US President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron are on the same page when it comes to dealing with Islamic State’s (IS) terrorism in Syria and Iraq, as well as Russia’s aggressive actions in the east – their answer is to strengthen the NATO alliance.

Coauthoring an editorial in Thursday’s edition of The Times, Messrs. Obama and Cameron accuse Russia of “trying to force a sovereign state to abandon its right to democracy at the barrel of a gun”, and say they will “support Ukraine’s right to determine its own democratic future and continue our efforts to enhance Ukrainian capabilities”.  That could be a reference to future arms sales to help Ukraine modernize its aging armory of Soviet-era weapons.

“We must also work with international organizations such as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe to uphold democratic norms, which is why they have been invited to our summit,” the two leaders write.  “And we must recognize that we can and should use all levers, including those outside the alliance, such as the economic pressure that is being brought to bear on Russia’s economy.”

They reaffirm their commitment to NATO’s collective defense doctrine known as Article 5.  That’s specifically aimed at the eastern and Baltic members of the 27-nation alliance that are getting worried about Russian aggression.

“We’ll be here for Estonia,” President. Obama said earlier at a meeting of Baltic leaders in Tallinn, Estonia.  “We’ll be here for Latvia.  We’ll be here for Lithuania.  You lost your independence once before.  With NATO, you’ll never lose it again.”

As far as Islamic State goes, Obama and Cameron express their disgust and make it clear that the terrorists can expect a fight. 

“Our nations have always believed that we are more prosperous and secure when the world is more prosperous and secure.  So we have a real stake in making sure they grow up in a world where schoolgirls are not kidnapped, women are not raped in conflict and families aren’t slaughtered because of their faith or political beliefs.  That is why we have decimated core al-Qaeda and supported the Afghan people.  And it is why we will not waver in our determination to confront ISIL.  If terrorists think we will weaken in the face of their threats they could not be more wrong.

“Countries like Britain and America will not be cowed by barbaric killers.  We will be more forthright in the defense of our values, not least because a world of greater freedom is a fundamental part of how we keep our people safe.”

The US is already carrying out a series of air strikes by fighter jet, missile, and drone to “degrade and destroy” Islamic State.  Cameron has received cross-party support for RAF air strikes.  Neither country will likely send troops back to Iraq.  That means supporting Middle Eastern proxies who will take “the fight to Isil on the ground, as we have done by stepping up support for Kurdish and Iraqi security forces.”