SE Valley Times

As NATO marks its 75th anniversary, experts highlight the alliance's increasing importance in light of Russia’s attack on Ukraine and the global threat to democracy. The McCain Institute at Arizona State University hosted a panel discussion on Monday at the Tempe campus to underscore NATO's role in protecting security and democracy. The institute is an institutional partner for the upcoming NATO Public Forum 2024 in Washington, D.C.

The event, titled “Frontlines of Freedom: NATO, Arizona, and the Fight for Democracy,” featured Kay Bailey Hutchison, former U.S. ambassador to NATO from 2017 to 2021; Jessica Lewis, assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs; and Jack McCain, U.S. Navy Reserve aviator and McCain Institute board member.

Hutchison emphasized America's leadership within NATO. "The Europeans would never be able to rally together without us. We are the country that will assess a risk and then deter that risk," she said. She also noted that NATO was formed in 1949 to prevent catastrophic wars like World War I and World War II. "And today, I would say that it is also for the survival of Western civilization because now we are in a fight for our way of life," Hutchison added.

Lewis stated that the U.S. has provided more than $51.4 billion in security assistance to Ukraine. "This is the fight of a generation for our way of life," she said, adding that transparency has been requested from Ukraine regarding fund allocation. The U.S. has also invested nearly $2 billion in helping countries transition away from Russian weapons.

Jack McCain shared his experience at a NATO base in Kandahar, Afghanistan, where Romanian troops secured the perimeter despite significant risks. "They were putting themselves...in harm’s way to protect American and NATO lives," he recounted.

Hutchison criticized past responses by NATO when Putin attacked two provinces in Georgia in 2009 and Crimea in 2014: "We put in sanctions and we walked away." She warned against showing weakness: "If he's successful...he will surely take the next step."

McCain highlighted rising authoritarianism globally, mentioning China, Russia, and North Korea as threats to democracy. He argued that Russia's war against Ukraine has been disastrous for Moscow due to military incompetence and failing weapons systems sold internationally.

McCain referred to Putin’s recent visit to North Korea as indicative of desperation: "He looked very dejected sitting down next to Kim Jong Un."

Hutchison pointed out that NATO's power extends economically: "If we acted in concert...what would happen to [China’s] economy?" She dismissed concerns about potential U.S withdrawal from NATO under Trump’s criticism: "No president can withdraw from NATO without a two-thirds vote of the Senate or a vote of Congress."

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