Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.
Upstate’s Air Upstate drone team conduct first BVLOS flight
SYRACUSE — In May, Upstate Medical University says it completed a key test flight for its drone program that advances the health system’s goal of
New Launch NY investments include startups in Ithaca, Rochester, Buffalo
BUFFALO — A fledgling Ithaca business is among the Upstate companies in which Launch NY has invested. Caretech Human in Ithaca is one of three companies that will use $175,000 from Launch NY. It also invested in TelosAir in Rochester and Edenesque in Buffalo. Caretech has developed a small device that users can install above
Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.
Click here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article.
BUFFALO — A fledgling Ithaca business is among the Upstate companies in which Launch NY has invested.
Caretech Human in Ithaca is one of three companies that will use $175,000 from Launch NY. It also invested in TelosAir in Rochester and Edenesque in Buffalo.
Caretech has developed a small device that users can install above the waterline in their toilet bowl, providing continuous health monitoring for urology diseases.
In all three cases, Launch NY contributions included $75,000 coming from its nonprofit seed fund and $100,000 from the Launch NY Seed Fund II, a new for-profit limited partner fund that started making investments in 2023.
The Buffalo–based Launch NY sees the investments as “continuing the pace that has made it the most active seed fund in the state by investing from both its nonprofit and for-profit InvestLocal financing programs,” per its announcement.
The nonprofit Launch New York, Inc. is a venture-development organization that operates in the 27 westernmost counties of upstate New York. Since its inception in 2012, Launch NY has served more than 1,600 companies which have gone on to raise more than $1.4 billion, generate more than $250 million in annual revenue and supporting more than 5,100 jobs, per its May 29 announcement.
“We are pleased to bring exciting new companies into the Launch NY portfolio, especially as they prepare to enter commercial manufacturing and begin to truly scale their innovative products,” Marnie LaVigne, president and CEO of Launch NY, said. “These investments represent our region’s belief and experience showing that putting seed stage capital into these Upstate New York startup companies can create market-leading products competitive not only on a local, but national scale — and beyond.”
Based at Cornell University’s Center for Life Science Ventures business incubator, Caretech Human’s non-invasive, “passive” monitoring system has “enormous potential” to create screening and early-detection for diseases that affect more people than diabetes, per the Launch NY announcement. Launch NY’s $175,000 investment into the company will allow it to enter commercial production in preparation to enter the market.
Caretech Human is led by CEO Dan Matsui, who said his company is bringing a “new standard of care in the urology field.”
“In some health domains, patients have tools for self-monitoring at home such as blood pressure devices, cardio holders, or glucometers. However, in urology, there is no convenient way to assess the severity of symptoms and disease progression at home,” Matsui said in the Launch NY announcement. “Launch NY funding helped the company stay focused on its goals during this exciting time, and we’re excited to begin manufacturing and selling our device.”
Revere Copper expands with North Carolina plant
ROME — The electrification of America is benefiting Revere Copper Products of Rome. Demand for copper and increased business led to the company opening a new manufacturing plant in North Carolina to meet the growing demand. After more than a year of getting ready, Revere cut the ribbon April 10 on its plant in Mebane,
Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.
Click here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article.
ROME — The electrification of America is benefiting Revere Copper Products of Rome. Demand for copper and increased business led to the company opening a new manufacturing plant in North Carolina to meet the growing demand.
After more than a year of getting ready, Revere cut the ribbon April 10 on its plant in Mebane, N.C. Located at 2125 Sen. Ralph Scott Parkway, the approximately 100,000-square-foot facility employs about 35 people who produce copper bus bars. The building was once home to Prescient, a steel truss and framing manufacturer. Revere leases the building.
“Demand for copper is growing,” Amy O’Shaughnessy, VP of sales and marketing, says. “How ever it can be made, there’s pretty much a need for it.”
The electrification of society – electric vehicles, upgrades to the grid, the growing number of data centers — plays a huge role in the increased demand for copper, she says.
“We basically filled up our capacity in Rome,” O’Shaughnessy says. The 900,000-square-foot Rome plant employs about 350 people who melt copper and roll it into a finished product.
The company completed a capacity upgrade in Rome that began in 2023 and ended in early 2024 that included swapping out a melting furnace — used to make copper cakes.
“We put in a new furnace that has new technology and a greater capacity to melt copper,” O’Shaughnessy says.
Revere needed to expand further, she says, and chose North Carolina because the company expanded using a different technique — the bus bar.
In New York, Revere buys both scrapped and mined copper to use in its process, but the resource is already constrained.
The bus-bar process begins with a copper rod, and Revere works with a new supplier that makes that rod. That supplier is located near the new North Carolina plant, which is also close to customers for the bus bar, which is often used to make the switch gear for electrical applications.
Revere opened the new plant in February 2023 and has spent the past year getting fully up to speed.
“We’re learning the equipment and how to most efficiently run it,” O’Shaughnessy says.
Now that Revere has the hang of things, there will be a second wave of investment coming to the Mebane plant, she says.
The company will be adding new machinery that will double the plant’s capacity. That also means it needs to double employment, O’Shaughnessy says.
“What a great workforce down there,” she says, adding praise for the company’s Rome employees as well. “The people that make our products, they are the pulse of the company.”
Headquartered in Rome, Revere is an employee-owned business. The markets it serves include electric vehicles, power distribution, architectural, electrical, telecommunications, air conditioning, industrial machinery, and equipment.
Saab awarded nearly $9 million Navy order for radar spare parts
DeWITT — Saab Inc., which has local facilities in the town of DeWitt, has recently been awarded a more than $8.9 million delivery order from the U.S. Navy, under a previously awarded basic ordering agreement for multi-mode radar spares. Work will be performed in Gothenburg, Sweden (66 percent) and DeWitt (34 percent), and is expected
Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.
Click here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article.
DeWITT — Saab Inc., which has local facilities in the town of DeWitt, has recently been awarded a more than $8.9 million delivery order from the U.S. Navy, under a previously awarded basic ordering agreement for multi-mode radar spares.
Work will be performed in Gothenburg, Sweden (66 percent) and DeWitt (34 percent), and is expected to be completed by June 2026, according to a July 1 contract announcement from the U.S. Department of Defense.
Fiscal 2022 other procurement (Navy) funds totaling $3.8 million (43 percent); fiscal 2023 other procurement (Navy) funds of nearly $3.1 million (34 percent); fiscal 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds totaling almost $1.5 million (16 percent); and fiscal 2018 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding of nearly $600,000 (7 percent) will be obligated at time of award, of which $5.3 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.
The basic ordering agreement was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) (only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy the needs of the agency), per the contract announcement. The Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C. is the contracting authority.
Real Life Rosies program helps women enter manufacturing workforce
UTICA — Rosie the Riveter might be an American icon, but Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC), the Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY), and Working Solutions are turning out “Real Life Rosies” as they work together to encourage more women to pursue careers in advanced manufacturing. MVCC, in partnership with MACNY, offers a pre-apprenticeship
Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.
Click here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article.
UTICA — Rosie the Riveter might be an American icon, but Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC), the Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY), and Working Solutions are turning out “Real Life Rosies” as they work together to encourage more women to pursue careers in advanced manufacturing.
MVCC, in partnership with MACNY, offers a pre-apprenticeship program for women at its Utica campus as part of the state’s Diversifying Advanced Manufacturing with Women in the Workforce program.
“The biggest talent pool that is underrated in advanced manufacturing is women,” Colleen Blagg, MACNY’s manager of corporate services and workforce development, tells CNYBJ in an interview.
Whether it’s from not thinking manufacturing is a career for them or not knowing where to start, women have tended to shy away from those careers, and the Real Life Rosies program is working to change that and overcome those invisible hurdles.
MACNY received a grant from Empire State Development’s Office of Strategic Workforce Development to start the program, which is open to women ages 18 and older to enter the field, which is experiencing a shortage of workers.
The program focuses on the basic requirements to obtain an entry-level position. It’s a pre-apprentice program that forges a pathway to registered apprenticeship. A total of 14 trades are offered through the program.
Along with job basics like safety, tool usage, robotics, and computer numerical control (CNC), the program also covers skills beneficial to women entering or returning to the workforce.
“You do learn soft skills in the program,” Blagg notes. Networking practice, especially for someone in a nontraditional role, helps build confidence.
The program recently celebrated the graduation of the third and fourth cohorts of Real Life Rosies and is already up to cohort six as of mid-June, according to Yawa Zewou, a workforce-development specialist for the Rosies program. Each cohort has an average of 12 to 15 participants.
Initial reaction to the program was a bit guarded, Zewou says, until people began to learn more about it and overcome stereotypes about manufacturing jobs.
As part of the program, participants receive Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA 10 training and can also take the Certified Manufacturing Associate (CMfgA) exam.
It’s not all classroom learning either, Blagg notes. The program tries to bring each cohort to visit three different advanced-manufacturing employers in the area where they can see the job firsthand and interact with female workers at those sites.
“We do offer them interviews with up to six different employers,” upon completion of the program, Blagg says. “We have had pretty good success with them getting employed.”
There is no cost for the program, which also provides a stipend and wraparound support including childcare, transportation, and work clothing. Participants must be eligible to work in the United States and some general math acuity along with basic English is a must. They must also be willing to work and accept a full-time position upon completing the program.
The program also maintains a LinkedIn group for current and past participants where they can network and interact with each other.
More information about the program is available online at www.macny.org/women-in-the-workforce.
Community Foundation and UpMobility partner for Mohawk Valley Gives
UTICA, N.Y. — The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties and UpMobility Foundation (UMF) are jointly hosting this year’s Mohawk Valley Gives, the third annual 24-hour online day of community giving, the organizations announced. Last year, more than 6,800 people donated nearly $2.5 million to the 255 participating nonprofits. So far, more than 300
Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.
Click here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article.
UTICA, N.Y. — The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties and UpMobility Foundation (UMF) are jointly hosting this year’s Mohawk Valley Gives, the third annual 24-hour online day of community giving, the organizations announced.
Last year, more than 6,800 people donated nearly $2.5 million to the 255 participating nonprofits. So far, more than 300 nonprofits in Herkimer, Oneida, and Otsego counties have registered for this year’s event, which takes place Sept. 20 at givemv.org.
“The collaborative partnership between the Community Foundation and UpMobility Foundation exemplifies the power of synergy in driving positive impact,” Community Foundation President/CEO Alicia Dicks said in a news release. “By combining our expertise, resources, and networks, we are not only amplifying the reach of this event, but also fostering a richer experience for participating organizations and generating greater value for the community. This collaboration will allow us to appropriately evaluate and determine the future of Mohawk Valley Gives in a meaningful way.”
In 2023, UMF joined Mohawk Valley Gives as a match and challenge partner, offering match and challenge incentives to 35 local organizations, which resulted in raising $1.1 million.
“At the UpMobility Foundation, we leverage an entrepreneurial mindset to amplify philanthropic investments by fostering connections and collaborations with our community partners,” UMF Founder Martin Babinec said in the release. “We’re thrilled to partner with the Community Foundation to scale up Mohawk Valley Gives, as both organizations embrace innovative approaches and strategic thinking to maximize the impact of community engagement. MV Gives helps us and other donors not only in providing financial support without our targeted investing themes, but also engaging in active partnerships that work closely with local organizations to create sustainable, long-term solutions.”
UpMobility Foundation, located in Little Falls, forges partnerships and collaborative efforts with nonprofit organizations, offering support beyond grant funding. Impact areas include community building, advancing education and humanitarian aid, and international development.
Founded in 1952, the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties has invested $134 million into social-impact initiatives, collaborative leadership, and grantmaking.
Schumer says regional effort led to tech-hub designation
DeWITT — As he announced the $40 million federal grant for the NY SMART I-Corridor tech hub on July 2, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D–N.Y.) thanked all three cities involved — Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse. “For the first time in decades, we’re seeing a shift, not just in the manufacturing landscape but [in]
Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.
Click here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article.
DeWITT — As he announced the $40 million federal grant for the NY SMART I-Corridor tech hub on July 2, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D–N.Y.) thanked all three cities involved — Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse.
“For the first time in decades, we’re seeing a shift, not just in the manufacturing landscape but [in] how the region works together,” Schumer said.
The senator went on to say, “Originally, each city wanted to apply for a tech hub … Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse. That would’ve hurt our application. First, are they going to pick one or the other, and second, the combined strength of the region. The sum is greater than its parts, and each region is going to do all of the activities of the tech hub.”
NY SMART I-Corridor is short for the New York Semiconductor Manufacturing and Research Technology Innovation Corridor.
The millions in federal funding are meant to “further position Upstate [New York] as a semiconductor center for the world,” Schumer’s office said in the announcement.
“We are making I-90 America’s semiconductor superhighway, and in a few years, a quarter of all the chips manufactured in the United States will be along this corridor,” Schumer said in his remarks. The lawmaker announced the funding during a morning visit to Inficon Inc. at 2 Technology Place, off Fly Road in the town of DeWitt.
“This is a monumental day for upstate New York,” Schumer said to open his address. “One that I have long envisioned and spent years fighting for.”
The NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub is the “first in the nation” to receive a major tech-hub award from Schumer’s CHIPS & Science Law, the Democrat noted.
Schumer had announced the tech-hub designation for the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse during a visit last October to Saab Inc’s Syracuse operations in DeWitt. The tech-hub designation was created as part of the federal CHIPS & Science Law.
When the competition started, 400 regions applied for the funding and 31 were designated tech hubs. Only 12 are getting advanced financing for the tech-hub program, Schumer said.
“It’s going to train the next generation of our workforce. It’s going to fill in gaps to make sure that Micron’s
$100 billion investment not only attracts new supply-chain companies but also helps existing companies grow and enter into the semiconductor field,” Schumer told those gathered at Inficon, including local officials and Inficon employees watching on the stairs and from the upper floors.
He went on to say that the funding will help power new startups as we commercialize the research and activities done by some of the regions companies and chip fabrication plants, including Inficon.
The senator called the award prestigious, noting that when international firms look to have a location in the U.S., they’ll look at the regions with a tech-hub designation, including upstate New York.
“I met with a whole group of Japanese semiconductor suppliers and a whole bunch of Taiwanese semiconductor suppliers, 20 or 30 of each, and pushed our I-90 semiconductor superhighway, so it really helps,” Schumer said.
He also boasted that, “It sure didn’t hurt to have the [U.S.] Senate Majority Leader calling the White House and the Commerce Secretary [Gina Raimondo] to tell them upstate New York is the perfect choice for the future of [American] chips.”
The event speakers also included Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon who told the gathering that the $40 million award is “going to make us more competitive.”
“It’s going to make our workforce stronger and more inclusive. It’s going to create opportunities for a startup ecosystem but also for companies that are here, and then that makes us more competitive as we’re courting companies across the world,” McMahon said.
In his remarks, Robert Simpson, president and CEO of CenterState CEO, praised the work of Schumer for his legislative efforts, including the legislation that became the CHIPS & Science Act that includes the tech-hub program.
“Senator Schumer is responsible for helping to deliver this tech hub to the entire upstate New York corridor,” Simpson told the assembled audience. “When we work together, we win,” whether it’s in Central New York or all across upstate New York.
He acknowledged the efforts of Dottie Gallagher, president and CEO of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, Joseph Stefko, president of ROC2025 and NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub regional innovation officer, and Ben Sio, senior VP for strategy, policy, and planning at CenterState CEO.
“It is these kinds of collaborations that allow us to be better than what we have been in the past; to transcend that historical perspective of upstate New York; and to craft this region with a new vision as … New York’s semiconductor superhighway,” Simpson said.
Standing around Schumer and also speaking at the event included Hannah Henley, president of Inficon, Inc.; J. Michael Haynie, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation at Syracuse University; Greg Lancette, president of the Central-Northern New York Building & Construction Trades Council; and Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh.
U.S. Representative Brandon Williams (R–Sennett) also issued a statement about the federal funding that same day.
“Central New York, the Silicon Empire, is the beating heart of semiconductor production right here in the United States,” Williams said. “I’ve been working with colleagues in Congress, across the aisle and across Upstate New York, to advance this priority. It’s a win for our communities, and I’m immensely proud to be a part of this milestone.”
In a separate statement, U.S. Representative Claudia Tenney (R–Cleveland) said the region’s selection for phase II funding “further underscores the strength and promise” of the region.
“With this additional investment into the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse corridor and its designation as a Regional Technology and Innovation Hub, our region will be at the forefront of innovative advancements benefiting our nation, and the world,” Tenney said. “This funding will onshore critical parts of our nation’s supply chain, bringing jobs to our communities and promoting technological advancement. I am eager to see the positive impact this funding will have on our community.”
Lockheed Martin’s suburban Syracuse plant wins $81M contract modification for radar system
SALINA — Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems in Salina has been awarded a nearly $81.3 million modification to exercise an option to a previously awarded U.S. Air Force contract for the Three-Dimensional Expeditionary Long-Range Radar (3DELRR) system. This contract adjustment provides for the exercise of options for four 3DELRR radars, and associated production management,
Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.
Click here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article.
SALINA — Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems in Salina has been awarded a nearly $81.3 million modification to exercise an option to a previously awarded U.S. Air Force contract for the Three-Dimensional Expeditionary Long-Range Radar (3DELRR) system.
This contract adjustment provides for the exercise of options for four 3DELRR radars, and associated production management, travel and other direct costs, and data under the basic contract, according to a June 20 contract announcement from the U.S. Department of Defense. The work will be completed in Lockheed’s plant in the town of Salina and is expected to be wrapped up by Jan. 9, 2027.
Fiscal 2024 other procurement funds totaling $81,297,720 are being obligated at the time of award. The total cumulative face value of the contract is more than
$343.7 million, per the contract announcement. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts is the contracting authority.
OPINION: Helping Families Afford Childcare is Critical For Strong Communities
Spikes in childcare costs, like those impacting just about every other good and service in New York, have created economic hardship for families all over the state. These challenges have forced many families to pass up earnings opportunities in order to care for their children, and for too many families, those missing wages are the
Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.
Click here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article.
Spikes in childcare costs, like those impacting just about every other good and service in New York, have created economic hardship for families all over the state. These challenges have forced many families to pass up earnings opportunities in order to care for their children, and for too many families, those missing wages are the difference between comfort and struggle. This is bad for families, bad for our communities, and bad for New York.
Adequate childcare provides children with a safe and nurturing environment while allowing working parents to continue their careers. Now that we have entered summer, these issues take on even greater significance as parents no longer benefit from school-provided care and meals. During these months, finding affordable care for working parents has become increasingly difficult as service providers face their own challenges like middling wages and staffing shortages. Again, these issues are exacerbated by an influx in demand during the non-school months.
The Assembly Minority Conference has been working hard to address this discrepancy, and for that reason, our membership developed the “A Blueprint for Childcare (ABC) Plan,” which is a package of proposals that would save families an average of about $2,300 a year. While some helpful measures were passed earlier this year, I do not believe the state has gone far enough to help those struggling with childcare costs. And doing so has never been so important. Even before inflation peaked, 60 percent of parents surveyed said the cost of programs was the top reason for not enrolling their child in after school care. Nearly 40 percent said there were no spaces available in their preferred program.
Through a combination of tax incentives, expanded access to education and enhanced provider options, our conference believes we can alleviate a lot of pressure preventing families from achieving their maximum earning potential. Those proposals include:
• Increasing the State Earned Income Tax Credit amount from 30 percent to 45 percent (A.9258, Ra);
• Increasing the Empire State Child Credit amount to 45 percent of the federal child tax credit amount (A.9257, Ra);
• Creating a new Childcare Facility Capital Improvement Tax Credit to help childcare providers enhance and update facilities (A.9264, Ra); and
• Increasing provider options by adopting rules and regulations that would establish a model for childcare that includes hours outside of traditional day care models such as nights and weekends (A.9126, Jensen).
There are significant benefits to making these changes. These measures provide critical relief to struggling families while allowing parents to find access to quality programs and services during their children’s formative years. Further still, if we empower families by making it easier for them to earn, we can help them become less dependent on expensive social services.
Everyone wins when we make it easier for families to afford necessities. For many, childcare is as essential as gas, groceries, and housing. I will continue looking for ways to make it easier on these struggling families to afford all of those things. Unfortunately, in New York, we still have a lot of work to do.
William (Will) A. Barclay, 55, Republican, is the New York Assembly minority leader and represents the 120th New York Assembly District, which encompasses all of Oswego County, as well as parts of Jefferson and Cayuga counties.
OPINION: NATO’s 75-year history is worth celebrating
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) marks its 75th anniversary this month. The observance, part of a NATO summit hosted by the United States in Washington, D.C. [July 9-11], is a big deal, and it should be. NATO is one of the most successful and important alliances in history. For any partnership of diverse nations
Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.
Click here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) marks its 75th anniversary this month. The observance, part of a NATO summit hosted by the United States in Washington, D.C. [July 9-11], is a big deal, and it should be. NATO is one of the most successful and important alliances in history.
For any partnership of diverse nations to endure for 75 years is no small accomplishment. NATO has not only endured; it has thrived, and it has grown, from its original 12 members to 32 nations. It has been effective in its central missions of deterring aggression by the Soviet Union — and later by Russia — and promoting security and unity among democracies.
Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, there has been no question about NATO’s relevance. While Ukraine is not yet a NATO member, the alliance has rallied to its support. It’s well understood that, if Russia can win in Ukraine, the security of Europe is at risk.
And America’s security is intimately bound with Europe’s security. China may pose a greater threat; it is certainly our most significant rival. But a strong and united NATO lets the U.S. focus attention and resources on countering China’s aggression in the Asia–Pacific region.
When the United States, Canada, and 10 Western European nations created NATO, World War II had left much of Europe in ruins. More than 36 million Europeans had died — more than half of them civilians. Millions were homeless, many in refugee camps. Children wandered the streets of burned-out cities. Food shortages and power outages were frequent.
The U.S. had launched the Marshall Plan to provide material aid and rebuild Europe’s economy, and NATO was needed for the continent’s security. The Soviet Union was the primary threat, but the alliance also aimed to deter the rise of militant nationalism and promote democracy. Its key feature was Article 5, which declared that an attack on any NATO member would be considered an attack on all of them. The agreement now enhances security for nearly 1 billion people.
With the collapse of the Soviet Union, it made sense to wonder if NATO has served its purpose. The alliance had its ups and downs. Donald Trump, as president, criticized it and bashed our allies for not spending enough on defense. But new threats challenged our security, including terrorism, cyberattacks, nuclear proliferation, pandemics, and natural disasters. NATO still mattered.
Then Russia sent troops and tanks into Ukraine. NATO became the platform for coordinating the European and North American response.
At this month’s summit of NATO heads of state, affirming unwavering support for Ukraine [was scheduled to] top the agenda. Ukraine participated through the NATO-Ukraine Council, launched last year. In an important transition, Jens Stoltenberg steps down after 10 years as secretary-general and is being replaced by Mark Rutte, prime minister of the Netherlands.
President Joe Biden has aptly called NATO “the greatest military alliance in the history of the world,” and we’re right to celebrate its history. At the same time, we need to ensure the alliance continues to safeguard our security in the future. And there are reasons for concern.
Russia’s war in Ukraine, should it succeed, could embolden Vladimir Putin to threaten more of Europe. The increasing cooperation by Russia, China, and North Korea — all of them nuclear-armed — is worrisome. Recent years have seen the growth of militant nationalism in Europe, one of the trends NATO was founded to counter. Trump’s “America First” movement has reawakened the American isolationism that was prevalent before World War II.
It’s often said that eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. NATO and other alliances keep us vigilant about our freedom and security, and we should do our best to maintain and strengthen them.
Lee Hamilton, 93, is a senior advisor for the Indiana University (IU) Center on Representative Government, distinguished scholar at the IU Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, and professor of practice at the IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Hamilton, a Democrat, was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years (1965-1999), representing a district in south-central Indiana.
Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.