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The U. S.'s financial support for the Ukrainians war against an aggressor, Russia has so far cost $45B and our European Allies in NATO about the same amount. For us, that comes out to about 6% of our Defense Budget and 0.1 of our entire Federal budget. Right now, we do not have any troops in the war. The Biden Administration is requesting $61 billion for Ukraine in 2024. That's a lot of money. Still, it's a windfall for us.
For this investment, we are keeping Russia from invading non-NATO countries like Moldavia and NATO countries like Poland and Lithuania which we are bound by treaty to defend, if attacked.Through our support, we also send a signal to China, North Korea, Russia and Iran that we will not stand by idly if our troops and interests are threatened in Europe, Taiwan, the Middle East or anywhere else in the world. Among other devastating things, these countries could cripple us economically just by interrupting our international supply chains.
If Russia were to defeat Ukraine, our sacrifice in treasure would explode and our cost in blood could well be tragic. Ukraine is not just fighting for itself. It is fighting for us. The cost in money, lives and casualties to the United States could be immense if Ukraine lost to the Russians. When one calculates the costs of Ukrainian support in financial support of a Russian defeat of Ukraine, the United States policy is an actual execution of an "America First" policy.
When the United States was attacked on Sept. 11, 2001, NATO invoked Article 5 of its founding treaty for the first time in its history, that an attack against one member is considered an attack against all. NATO deployed its Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) to provide surveillance capabilities over the United States, helped secure the Mediterranean Sea, offered political support to the U.S. government and pledged to stand together in the fight against terrorism and more. NATO sent a significant number of troops to Afghanistan.
Even though, as a non-member of NATO, Ukraine was not obligated to help us, after 9/11, in response to the 9/11 attacks, Ukraine provided intelligence information, military equipment, and logistical support to aid the U.S. in its counter terrorism efforts. This assistance included sharing intelligence on potential threats, providing access to Ukrainian military bases for refueling and transit purposes, and offering training programs for U.S. military personnel.
Abandoning Ukraine would be a self-inflicted, potentially lethal wound to the lives of our troops and to the safety of our citizens. When we needed NATO and Ukraine, they were there for us. We promised to stand by the brave people of Ukraine. Let's be old fashioned for once. Let's keep our promise.
TIM MANNELLO
Williamsport
Submitted by email