Brussels: While the Russian military is dominating in the Ukraine conflict, the European Union is looking up to Israel with high hopes. Advisor to the European Union appealed, ‘Israel with a strong democracy, value-based society and defence preparedness should consider joining NATO.’ At the same time, the EU advisor said that the Israeli defence preparedness would benefit NATO in the current times and the future.
Although Israel is an ally of the United States and Europe, it is not a NATO member. In 2014, NATO declared Israel as a non-NATO affiliate for the first time. In 2016, NATO allowed Israel to open its office in the NATO headquarters in Brussels. In the following year, NATO and Israel signed a defence cooperation agreement. But Israel has not joined this military organisation. The EU advisor said that this is a grave concern for NATO.
The advisor to the European Union and Nuno Wahnon-Martins, Alexandre Krauss, has appealed to Israel to join NATO in their article written for the Brussels Times. Whereas the duo has also suggested that even NATO should make efforts to get Israel to join NATO. Krauss and Nuno claimed that the quality and technology of the Israeli defence systems and the Israeli intelligence agencies would increase the strength of NATO considerably.
Moreover, Krauss and Nuno also warned that if Israel became a member, there is a possibility of a conflict flaring up in the Middle East, given Article 5 of NATO. As per Article 5, any attack on a NATO member is retaliated, considering it an attack on NATO. Krauss and Nuno also pointed out that in that scenario, any attacks by Iran or its affiliated terror groups on Israel will make it mandatory for the United States and European countries to take action against them.
Meanwhile, there is a thick possibility of an attack on Israel by Iran or its affiliated organisations. If that happens, NATO will have to act for Israeli security and a long-drawn conflict will be sparked in the Gulf. The EU advisor also warned that this conflict could spread even to north Africa beyond the Gulf borders. Turkey may oppose Israeli inclusion in NATO. It needs to be first checked if Israel is willing to join NATO, Krauss and Nuno clarified that everything depends on the Israeli stand.
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