Kick-off at the summit
Stoltenberg: Russia threatens our security
06/29/2022, 11:29 am
Troop reinforcements, support for Ukraine, a China and Russia strategy: At the beginning of the summit, NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg and other country heads make it clear that the war against Ukraine will dominate the talks. The alliance needs a strategy for the coming years.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg described the defense alliance summit as historic. “It will be a transformative summit because we will make historic decisions,” said the Norwegian at the start of the NATO summit in Madrid. The summit will demonstrate the alliance’s unity and ability to adapt to a changing world, Stoltenberg said. Shortly before the summit began, Stoltenberg described Russia as a “direct threat to our security” against the background of the Ukraine war.
The 30 NATO countries will meet in the Spanish capital on Wednesday and Thursday. At the beginning of the summit, Stoltenberg referred, among other things, to the new strategic concept that is to be agreed there. In addition, the largest revision of the common defense since the Cold War and a comprehensive package to support Ukraine in the war against Russia will be decided.
Johnson: Putin “is now getting more NATO”
Chancellor Olaf Scholz held out the prospect of further arms deliveries to Ukraine. In addition to humanitarian and financial aid, “weapons that Ukraine urgently needs will be made available,” he said. “The message is: we will continue this for as long and as intensively as is necessary for Ukraine to be able to defend itself.”
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also reaffirmed 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,” Johnson said. Further steps to support Ukraine are now being discussed. Johnson: “We also need to make sure we reflect on the lessons of the last few months and the need for NATO to change its eastern flank deployment.”
Reinforced intervention forces should be ready in 2023
Stoltenberg wants a rapid reaction force, increased to 300,000 soldiers, to 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,” he 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 specific area.”
Stoltenberg called the expected invitation from the NATO countries to Sweden and Finland to join the alliance 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 also a challenge to NATO’s values, interests and security.