“Putin is now getting more NATO,” says British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, emphasizing the determination to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank militarily. Secretary General Stoltenberg speaks of “historic decisions”.
The heads of state and government Natocountries met in Madrid for a summit meeting. “It will be a transformative summit because we will make historic decisions,” said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday to start. “Today is an opportunity to show that NATO is back,” said the Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte. Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin “is now getting more NATO,” added the British prime minister Boris Johnson.
The summit will change NATO “for years to come,” Stoltenberg said at a joint appearance with the US President Joe Biden. He also spoke of a “historic” summit and underlined that the obligation to provide assistance under Article 5 of the NATO treaty was “sacred”. The “undoubted message” that NATO is strong and united will go out from the summit. At the same time, the US President announced the relocation of other American units to Europe, including a fifth headquarters for the European US armed forces in Poland. Biden stressed that NATO would be equipped to counter threats from all directions, on land, in the air and at sea.
The summit is marked by the Ukraine war and the admission of the Nordic countries Sweden and Finland. After a summit meeting on Tuesday followingnoon, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan surprisingly withdrew his veto, clearing the way for the accession protocols to be signed with the 31st and 32nd members of the alliance. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomed the enlargement. “Both countries fit in very well with our alliance,” said the North German.
Arms to Ukraine for as long as necessary
Host Pedro Sánchez said the alliance will send a strong message to Russian aggressor Putin: “They will not win.” Johnson emphasized his determination to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank militarily. “If Vladimir Putin was hoping to get less nato on his western front as a result of his unprovoked, illegal invasion of Ukraine, he was completely wrong. He’s getting more nato,” he said. Rutte stressed that the alliance will supply arms to Ukraine for as long as it is necessary. German Chancellor Scholz made a similar statement, at the same time reaffirming his country’s willingness to protect the eastern NATO states threatened by Russia.
The 30 NATO countries will meet in the Spanish capital on Wednesday and Thursday. Stoltenberg emphasized the unity of the alliance and its ability to adapt to new circumstances. Among other things, he referred to the new strategic concept that is to be agreed in Madrid. In addition, the largest revision of the common defense since the Cold War and a comprehensive package to support Ukraine in the war once morest Russia will be decided. Stoltenberg also called the expected invitation from the NATO countries to Sweden and Finland to join as historic.
With regard to the strategic concept, he expects it to be made clear that Russia poses “a direct threat to our security,” said Stoltenberg. China is a challenge to NATO’s values, interests and security.
Reinforcement of the rapid reaction force
In the run-up to the summit, Stoltenberg had already announced a drastic increase in NATO’s rapid reaction force. Instead of the current 40,000 soldiers, it is to include 300,000 in the future. This intervention force should be operational in the coming year. “They will be stationed in their own countries but already assigned to certain states and territories and will be responsible for defending those areas,” Stoltenberg said. Of course, details depended on the individual states that should provide these forces.
Stoltenberg referred to Germany and concrete plans to provide a combat brigade to defend NATO partner Lithuania. This is an example of strengthening the eastern flank. “They will practice there. They will learn to operate alongside local forces. And they will have ready equipment, heavy equipment, fuel supplies, and many other items needed for operations in the designated area.”
Germany already leads the NATO Battle Group (eFP) in NATO, for which 600 soldiers were initially provided. After the Russian attack on Ukraine, artillery and anti-aircraft reinforcements were activated, so that there are currently more than 1,000 German soldiers in Lithuania. There is still no absolute number for the planned combat brigade. Such brigades are usually 3,000 to 5,000 soldiers strong. Germany might participate in NATO’s reinforced intervention forces with 15,000 soldiers.
(APA/dpa/Archyde.com)
