International arms aid for Ukraine will be coordinated by NATO in the future. From today on, the commander-in-chief can act – and set up the command planned in Germany.
The establishment of the new NATO Ukraine Command in Wiesbaden is beginning. The start date for the operation to coordinate arms deliveries and training activities for the Ukrainian armed forces is this Friday, said alliance representatives on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington. However, the Supreme Commander for Europe will probably need a few more months to set up the command in such a way that it can take on all planned tasks. Until then, the US armed forces will continue to take on the coordination tasks.
The NATO states want to mobilize at least 40 billion euros for military aid to Ukraine within the next year.
The heads of state and government of the NATO countries decided to launch the mission on Wednesday at this year’s summit in Washington. It is also intended to be a precaution in the event of a possible return of Donald Trump to the US presidency from January 2025. Statements by the Republican in the past had raised doubts as to whether the USA would continue to support Ukraine under his leadership in the defensive war against Russia as before. The alliance fears that a political change of course in Washington could also affect the coordination of arms deliveries and training activities for the Ukrainian armed forces.
This task has so far been carried out primarily by the United States. At the end of 2022, the United States set up a unit of around 300 soldiers called Security Assistance Group-Ukraine (SAG-U) at the European headquarters of the US armed forces in Wiesbaden, Hesse. Around 700 employees are now to be deployed for NATO, with Germany intending to provide around 40 of them, including a two-star general as deputy commander. In addition to the NATO headquarters in Wiesbaden, there will also be branch offices in Poland, Romania and Slovakia, as well as a team in Mons in Belgium. This is where the Supreme Commander of NATO Forces in Europe, Christopher G. Cavoli, is based.
NATO representatives stressed in Washington on Thursday that the new NATO command, called NSATU (NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine), will not replace the Ukraine Contact Group (UDCG). In the format, which is usually led by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, representatives of countries that provide military support to Ukraine consult. It is also known as the Ramstein Group.
NATO summit website
Source: Stern
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