NATO looks to the US to arm Ukraine

Speaking on February 15 before a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, Mr. Stoltenberg thanked the US Senate for approving an international security support package, which includes about $60 billion in aid for Ukraine. However, the bill faced strong opposition from Republicans in the House of Representatives and is expected to be blocked. However, during the NATO Secretary General's visit to the US in late January, he said he sensed there was broad consensus on "long-term support" for Kiev. "I am confident that the US Congress can realize that support... We have seen the impact of Washington's inability to make decisions," Mr. Stoltenberg emphasized.

The Senate passed the package on February 13, after several Republicans sided with Democrats in the vote. President Joe Biden urged House Speaker Mike Johnson to bring the bill to a vote as soon as possible, claiming that it had enough votes to pass. The House speaker later reiterated his opposition to the proposal, citing unresolved southern border security issues. Previous attempts by Congress to tie border security to foreign aid have failed.

“The Republican-led House will not be blocked or forced to pass a foreign aid bill that is opposed by most Republican senators and does nothing to secure our own borders,” Johnson told reporters. Republican lawmakers demanded that “before we address problems around the world, we must first address our own.”

Mr. Johnson accused President Biden of being inconsistent in claiming that the opposition was being exploited by President Putin by refusing to grant aid. Earlier this month, the White House weakened U.S. liquefied natural gas exports by halting approvals for terminal construction. Because of that decision, U.S. partners in Europe “will now have to take fuel from Moscow” and “put money in Putin’s pocket,” Mr. Johnson said.