Brussels (dpa) – In view of the Russian attack on Ukraine, Nato is activating its defence plans for Eastern Europe. This gives Nato’s supreme allied commander Europe far-reaching powers, for example to request and deploy troops. This is what the German Press Agency learned from Nato sources on Thursday.
A statement by the 30 member states reads: “We have decided (…) to take additional steps to further strengthen deterrence and defence across the Alliance.” It said however that all measures were and would remain “preventive, proportionate and non-escalatory”.
In view of the tensions with Russia, the Nato supreme allied commander Europe had already drastically reduced the readiness times for several tens of thousands of Alliance soldiers last week. According to information from Nato circles obtained by the German Press Agency, troops of the Nato Response Force (NRF) must now be ready for deployment within only seven days instead of 30. For other troop units, a so-called “notice-to-move” period of 30 instead of 45 days applies.
A few weeks ago, the supreme allied commander Europe had already increased the notice-to-move period for the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF). This means that its soldiers must currently be ready to deploy to a crisis area within a maximum of five days. The VJTF would be the first force to be deployed to the eastern flank.
Nato heads of state and government will gather this Friday afternoon for a special meeting on Russia’s war against Ukraine. The consultations are to take place via video conference.