Article author:
Reuters
Brussels — NATO will significantly increase the number of ready troops to more than 300,000, Secretary-General Jens Stoltemberg said on Monday. Allies will adopt a new strategy that describes Moscow as a direct threat four months after the Ukrainian war. ..
"Russia has moved away from the partnerships and dialogues NATO has long sought to establish with Russia," Stoltenberg said in Brussels prior to the NATO summit in Madrid later this week. ..
"They chose conflict instead of dialogue. Unfortunately, of course, we have to deal with that reality," he told reporters.
The June 28-29 summit was held after a failure in Afghanistan and an internal discord during the time of former US President Donald Trump, who threatened to withdraw Washington. It will be a very important moment for the alliance. alliance.
However, Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February caused geopolitical changes, and Finland and Sweden, which were once neutral countries, have NATO and Ukraine to secure their status as candidates for membership in the European Union. I was prompted to apply for membership in.
Stoltenberg has transformed NATO's existing quick reaction force, NATO Response Corps, with an army of about 40,000, with a total of "well over 300,000." Said.
This move is part of NATO's work on a new unit structure where the armed forces are likely to be placed at various alert levels, so the alliance will fight more in the event of a crisis. Ready troops are ready to go. At the
summit, NATO will also change the Russian language from the current language enshrined at the 2010 Lisbon Summit and describe Moscow as a strategic partner.
"Allies expect Russia to articulate that it poses a direct threat to our security, our values and the rule-based international order," Stoltemberg said. Stated.
NATO combat units on the eastern side of the alliance, especially in the Baltic states, have been raised to brigade levels, and in further western countries such as Germany, thousands of pre-assigned units are waiting as quick reinforcements. He added.
"Overall, this constitutes the greatest review of our collective deterrence and defense since the Cold War," he said.
At the same time, Stoltemberg has weakened expectations for a breakthrough at the summit to overcome Turkey's opposition to the Swedish and Finnish membership bids.
"I make no promises or guesses about a particular timeline. The summit was never a deadline," said Stoltemberg, who will meet with leaders from all three countries in Madrid on Tuesday. Said. (Report by Sabine Siebold and Marine Strauss, edited by Mark Heinrich)
