Against the background of the war in Ukraine, NATO wants to increase the number of rapid response troops to more than 300,000. Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced this on Monday before the summit of the 30 member states in Madrid. So far, the NATO intervention force NRF consists of approximately 40,000 soldiers. The planned restructuring of the NRF is part of a new armed forces model for the entire alliance area.
The troops must also be assigned to specific areas. For example, German soldiers could be scheduled to support Lithuanian troops in a Russian attack. In peacetime, the troops should generally be under national command, but in emergencies they can be requested by the Supreme Commander of NATO Forces in Europe (SACEUR). The troops would also be given set times for operational readiness. It is discussed that some units should be ready for laying within a maximum of ten days, others within 30 or 50 days. Details for emergencies should be laid down in new regional defense plans, due next year.
Consultation on the war in Ukraine
At the NATO summit in Madrid, leaders of the Western defense alliance will discuss a response for the first time since the beginning of Russian aggression against partner country Ukraine. Many NATO countries support Ukraine with arms supplies and money. The defense alliance has so far refused to intervene directly so as not to provoke a conflict with the nuclear power Russia.
Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) is also expected in Madrid, where he will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday. Erdogan is trying to make a name for himself as a mediator in the war in Ukraine, alienating his NATO partners with his domestically motivated blocking of applications for membership from Sweden and Finland.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
