Helsinki Commission calls on Biden to designate Ukraine and Georgia as Major Non-NATO Allies
The US Helsinki Commission calls on the administration of US President Joe Biden to designate Ukraine and Georgia as Major Non-NATO Allies (MNNA). Information about it was reported by Foreign Policy.
At the same time, the Commission calls on the US President to strengthen support for both countries to join NATO.
"Your Administration’s response is helping Ukraine defend itself, but we urge you to take immediate steps to upgrade our formal defense trade relationship with Ukraine by designating it a Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA). Georgia, which lacks Western security guarantees and faces Russian occupation and threats, should also receive an MNNA designation. This designation is a fair reflection of our current bilateral defense relationships and does not commit the United States to military action.
The United States should also take a more proactive posture in favor of Ukrainian and Georgian NATO accession. Although the United States has consistently supported Ukraine’s and Georgia’s NATO membership, Russia’s occupations and ongoing invasion expose the tragedy of long-stalled Euro-Atlantic enlargement. Absent strong and proactive U.S. backing for Ukrainian and Georgian NATO membership, Putin will continue to take ample advantage in his aspirations to upend security and cooperation in Europe and his neocolonial agenda. In the meantime, granting Ukraine MNNA status is but one way for the U.S. to signal our continued support while broadening options available to your Administration for military and economic assistance. Given Putin’s objectives to dominate the wider region, such a signal would also be important to Georgia, and consideration should also be given to Moldova, Sweden, and Finland," reads the letter, spread by Foreign Policy.
The Helsinki Commission, officially known as The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, was established in 1976 as an independent government agency. The Commission consists of 18 members of the US Congress.
