NATO’s new defense strategy, which will be discussed this Wednesday at the Atlantic Alliance summit in Madrid, will define Russia as the “main threat”.
In an interview with Cadena SER, the President of the Government of Spain explained that Russia will no longer be identified as a “strategic partner”, and will be defined as NATO’s “main threat”. “Russia was a strategic partner a few years ago and today it will be considered the main threat,” said Pedro Sánchez.
Jens Stoltenberg provided the same information this morning, telling journalists in Madrid that the “new strategic concept”, which seeks to keep up with recent changes in global geopolitics, will “clearly” define Russia as “a threat”.
“Let’s say clearly that Russia represents a direct threat to our security,” Stoltenberg declared, thus indicating that NATO’s position will change for the first time since 2010, when the last strategic concept was approved.
The secretary general described Wednesday’s meeting as “a historic and transformative summit”, which wants to respond to the “greatest security crisis” in the West “since World War II”, that is, with the deployment of more troops to the borders Orientals. Europe, in what is “the largest investment since the Cold War.”
The reinforcement of the troops should occur next year. Stoltenberg explained that “these forces will be financed and organized” by the different members of the Atlantic Alliance, who will be responsible for their formation and for having everything necessary to act in their respective territories.
Regarding the accession of Sweden and Finland, which could finally be reached after the agreement with Turkey, the secretary general stated that NATO will work so that the process concludes as soon as possible. At this point, it is not yet possible to present more specific dates. “It’s good for everyone involved,” Stoltenberg said, adding that the summit will also serve to discuss the aid package for Ukraine.
China, Russia’s longtime ally, is also a concern for the Atlantic Alliance. “China is not an adversary, but we have to consider the security consequences at a time when it is going to invest in nuclear weapons,” Stoltenberg said.
Source: Observadora
