2023-05-18 19:20:32
At the NATO summit in Vilnius in July, the allies will consider thousands of pages of secret military plans that, for the first time since the Cold War, describe how the alliance would respond to a (Russian) attack. This is reported by the Reuters news agency.
This move represents a fundamental shift: for decades, NATO did not consider it necessary to draw up large-scale defense plans because it was convinced that Russia no longer posed an existential threat.
But as Europe’s bloodiest war since 1945 rages in Ukraine, the alliance warns that all plans must be ready well before a conflict with an adversary like Moscow could break out.
“Allies will know exactly what forces and capabilities are needed, including where, what and how to deploy them,” NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said of the top-secret documents that – as during the Cold War – assign certain forces to the defense of certain regions.
The move formalizes a process initiated by Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, which saw Western allies deploy combat troops to the east for the first time.
Finland’s accession last month alone has doubled NATO’s border with Russia to about 2,500km, requiring a more flexible approach to troop deployment than in the past.
At the same time, the internet, drones, hypersonic weapons and a rapid flow of information pose new challenges.
Preparedness
However, it will be a huge task to drastically improve preparedness. NATO has agreed to put 300,000 troops on high alert by 2022, up from 40,000 in the past.
Shortcomings in the alliance’s capacity to produce sufficient arms and ammunition have become apparent through the difficulty of keeping up with Ukrainian demands. NATO also needs to improve the long-neglected logistics needed to move troops quickly by rail or road.
To finance the implementation of the plans, Stoltenberg has called on the leaders to increase the alliance’s military spending.
NATO officials estimate that it will take several years for the plans to be fully implemented, though they stress that the alliance can go to war immediately if necessary.
“We are ready to fight tonight. But you know, you’re never ready enough. Never,” said Lieutenant General Hubert Cottereau, the vice chief of staff of SHAPE (the command center of the military forces, ed.). “We should be able to fight tonight if necessary, with what we have.”
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