Against the background of the possible presidency of Donald Trump , Ukraine's NATO partners are trying to protect the alliance's military aid from the potential influence of this politician, writes BILD, reports Focus.
Trump has repeatedly stated that he will end the war between the Russian Federation and Ukraine "in 24 hours". Alliance headquarters suggest this could mean he will force Ukraine to give up Crimea and other occupied territories. Otherwise, Kiev will no longer receive either weapons or aid from the US.
Military expert Gustav Gressel of the Berlin-based European Council on Foreign Relations think tank explained that the US-led Wiesbaden command has been coordinating arms deliveries to Ukraine since November 2022. And on June 14, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that the Alliance will open a headquarters for international coordination of arms supplies to Ukraine, the publication notes.
"Until now, NATO member states and industry have voluntarily informed the US-led command about supplies. Now this will become more mandatory and institutionalized within NATO”, Gressel explained, quoted by Focus.
According to him, NATO military aid to Ukraine "must be protected by Trump, because if he takes the helm, he can close the American command (in Wiesbaden) at any time with one signature”. "One decree and it's gone. But to close the NATO command, you need a decision from the Alliance, and of course you won't get it so easily, Gressel explained the nuances of the situation.
A NATO source said that if Trump withdrew its support for Ukraine, the alliance would replace "the American generals there [in Wiesbaden] with French, German or British and continue to operate as before.