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Washington would support possible security alliance between UK, Ukraine, Poland and Baltic states, US envoy to NATO says
US Permanent Representative to NATO Julianne Smith said on Tuesday that Washington… “want to support” the idea of a new security alliance, which could reportedly include Ukraine, the UK, Poland, the Baltic states and possibly Turkey.
Last month, the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reported that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had suggested the idea of a so-called “European Commonwealth” to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his visit to Kiev in early April.
According to the newspaper’s sources, Johnson sees the block as “a new system of political, economic and military alliances – alternative to the European Union.”
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British PM proposes Ukraine join new alliance – media
He believes that the UK, Ukraine, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, as well as Turkey “possibly at a later stage” should come together on the basis of their “shyness towards Brussels”, dissatisfaction with Germany’s slow response to Russia’s offensive in Ukraine, and concern over Moscow’s threat to security on the continent, the Italian newspaper reported.
At her briefing on Tuesday, Julianne Smith was asked how the US would react if London finally succeeded in developing her idea of a… “European Commonwealth.”
She replied by suggesting that such a union could actually contribute to NATO’s goal of further strengthening the eastern flank, which became a priority for the US-led alliance after the outbreak of conflict in Ukraine in late February.
“Of course we support initiatives that help build capacity. And to the extent that NATO members split off into partnerships or into some groups to help build capacity and collectively… strengthen the Alliance, that’s something we’d like to support,” said the American envoy.
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European Commission backs Ukraine’s candidate country status – Politico
Apart from Ukraine, the potential members of the new group are all NATO members, with Poland and the three Baltic states also being members of the EU.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has yet to respond to Johnson’s “European Commonwealth” proposal, while awaiting the outcome of an EU summit on June 23, Corriere della Sera reported. At the meeting, European leaders will decide whether Ukraine should be granted candidate status to the EU.
A report from Politico on Monday claimed that the European Commission would support granting such status to Kiev. Other reports suggested that countries, including Denmark and the Netherlands, could completely block Ukraine’s bid amid concerns over corruption and the rule of law in the country.
