DeSantis Campaign Press Release - Nikki Haley Wants Ukraine in NATO – Which Would Obligate the United States to Go to War

Boeing's hand-picked candidate Nikki Haley wants a "Department of Offense" to wage wars around the world. Eastern Europe is no exception. Haley's policy on Ukraine is almost identical to Joe Biden's: Give the Ukrainian government everything they ask for, with no clear objectives or end game.

However, Haley has gone one step further with a radical proposal that is a bridge too far, even for Biden. Last month, she vowed to invite Ukraine into NATO, which would create a collective defense obligation for the United States as a NATO member. Haley's ill-considered plan would mean sending U.S. troops to Ukraine to fight Russia.

In an interview with Megyn Kelly following the December 2023 GOP debate, Haley said: "The way you end Ukraine, is if you went and said to Ukraine, we will invite you into NATO." Then:

• Haley argued that Russia has never invaded a NATO member state. However, this argument does not apply to an active conflict zone like Ukraine.
• Haley offered the examples of Georgia and Moldova as non-NATO countries that Russia invaded – but neither of those countries has been offered NATO membership, in part due to concerns that pre-existing conflicts would draw all NATO members into hot war with Russia.

In response to Haley's reckless demand for Ukraine to become a NATO member, Kelly pointed out: "But then if Putin does continue fighting with Ukraine and they come in NATO, then we have to fight. We have to get involved."

• Kelly was referring to the North Atlantic Treaty's Article 5, which enshrines the principle of collective defense.
• An attack on one NATO ally is considered the same as an attack against all NATO allies. Therefore, the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine would require the U.S. military to fight for Ukrainian territory just as if it were American territory.

Put simply, accepting Ukraine into NATO during an active conflict with Russia would necessarily bring the U.S. and all other NATO countries into that conflict directly. Haley's proposal is both dangerous and unrealistic – another reminder that making speeches at the U.N. and giving handouts to Chinese corporations is not the same as substantive foreign policy experience.

If only Haley and the liberal donors she caves to cared as much about securing our southern border as they care about defending Ukraine's border.