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NATO is kicking off its summit in Washington, D.C., today, at which it will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the alliance. It’s the first time that Washington has hosted the summit in 25 years.

Ukraine tops the list: NATO members are “expected to pledge new military and economic support” for Ukraine, according to the AP .

• “Billions of dollars have already been sent to Ukraine, and officials say more is coming. Outgoing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Friday that contributions of roughly $43 billion per year should be the baseline moving ahead.”

The NAM’s position: “The NAM has been an active and vocal supporter of Ukraine’s fight to defend democracy. In 2022, the NAM Board of Directors voted unanimously in support of a resolution denouncing the invasion and supporting the people of Ukraine,” wrote NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons a post about the anniversary. 

• “Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, U.S. defense manufacturers surged production of the military equipment that Ukrainians desperately needed to defend their nation,” he added. 
• “The scale of military resources needed and the speed at which they were produced underscores the need for a bold competitiveness agenda that ensures a strong and resilient defense industrial base in the years ahead.” 
• “This will require Congress and the administration to bolster supply chains, expand our workforce, advance pro-growth tax reforms and streamline burdensome regulations.”

NATO needed: “Manufacturers in America have been, and always will be, the Arsenal of Democracy. We will continue to support an alliance working to increase prosperity, defend against tyranny and bring greater peace and security to the world,” Timmons concluded.

What else to watch: Though Ukraine may top the headlines, there will be many other stories to follow during the summit.

•  The newly elected British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is making his first appearance at a major international event following his landslide victory last week.
• Meanwhile, “For the third year in a row, leaders or top officials from Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea will attend the NATO summit for discussions on how to deal with Chinese threats in the South China Sea and beyond,” the AP notes.