How did Ukraine’s presence affect the conference in Vilnius? Why did Turkey end its boycott of Sweden?

What lessons can we learn from the NATO summit? The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)’s (or “NATO”)) relevance has been a subject of much debate for a number of years.
These narratives have been upended by the conflict in Eastern Europe, which has given the alliance fresh reasons to expand as well as reinforce it. Both of these strategic requirements for the NATO were emphasized at the most recent summit, which took place in Vilnius this month.
What made this summit unique?

The Vilnius Summit was notable for the presence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the excitement surrounding the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO.
In this regard, the establishment of the NATOUkraine Council as a venue for crisis discussions and decision-making revealed that NATO made an effort to allay Ukraine’s concerns about not being a full member of the alliance by establishing a mechanism for its increased engagement, support, and future inclusion. The Vilnius conference did bring hope, but little was gained right away in Ukraine’s eyes. New armament packages, security assurances, and an offer to join NATO were all three of President Zelenskyy’s goals that went unfulfilled. What lessons can we learn from the NATO summit?
The U.K. did promise Ukraine support for ammunition, though. Additionally, NATO has improved its own defenses while masking it as a need to assist Ukraine. With the support of a Defense Production Action Plan, NATO’s new plans call for maintaining a force of 300,000 soldiers with aviation and naval capabilities. They also place a significant focus on a strong industrial foundation.
What significance does the addition of new members have?
A few things are clear from Finland’s acceptance and Sweden’s approval as NATO members. First, it conveys that the Alliance still abides by Article 10 of the Washington Treaty, signed in April 1949, which specifies that member nations may extend invitations to additional European nations to join NATO. It provides a solid foundation for Ukraine’s eventual membership and theoretically discourages Russia from acting against NATO allies. Second, it represents a significant shift because Turkey is now less opposed to Sweden joining NATO. The facilitation of Sweden’s membership by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan leads to a desire to heal relations with the United States, even if final acceptance is still subject to the approval of the Turkish parliament. A stronger relationship with the United States would support Ankara’s ailing economy and offer chances to settle bilaterally problematic problems.
What was the U.S.’s stance?
In his statement at the conference, U.S. President Joe Biden pledged his steadfast support for both the alliance and Ukraine. Given that previous president Donald Trump’s approach to NATO was very different from Mr. Biden’s, this is considered as a crucial assurance. While the present President has positioned his support for Ukraine as a political legacy of his administration, not only by reviving transatlantic solidarity but also by forging a bipartisan agreement on Ukraine domestically, Mr. Trump had pondered pulling the United States from NATO.
Who are other threat actors to NATO?

The challenges and concerns posed by China’s avowed goals and coercive practices were unapologetically addressed during the Vilnius conference. The report claimed that in addition to disinformation campaigns targeted specifically at NATO allies and hostile language, China poses a threat to NATO’s security due to its malicious hybrid cyber operations. The NATO summit emphasized that with the growing space for the Quad countries as well as other regional nations like New Zealand and South Korea, the developments in the IndoPacific have become increasingly important for EuroAtlantic security. But even as the summit was underway, Russia conducted a drone attack on Kyiv, showing that it was unfazed by the prospect of NATO expansion. The future of Eurasian security is likely to be determined by this conflict. The Observer Research Foundation’s vice president for studies is Harsh V. Pant. At ORF, Vivek Mishra is a Fellow.
Way Forword:
- The Vilnius Summit was notable for the presence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the excitement surrounding the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO.
- The facilitation of Sweden’s membership by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan makes people want to patch fences with the United States.
- The Vilnius summit was blunt about the difficulties and dangers posed by China’s declared goals and coercive measures.