At NATO summit, leaders may decide on large troops deployment to Russia's doorstep: Report

In what could be a major escalation in ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, NATO might decide to send its entire divisions to eastern flank to deter Moscow’s military aggression, as per El Pais report. During upcoming NATO summit in Mrid, which will include an dress by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, military bloc may decide on wher to send thousands of troops to Russia’s doorstep, according to sources of Spanish newspaper.

Only last week, bloc h pledged to “re-invent” itself and as per report, NATO might end all its ties with Russia, as Moscow-Kyiv war approached its 18th week of clashes. report furr stated that NATO member nations are rey to turn Eastern Europe into a “fort” hosting thousands of soldiers and a large quantity of military equipment amid fear of a future assault by Russian forces. According to sources familiar with negotiations, Spanish paper stated that deliberations are still ongoing at NATO hequarters in Brussels ahe of scheduled summit for June 28 to June 30. 

report said that NATO “wants to send a message that it is on war footing” and rey “to respond to any aggression” and would use Mrid summit to boost national defence spending along with joint financing of bloc. 

Jamie Shea, a former high-ranking NATO official who currently hes Center for War Studies at University of Sourn Denmark, told El Pais that “main debate in Mrid will be between Eastern European [states], who would like to transform battalions into heavily armed briges stationed permanently on ir territories, and [ors], such as US or Germany, who prefer to continue with current strategy of rotating forces, which are reinforced in event of a crisis or conflict”.

NATO troops in Baltic states, Poland to double in size

Reportedly, even if NATO does decide on a “lighter deployment” strategy, Eastern European members might see bloc’s forces currently stationed within ir borders doubled. According to Spanish newspaper, groups deployed in Poland and Baltic states, now consisting of between 1,000 and 1,600 soldiers, would double in size and would also have “greater autonomy” and “more sophisticated weapons”.

It is to note that if Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania decide to push ir demands through, buildup by NATO forces could involve entire divisions – massive units of around 15,000 soldiers commanded by generals. All three nations have reportedly asked for troops between 15,000 to 50,000 in totality. 

El Pais report follows remarks me by Poland’s Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak, who confirmed on Sunday that bloc’s flank would require “special attention for a long time”. 

It should be mentioned here that Russia has repeatedly expressed its discontent with NATO’s expansion in eastern Europe. In run-up to devastating Russia-Ukraine war, Moscow h warned US-led military alliance to not include Ukraine as its member as that would have meant alliance sending its troops to Russia’s doorstep. Citing its own national security, Russia h even conveyed points to NATO but both sides failed to reach a conclusion. A few weeks later, Russian President Vlimir Putin was on television announcing “special” military operation in Ukraine on February 24 and war still continues.

Image: AP