A former diplomat points to a changing balance of responsibility, while NATO faces difficult questions about its future across the Atlantic.
Robert Serry, the first Dutch ambassador to Ukraine from 1992 to 1996, believes that Ukraine has already become one of the defining elements of security on the European continent. In his view, its importance may surpass the role of Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, which provides for the collective defense of NATO member states.
In my book, I even argue that Ukraine could become more important to European security than NATO’s Article 5. This is a very serious proposition. It means that Article 5 will no longer be as reliable a guarantee as it once was. And this has serious consequences: Europe must take much greater responsibility for its own security. And it is impossible to do so without Ukraine. Today, you have the strongest army in Europe. That is precisely why I say that Ukraine has become so important to us as well. More and more people in Europe are coming to understand this, although not enough yet.
– Robert Serry
Ukraine and Europe’s New Security Model
Robert Serry stressed that Europe needs to take a more active role in its own defense. In his view, it is impossible to create an effective security system without Ukraine’s participation, given the experience of Ukrainian servicemembers in confronting Russia’s full-scale aggression.
The former ambassador also linked Russia’s war against Ukraine to the evolution of Mark Rutte’s views. When the MH17 tragedy occurred, Rutte was prime minister of the Netherlands; today, he heads NATO. Serry believes that over time, Rutte has become one of Ukraine’s most consistent supporters.
He also mentioned the support that Mark Rutte, together with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, gave to the decision to transfer F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. In Serry’s assessment, the Netherlands and Denmark made greater efforts toward this than many other EU countries.
The Future of NATO and Mark Rutte’s Role
As for Rutte’s current role as NATO secretary general, frankly, I do not envy him. If the current rift between America and Europe deepens, the question arises: what will NATO even mean? The Alliance will inevitably have to become a more European organization. Incidentally, that is what the Americans are demanding as well. This is a considerable responsibility for Rutte, and I believe he is the right person for the job. At the same time, it seems to me that he has sometimes gone too far in his praise of Trump.
– Robert Serry
According to Robert Serry, deepening differences between the United States and Europe will force NATO to rely more heavily on European capabilities. In such a situation, Ukraine could become one of the key partners in shaping Europe’s future defense and security system.