Last Updated:
Biden’s decision to allow Ukraine to use long-range weapons and an ICC warrant against Netanyahu have widened a rift within NATO.
A visible rift within NATO countries has been noted towards the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. (Reuters)
Donald Trump’s election win is expected to have a wide-ranging impact on geopolitics and global conflicts – particularly concerning the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the Russia-Ukraine war. With less than two months to go, a rift is already visible between the member-states of the Western military alliance.
A geopolitical storm erupted when the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defence minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif over alleged war crimes. Netanyahu condemned the ruling as a “modern-day Dreyfus trial” and vowed to not relent to pressure, while the United States, Israel’s closest ally, also rejected the warrant.
Further complicating matters is the US decision to allow Ukraine to use long-range weapons in Russia, which has sparked fears of an escalation in the war. Ukraine’s use of American ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles prompted Russia to use an intercontinental ballistic missile at Ukraine for the first time in the war, marking a new phase in the war.
Where Do NATO Countries Stand On ICC Warrant Against Netanyahu?
After the arrest warrant was issued by the ICC, all 124 countries of the Rome Statute are now faced with the prospects and consequences of detaining Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza. However, the court cannot enforce its power on the member states and has to rely on cooperation from them for arrests.
Countries including Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Norway, Turkey and Sweden have signalled their willingness to abide by the ICC rules and some of them said they will arrest Netanyahu if he comes on their lands. However, countries like the US and Hungary have opposed the move, while France and Germany were “examining the issue”.
Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orbán – at the centre of inter-NATO disputes on both Israel and Ukraine – denounced the arrest warrant for Netanyahu, saying he will defy it by inviting him to Hungary. “We will defy this decision, and it will have no consequences for him,” he said. He also wrote to Netanyahu saying the arrest warrant was a “shameful” move.
NATO Countries On Ukraine Using Long-Range Weapons
The Biden administration’s decision to allow Ukraine to use long-range weapons to strike targets deeper in Russia flared tensions two months before Donald Trump took office. While Western countries generally had been at unease over Ukraine’s use of such weapons, some countries have outrightly condemned the decision.
Countries like Slovakia and Hungary, who generally enjoy friendly relations with Russia and have opposed aiding Ukraine, slammed the move. Slovak’s Prime Minister Robert Fico called it an “unprecedented escalation of tensions” which was made ” with the clear aim to completely thwart or delay peace talks”.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, who is a frequent critic of Ukraine with close ties to the Russian government, said the decision was “incredibly dangerous” that could escalate the war and threaten the outbreak of a World War III. He also slammed US President Joe Biden for contradicting the will of voters who elected Trump. Hungary’s government under Orbán has been the most hostile in the EU to Ukraine’s ambitions to join the 27-nation bloc, and eventually the NATO military alliance.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also echoed similar sentiments, saying Biden’s step would be “interpreted as a move to enflame the war and to ensure that it never ends but spreads”. He also warned against a greater response from Russia. While Turkey has lent support to Ukraine, it has also opposed Western sanctions on Russia.
What Trump’s Presidency Means For NATO?
US President-elect Trump, who takes office in about two months, has raised uncertainty on whether his administration would continue military support for Ukraine, as he and his team have been critical of the aid Washington sends to Kyiv. Trump has frequently criticised NATO, saying he would encourage Russia “to do whatever the hell they want” to do if member states did not meet their military spending requirements.
Trump’s isolationist views have long haunted NATO and his incoming presidency, can also lead to a peace deal where Ukraine would likely be forced to give up the territories occupied by Russia and say goodbye to its plans to join the military alliance. Such a move is likely to undermine US relations with NATO.
Trump appointed former Acting Attorney General Matthew G Whitaker as his ambassador to NATO, a loyalist who has little foreign policy experience. “Matt is a strong warrior and loyal Patriot, who will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended. Matt will strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability – He will put AMERICA FIRST,” Trump said in a statement.
- Location :
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
