With just days remaining until the NATO summit in Washington on July 9-10, Ukraine finds itself at the center of a heated debate among American foreign policy experts.
60 Analyst Sends a Letter
According to Ziare sixty analysts have penned a letter urging NATO not to promise Ukraine future membership, arguing that such pledges could perpetuate Russia's aggressive stance and risk further conflict escalation, as reported by POLITICO.
The American experts warn that such promises could endanger the United States and its allies, potentially fracturing the coalition.
They contend that if Ukraine were admitted, any future Russian attack could trigger Article 5 of NATO, compelling allies to defend a member under attack.
"As NATO promises more that Ukraine will join once the war ends, Russia's incentive to continue the war grows," the letter published by POLITICO states.
It emphasizes that Russia's challenges can be managed without bringing Ukraine into NATO.
Fuels Putin's Narrative
Taking steps toward Ukraine's accession could have unintended consequences, the letter cautions.
It could inadvertently fuel Russian President Vladimir Putin's narrative that Russia is fighting against the West, turning Ukraine into a prolonged battleground between the world's largest nuclear powers.
The letter's drafting was spearheaded by William Ruger, President of the American Institute for Economic Research, and Stephen Wertheim, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. However, not all analysts agree.
Last week, researchers from RAND Corp. argued that allies would benefit from providing Ukraine with clearer conditions for future NATO membership at the summit. The Atlantic Council also advocated for Ukraine's accession to NATO, asserting that it would demonstrate unwavering Western support to Kiev.
As the NATO summit approaches, the debate over Ukraine's role and NATO's strategic decisions continues to intensify,
