NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned that a victory in Ukraine by Russian President Vladimir Putin would send a dangerous message to authoritarian leaders worldwide that brutality works.
“We discussed the global consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine,” Stoltenberg said in a NATO news release issued April 5. Stoltenberg spoke to NATO foreign ministers at the conclusion of a two-day meeting in Brussels with Indo-Pacific partners Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea, and the European Union, the release reports.
In addition to addressing the global implications of Russia's illegal war on Ukraine, the ministers spoke about China’s increasing alignment with Russia.
“Allies have been clear that any provision of lethal aid by China to Russia would be a historic mistake, with profound implications,” Stoltenberg said, the release reports.
Stoltenberg emphasized the importance of NATO allies and partners to stand together as Moscow and Beijing push against rules-based international order, according to the report. The Secretary General welcomed new commitments made by allies in the NATO-Ukraine Commission and encouraged continued military support for Ukraine, including developing a strategic multi-year assistance program.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted the continuing commitment to assisting Ukraine in a social media post.
"Our @NATO unity is as strong as ever, and the Alliance remains resilient against Putin’s attempts to undermine our solidarity," Blinken stated in an April 5 Twitter post. "We remain united in our support to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, and to advancing the international rules-based order."
In Brussels, the foreign ministers also discussed topics including instability and terrorism in the Middle East and North Africa, and the importance of increased defense spending, the NATO release reports.
On April 4, NATO welcomed Finland as its newest member ahead of the foreign ministers' meetings. Finland officially joined NATO upon depositing its instrument of accession to the North Atlantic Treaty with the U.S. at NATO headquarters in Brussels. Blinken and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Finland into the alliance on the 74th anniversary of the signing of NATO's founding documents in 1949.
"On this historic day as we mark the 74th anniversary of NATO, we also welcome Finland as NATO’s 31st Ally," Blinken stated in his official remarks. "Finland is stronger and safer within the Alliance, and the Alliance is stronger and safer with Finland as its Ally."
NATO was formed with the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty as an intergovernmental military alliance with a focus on Russian threats. With the inclusion of FInland, NATO now has 31 member countries, making it one of the largest and most powerful military alliances in the world.
Finland’s first act as a member was to deliver ratification documents for Sweden to be the next member of NATO. Blinken called Sweden "a strong and capable partner that is ready to join NATO."
"Russia’s further invasion into Ukraine last year precipitated the very thing President Putin wanted to avoid: a stronger, more unified, Transatlantic Alliance," Blinken said in his remarks.
