NATO countries are considering sending their troops to Ukraine, according to the former secretary general of the Alliance, Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
NATO Countries Likely to Send Troops to Ukraine
ZAGAN, POLAND - JUNE 18: A soldier of the Polish Army sits in a tank as a NATO flag flies behind during the NATO Noble Jump military exercises of the VJTF forces on June 18, 2015 in Zagan, Poland.
As the war in Ukraine continues, NATO countries are increasingly considering sending troops to the country, the Independent UK reports. None other than former NATO Secretary-General Rasmussen warned on Tuesday that NATO members may be forced to send troops to Ukraine if Russia continues its aggression.
The ex-Alliance Chief warns, "If Nato cannot agree on a clear path forward for Ukraine, there is a clear possibility that some countries individually might take action." He emphasized that Poland is highly engaged in extending a helping hand to Ukraine.
And as such, Rasmussen says that he "[would not] exclude the possibility that Poland would engage even stronger in this context on a national basis." He further warned that it could "be followed by the Baltic states, maybe including the possibility of troops on the ground."
On top of that, the former NATO chief also stated that Ukraine seeking military assistance from these countries is legal.
The Guardian notes that the ex-NATO secretary-general now sits as the official adviser of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Rasmussen has been touring various countries in Europe and in the US to understand how other leaders feel before the upcoming summit this July 11.
The recent remarks of the former NATO chief come shortly after the current secretary general Jen Stoltenberg announced that the alliance is only giving full-fledged security guarantees to full members, leaving Ukraine behind.
Some NATO member countries have long been resisting the entry of Ukraine into the alliance out of fear of igniting a potential war against Moscow.
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NATO Ukrainian Membership
TOPSHOT - A local resident walks among damaged cars as leaving a multi-storey residential building, partially destroyed after night drone attacks in Kyiv on May 30, 2023.
The decision of whether or not to send troops to Ukraine is a complex one. NATO leaders must weigh the risks and benefits of such a move. On the one hand, sending troops to Ukraine could help to deter Russia from further aggression. On the other hand, it could also lead to a wider conflict between NATO and Russia.
The United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told other European leaders that Ukraine rightfully belongs to NATO.
But as per a report by Aljazeera, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy continues to woo NATO and EU members for military alliance amid the Russian invasion. However, the member countries are still divided by his call.
Zelenskyy says that every country bordering Russia, which includes Ukraine, should be part of NATO. He further notes that Moscow "tries to swallow only those outside of the common security type."
Countries such as Luxembourg and Germany have long been pointing out the risks that come with letting Ukraine join the military alliance.
The German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock says NATO "cannot talk about accepting new members [who are] in the midst of a war."
Despite that, Zelenskyy is still appealing to dozens of European leaders.
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