NATO's new regional defense plans will require an improved NATO Force Model to produce more troops at high readiness across the Alliance. At the same time, in addition to numbers, "speed and scale are important, as well as flexibility and a wide range of opportunities." This was announced by Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer opening a meeting of the NATO Chiefs of General Staff in Brussels.
Regional plans involve the development of alliance operations in the event of NATO intervention in the conflict, taking into account the geographical features of the zone of potential armed conflict. In current circumstances these plans require the development of a new model of the NATO armed forces, as well as the introduction of a new structure of the armed forces to determine the number and types of equipment and organizations needed for operations.
"Today, we will discuss the development of the Regional Plans. These are geographically specific plans that describe how we will defend key and relevant places in our Alliance against the two threats described in the Strategic Concept and the NATO Military Strategy.... The Regional Plans will require an improved NATO Force Model to produce more troops at high readiness across our Alliance".
Admiral Rob Bauer, Chair of the NATO Military Committee
Bauer also acknowledged the "tremendous work" of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) and the Joint Force Commands Brunssum, Naples and Norfolk in the field of planning for deterrence and defence, and integration of NATO and national military planning. These means, he said, will allow to "collectively defend not only the physical safety of our 1 billion people and 31 nations, but also the democratic values we all hold dear".
In turn, Alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that NATO has begun deploying new forces in the east and increasing defense spending since 2014. However, he also noted that "As NATO prepares for a more dangerous future, it must redouble its efforts to keep our one billion citizens safe, and to uphold the rules-based international order".
"High-intensity warfare is back in Europe. Global competition is rising, authoritarian regimes are challenging our values, interests and security, and other threats are also multiplying: From terrorism to cyber-attacks; from nuclear proliferation to climate change. So we need to step up for this new era of strategic competition, and NATO is rising to the challenge"
Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General
Stoltenberg also noted that the package of proposals to be presented in Vilnius at the summit of NATO leaders will include "updated and strengthened regional plans, which detail the steps for deterrence and defense to protect NATO members from any aggression." He expressed hope that the proposed regional plans will be agreed and adopted at the summit, as well as that the alliance members will be able to agree on new commitments for investment in defense, where 2% of GDP will not be an upper limit, but will become a minimum.
Source: NATO
