Stoltenberg said NATO’s updated strategic concept is likely to identify Russia as “the most significant and direct threat” to security.
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NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Monday that the military alliance is ready to increase its high-alert force to more than 300,000 as part of what it described as “the biggest collective defense overhaul and deterrence since the Cold War.” war. “
His comments come as NATO leaders prepare to gather in Madrid, Spain this week to decide on the so-called Strategic Concept, the most important document of the 30-member alliance.
The text, which is updated approximately every decade, will reaffirm NATO’s values, provide a collective assessment of security challenges and serve as a guide for the group’s future political and military development.
Stoltenberg reiterated the alliance’s intention to recognize Russia as “the most significant and direct threat” to security since President Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine.
“Our NATO summit in Madrid this week will be transformative with many important decisions, including on a new strategic concept for a new security reality,” Stoltenberg told a news conference.
“We will transform the NATO Response Force and increase the number of our high-alert forces to well over 300,000,” he added.
That promise reflects an increase of about 650%, given that NATO’s reinforced response force currently consists of about 40,000 troops.
“These troops will exercise together with the internal defense forces and get acquainted with the local terrain facilities so that they can react smoothly and quickly in any emergency situation,” Stoltenberg said.
“Refusal by refusal”
This is a consequence of a coordinated call from Russia’s neighbors to strengthen the defense of Europe’s eastern flank. The Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have said that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine requires a fundamental change in NATO’s existing military structure.
The three countries, all members of NATO and the European Union, have repeatedly called on NATO to ensure a significant increase in the number of foreign troops stationed in the region and to rethink the alliance’s existing tripwire approach.
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Instead, the Estonian Foreign Ministry called for a “deterrence by refusal” strategy. Such a change could lead to a significant increase in the number of allied forces on Europe’s eastern flank to ensure that Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania can reliably fight to defend their territories in the event of a Russian invasion while waiting for support from more -the broadest alliance.
“At the summit, we will strengthen our front defenses. We will improve our battle groups in the eastern part of the alliance to brigade levels,” Stoltenberg said, noting that the build-up of military forces would also require additional investment from NATO members.
Commenting on recently published data on defense spending, Stoltenberg said that 2022 will mark the eighth consecutive year of increased spending in European allies and Canada.
By the end of the year, Stoltenberg said they would have invested “well over” $ 350 billion more after the Defense Investment Group’s promise in 2014. This refers to NATO’s agreement for its allies to spend at least 2% of gross domestic product. for defense within a decade.
Stoltenberg said the 2% figure “is increasingly being considered a floor rather than a ceiling”.
Along with a focus on Russia, Stoltenberg said NATO’s updated strategic concept would address China for the first time “and the challenges that Beijing poses to our security, interests and values.”
“It will also cover our evolving approach to a number of other threats and challenges, including terrorism, cybernetics and hybrids,” he added.
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