NATO leaders met this week to celebrate the alliance’s 75th anniversary under the cloud of deep political uncertainty in its most powerful member – the United States
NATO leaders met this week to celebrate the alliance’s 75th anniversary under the cloud of deep political uncertainty in its most powerful member — the United States.
But even as questions swirled about President Joe Biden’s future and the implications of a possible return to the White House by NATO skeptic Donald Trump, the 32 allies put a brave face on their strength and unity going forward, particularly in relation to Ukraine.
Over three days in Washington, Ukraine, Russia, the threat posed by an increasingly aggressive China and NATO’s future dominated the formal summit discussions, although all eyes were on Biden.
He hoped to use the summit as a symbol of his strength as leader of the free world as he struggles to salvage his reelection campaign. Biden is facing growing calls to withdraw after a poor debate performance against Trump last month.
Here are key takeaways from the summit:
Biden stunned the audience at a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council on Thursday by referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Russian President Vladimir Putin before quickly correcting himself.
At his news conference later at the conclusion of the summit, he mistakenly called Vice President Kamala Harris Vice President Trump.
NATO leaders paid great deference to Biden by either ignoring or sidestepping questions about his comportment, appearance and grasp of the issues. They praised his leadership and the achievements that NATO has made during his tenure in the White House, including rallying the allies to oppose Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and the addition of Finland and Sweden as members.
French President Emmanuel Macron and new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer were asked repeatedly about the gaffe but declined to answer directly.
“We can all have a slip of the tongue”, Macron said. “It’s happened to me. I’m sure it will happen to me again tomorrow, and I’d ask you to be just as kind to me.”
Macron said he had a long discussion with Biden during Wednesday’s dinner with NATO leaders and heard his discussions in meetings during the summit. He described Biden as “very much on top of things.”
“He knows the issues, and around the table, he is amongst those who has the greatest depth of knowledge on these international issues,” Macron said.
