After a boost from Russia, Nato faces new tests

Just three years ago, French President Emmanuel Macron

publicly dismissed the Nato military alliance as “brain-dead”

. Although many Western leaders were shocked by his undiplomatic outburst, quite a few privately shared his view that a military alliance put together during the Cold War was struggling to find a purpose.

Yet as heads of state and government of the 31 Nato member countries gather on Tuesday for

their annual summit

in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, even the harshest critics of the alliance can no longer deny its centrality in Europe’s security. They include Mr Macron, who is now a tireless promoter of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s importance in deterring Russia.