Other events in Baltic States
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Thursday, 25.04.2024, 02:08
NATO to improve ability to send in forces, but plans no additional units in Baltics
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg spoke to reporters at the start
of NATO's summit in Brussels where the Alliance's leaders are expected to
approve the so-called Readiness Initiative to ensure that by 2020 the
organization has 30 mechanized battalions, 30 air squadrons and 30 combat
vessels ready to deploy within 30 days.
The leaders also plan to announce the establishment of two
new commands and commit to simplifying and speeding up the procedures for
the movement of forces.
"We have increased our military presence in the Baltic countries and
Poland already. We have four battlegroups, one in each of the Baltic countries
and one in Poland. There is also some bilateral presence of the
US," Stoltenberg said when asked by reporters about the possible
permanent stationing of units in the Baltic countries and Poland.
"So this shows that NATO is adapting, NATO is responding," he
said.
"NATO deterrence and NATO defense is of course partly based on the
forces we have already there -- the national forces, the multinational NATO
forces, but also on our ability to quickly move in more forces if
needed."
"That is exactly what we are addressing at this summit. We are
increasing the readiness of our forces".
In response to Russia's aggressive actions in Ukraine and activity in the
Baltic Sea region, NATO last year deployed a 1,000-strong multinational
battalion to Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland each.
Lithuania wants NATO allies to beef up the Baltic countries' air defense
capabilities and send more warships to the Baltic Sea.
NATO's leaders are not expected to adopt concrete decisions on new
capabilities at their summit on Wednesday and Thursday, but they may
instruct the Alliance's military commander to come up with his assessments
and recommendations.
US President Donald Trump planned to reiterate his call for allies to increase their defense spending. Before the start of the summit, Trump lashed out at Germany on Wednesday morning, calling it "a captive of Russia" because of its pipeline deal with Moscow.