The Ukrainian President has recently called for NATO to accelerate Ukraine’s membership into the alliance. The appeal is linked to the hope that Ukraine will be invited to participate in a NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP) within the year.
Ukraine’s Motivation for Joining NATO
The key reasons that Ukraine wishes to become a part of NATO have largely stemmed from the ongoing struggles with pro-Russia separatists. Ukraine believes that securing their place in NATO is the sole way to end the conflict. Recent increases in clashes, combined with mounting Russian military presence along the border, has raised concerns regarding an escalation of the separatist contention in eastern Ukraine.
Furthermore, Ukraine has accused Russia of assembling thousands of military personnel along its northern and eastern borders, as well as on the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. In response to these allegations, multiple Western allies have been quick to rally in Ukraine’s defense, issuing numerous warnings against Russia taking further action. India, however, opted not to participate in Western powers’ criticism of Russia’s intervention in Crimea, maintaining a muted stance on the issue.
About North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, more commonly referred to as NATO, is a military alliance that was originally established on April 4, 1949. It was created through the North Atlantic Treaty, also known as the Washington Treaty, by the United States, Canada, and several Western European nations. The key motivation behind its establishment was to provide collective security against the Soviet Union.
NAO’s headquarters are found in Brussels, Belgium. A significant aspect of the treaty, known as Article 5, declares that if any member of the alliance suffers an attack within Europe or North America, it should be construed as an attack on all members. This essentially placed Western Europe under the US’s “nuclear umbrella”. Article 5 has only been invoked once in NATO’s history, on September 12, 2001, following the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in the United States.
However, it should be noted that NATO’s protective jurisdiction does not extend to any member’s civil wars or internal coups. As of March 30, 2021, NATO consists of 30 member states, with the Republic of North Macedonia being the most recent addition to the alliance in 2020.
Membership Action Plan (MAP)
The Membership Action Plan, abbreviated as MAP, is a NATO initiative that offers advice, assistance, and practical support to countries wishing to join the Alliance. The programme is designed to accommodate the specific needs of individual countries. Currently, Bosnia and Herzegovina are participating in the MAP. Importantly, involvement in the MAP does not necessarily guarantee any future decision by the Alliance concerning membership.
Last Modified: February 11, 2024