NATO has begun to deploy elements of its reaction force to further strengthen its defense posture and be able to react quickly to any eventuality following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the Secretary General of NATO announced on Friday. NATO.
Avoid overruns on Alliance territory
“Ukrainian forces are fighting bravely and are able to inflict damage on Russian forces invading them,” said Jens Stoltenberg.
“We are deploying the Collective Defense Response Force for the first time to avoid spillovers into Alliance territory,” he said after a summit of Alliance leaders. organized by videoconference which French President Emmanuel Macron also attended.
Concern for countries that joined in 1997
“But the Kremlin’s goals are not limited to Ukraine,” he warned. “Putin has demanded the withdrawal of Alliance forces from the territories of all countries that have joined since 1997,” he recalled.
“The answer is a strengthening of the deterrence posture and the defense of allies. The alliance activated its defense plans on Thursday and is deploying elements of its reaction force,” the NATO secretary general announced.
The force has 40,000 soldiers and its spearhead is a very high level of readiness joint operational force (VJTF) of 8,000 combatants currently commanded by France. It includes a multinational brigade and battalions supported by air and maritime units and special forces.
Some units may be ready to move within two to three days, NATO says.