American treasury\u2013have been enormous. Proposals to end the hostilities have been met with stubborn silence from Ukraine\u2019s sponsors in the West.<\/p>\n
If NATO had the security interests of its member states as its highest priority, the alliance would convene in Washington to discuss a \u201cBridge to Peace\u201d rather than yet another round of NATO expansion.\u00a0After all,\u00a0NATO exists to ensure the security of its members \u2013 to act as a force for regional stability. Yet, the project of expanding NATO right up to Russia\u2019s borders has undermined that mission.<\/p>\n
The war in Ukraine has been a catastrophe for the Ukrainian people; it is therefore crucial that we learn the lessons that may prevent such tragic conflicts in the future.<\/p>\n
NATO should take the opportunity of the week\u2019s summit to take a cold eyed look at itself; at its record; and at its mission \u2013 and begin the hard work of self-evaluation.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n