NATO Takes Helm of Ukraine Aid Amid Trump Concerns

NATO has begun coordinating Western military aid to Ukraine, overtaking the U.S. in this role. The move aims to secure support against NATO-skeptic Donald Trump. The new NATO mission, based in Germany, is fully operational to streamline aid amidst potential U.S. policy shifts under Trump.

NATO has assumed control of coordinating Western military aid to Ukraine, taking over from the United States as planned. This strategic move is seen as essential to protect the support framework from potential disruptions by NATO skeptic Donald Trump. The transition, which was delayed by several months, enhances NATO's involvement in the conflict against Russia's invasion without deploying its own forces.

Despite the change, diplomats believe the transfer may have limited immediate impact. The U.S. remains the dominant power within NATO, contributing the majority of arms to Kyiv. With Trump's forthcoming administration, there is concern about a possible reduction in support, as Trump has critiqued the level of financial and military aid to Ukraine and calls for a rapid conclusion to the conflict without detailing his approach.

The headquarters for NATO's new mission, the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU), is located in Wiesbaden, Germany, at Clay Barracks, a U.S. base. The mission is now fully operational, filling the coordination role previously held by the U.S.-led Ramstein group. As the outgoing Washington administration hurries to send weapons to Ukraine, there are fears Trump might cut military aid deliveries dramatically if he holds his stance from his previous presidential term.

(With inputs from agencies.)