Op-ed  by Linas Kojala and Vytautas Leškevičius published in The Wall Street Journal

An op-ed by Linas Kojala, Director of the Geopolitics and Security Studies Center (GSSC), and Vytautas Leškevičius, Senior Policy Analyst at GSSC, was published in The Wall Street Journal. In the article, titled “NATO Allies Are Quietly Helping the U.S. in Iran,” the authors highlight a paradoxical situation: while European NATO allies publicly maintain a cautious stance on the conflict in Iran, many of them are effectively enabling U.S. operations in the Middle East by providing bases, military logistics, and other essential mission support services. The authors argue that in the fourth year of Russia’s war in Ukraine, maintaining alliance unity is paramount, leaving no room for public friction over core defense matters. The authors argue that in the fourth year of Russia’s war in Ukraine, maintaining alliance unity is paramount, leaving no room for public friction over core defense matters. Any intra Alliance friction is of particular concern to the Alliance’s eastern flank states, whose fundamental security interest lies in a strong U.S. commitment to European defense.