During NATO's first press conference following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that the Defense Alliance is now activating a defense plan to strengthen its member states in the Far East.
This means that NATO is now moving from primarily trying to reassure its members to now placing emphasis on discouraging Russia from attacking NATO allies, says Robert Dalsjö and continues:
- The first thing to do in this situation is to activate NATO's High Response Joint Task Force, (VJTF).
"Not very fast"
The rapid force consists of about 5,000 soldiers and is led by France, with support from Germany, Poland, Portugal and Spain.
- The rapid force should be able to start moving east within a week.
So it's not very fast stuff.
But it is fast with NATO measures.
The units must first be activated in their garrisons, which can be, for example, Great Britain or France.
- Many in Sweden believe that NATO is a glittering war machine waiting to be pressed.
It's not like that.
It is an alliance of thirty democracies that must agree.
Unusual with defense plan
It is unusual for NATO to activate its defense plan, but it has happened before.
During the 1990 Gulf War, parts of the defense plan were activated to strengthen Turkey.
Ukraine is not a member of NATO and the defense alliance has been clear that the organization will not send troops to the country.
However, the NATO countries are free to contribute their own efforts.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, among others, have jointly decided to send military aid to Ukraine.
A digital NATO meeting with representatives from the member countries is planned for Friday.
Sweden and Finland are also invited.
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Hear NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on NATO's response.
Photo: SVT