NATO members question defence commitments

The NATO leaders’ summit, in its 75th anniversary, arrives in Washington with doubts, with the future of Joe Biden’s candidacy in the US in question, the arrival of the new British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, and the results of the French legislative elections.

If Russia’s war in Ukraine, the challenges posed by an increasingly aggressive China and the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza were not enough, the commitment of some key members to defend their allies is being called into question.

There is deep uncertainty about the ability of the American president Joe Biden to beat his predecessor, NATO skeptic Donald Trump, in Novemberto lead the most powerful member of the alliance.

As much as the spotlight will be on Biden, 31 other leaders have a say in NATO decision-making. It will be the first appearance by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has signaled strong continued support for both NATO and Ukraine.

More worrying is the turmoil in France, where President Emmanuel Macron’s government faces political uncertainty after left-wing parties united to beat a rising far right in legislative elections but still failed to win a majority in parliament.