NATO countries have “largely exceeded” their target of placing 300,000 troops in ready status as the alliance grapples with the threat from Russia, a senior alliance official said on Thursday.
NATO leaders have agreed, in the wake of Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, to massively increase the number of forces alliance commanders can deploy within 30 days.
“The offers on the table from allies are well in excess of the 300,000 we have established,” the official said on condition of anonymity.
“These are forces that allies have told us, ‘They are available to you right now at that level of readiness.’”
The push to have more troops ready to respond quickly is part of a broader review of NATO’s plans to counter any potential Russian attack, approved at a summit last year.
These plans established for the first time since the end of the Cold War what each member of the US-led alliance should do in the event of an invasion by Moscow.
NATO commanders are currently trying to ensure they have the capabilities to execute these plans if necessary, hence the surge in standby troops.
But the alliance has shortcomings in key weapons, such as air defenses and longer-range missiles.
To give a recent example, the Financial Times itself reported the news that NATO currently has only 5% of the anti-aircraft batteries needed to defend the eastern side of the Alliance. A little too little for an Alliance that sent numerous anti-aircraft batteries
Thanks to our Telegram channel you can stay updated on the publication of new Economic Scenarios articles.
⇒ Sign up right away ⇐
