If Russia attacks – NATO plans emergency: “Then it must be fast”

More than 4,400 pages specify how critical locations in the alliance territory should be protected and defended in an emergency. “Allies have approved the most comprehensive defense plans since the end of the Cold War,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in Vilnius.

In their statement at the summit, the Heads of State and Government described the current situation in gloomy terms. Peace in the Euro-Atlantic area has been destroyed. By launching an offensive war against Ukraine, Russia has violated the norms and principles that have contributed to a stable and predictable European security order and is now “the greatest and most immediate threat to the security of allies and to peace and stability in the Eurozone” . -Atlantic area”. .

Memories of the Cold War
With the plans, NATO countries are now reopening an old chapter in response. According to the military, they essentially correspond to the documents that existed during the Cold War. The military capabilities required to deter and defend attacks have now been defined. In addition to land, air and naval forces, there are also cyber and space capabilities.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in Vilnius that the measures to increase deterrence and defense were unique “in every respect since the beginning of the Cold War”. The SPD politician mentions an allocation of regions to the individual alliance partners, planning for the deployed military units and also an “alert model”. This describes when the NATO Supreme Commander in Europe (Saceur) can request the deployment of NATO troops and what contributions the member states must then make.

Germany as a hub
“Every NATO member knows what to do and in what situation it is necessary,” says Pistorius. Germany plays a “key role” because its geographical location makes it the logistics hub of Europe. “Everything that goes from west to east has to go through Germany,” he explained. “If there is a calamity or is to be expected, it must be done quickly. Then the transfers must work quickly and reliably.”

The plans must be implemented, among other things, with the aid of a new armed forces structure. It was already known that 300,000 military personnel had to be kept on standby for possible NATO missions in the future. Until now, the NRF intervention force was mainly intended for rapid crisis operations at NATO. The member states are currently making some 40,000 military personnel available for this purpose.

NATO is divided into three territories
The new plans foresee that the units generally remain stationed in their respective home countries, but are assigned to specific countries and territories – for example, on NATO’s eastern flank. If necessary, the troops are transferred to their respective areas to ensure their protection there. Significantly more permanent presence deterrence is planned in regions at particular risk. That is why Germany also wants to permanently station some 4,000 military personnel in Lithuania.

According to information from the alliance, the planning is mainly about defense against an attack on the scale of Ukraine. A number of areas have also been identified where Europe needs to do more now. According to the army, more heavy troops that can withstand fierce combat, more anti-aircraft systems and more long-range artillery and missile systems are needed.

In the east of the alliance area, the plans are recognized as an important step. “It means we are really ready to defend our country from the first centimeter, from the first moment,” Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said.