The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is celebrating its 75th anniversary today. NATO, which was founded on April 4, 1949, to counter the Soviet Union’s aggressive expansionist policies, is the largest military-political alliance in human history.
The ECR Group in the European Parliament is a staunch advocate of the Alliance and consistently emphasizes its importance, pointing out that the creation of the European Community—and later the European Union—would not have been possible without NATO. It has not only become the foundation for strong political and economic partnerships, but above all—especially in the context of Russia’s continued aggressive expansionist policy—this organization remains crucial to Europe’s security. The growing number of Alliance members and partners underscores its continued significant role in protecting our civilization.
ECR foreign affairs spokesperson and former member of the NATO Reflection Group, MEP Anna Fotyga, said: “NATO, the world’s largest military alliance and an unparalleled shield against aggression, is celebrating its 75th anniversary. We pay tribute to all its leaders and soldiers for their service and commitment to protecting the freedom, shared heritage, and civilization of our nations, in accordance with NATO’s mission as defined in the Washington Treaty. The EU’s success would not be possible without NATO’s shield, and the foundation of that shield is the transatlantic bond. We need unity, solidarity, and close military cooperation, but also strong economic ties. The EU’s role is to support the Alliance in its unique commitments. The ECR Group rejects any initiatives aimed at weakening NATO and the Transatlantic Alliance.
A strong Alliance is essential for Europe’s security and prosperity, but also for the stability of our neighborhood. Let us not forget that in December 2021, before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Putin issued an ultimatum to NATO and attempted to impose his vision of European security—a vision all too familiar in my part of Europe from decades of occupation and oppression. It should be clear to everyone that Russia seeks to create spheres of influence and control other countries and peoples through coercion, subversive activities, aggression, and annexation. The 2021 ultimatum clearly illustrates this. Russia is pursuing its imperial ambitions and will continue to do so until it is finally defeated. However, these challenges make our allies stronger, as evidenced by the recent expansion and our ability to continue moving in this direction. I am deeply convinced that NATO’s future will continue to be one of success.”
