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NATO will deploy as soon as possible four battalions (

battlegroups

) in Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria, Ukraine's neighbors that until now did not have one.

This will be established tomorrow by the Heads of State and Government at their emergency meeting in Brussels, according to the general secretary, Jens Stoltenberg, on Wednesday.

Following the invasion of Ukraine, hundreds of thousands of European soldiers are on standby across the continent

.

There are 100,000 US troops and 40,000 soldiers under direct Alliance command, concentrated mostly in the East, with air and naval support.

But the 30 believe that it is not enough.

"At tomorrow's Summit we will take more decisions. The leaders will agree to more forces on the eastern flank, by land, sea and air. The first step will be the deployment of four new NATO battalions in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia Alongside the forces already present in the Baltic states and Poland, this will mean eight multinational battalions across the entire eastern flank, from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea.

We are facing a new reality for our security so we must restore our long-term deterrence and defense

," Stoltenberg said in the appearance prior to the extraordinary summit.

NATO works to respond to the threat in the short term.

To redefine, at the June summit in Madrid, the "strategic concept", since the current one is now 12 years old and has become obsolete.

And to reflect on how to strengthen deterrence and defense against the new reality of Russian expansionism.

The battalions are a first step, but the idea is to move from what are known as

Tripwire forces

, which are small deployments that mostly show defense commitment, to a more permanent force, with troops but also considerable equipment and supplies.

deterrence

This war is already having profound implications for the relationship with Russia, which has been deteriorating for some years now.

NATO has maintained a dual-pillar policy since 2014: deterrence and dialogue, and now there is no doubt that the weight of deterrence will increase.

But more things should come out of this meeting and Madrid.

A review of the founding document of Russia-NATO relations, the strategic concept already mentioned, the relationship with respect to potential applicants (more Sweden or Finland than Ukraine).

It is to be hoped that although there will be no substantive changes, the future language will be touched upon to reinforce the principle that everyone has the right to choose their future.

Looking ahead to the coming months there are three basic themes: deterrence and defence, crisis prevention and management, and collective security.

The Russian invasion does not change them, but it can alter their weight, because the neighbors to the East are pressing hard to give, logically, more relevance to the latter, to make it the main axis.

Likewise, a renewed element is relations with the EU

.

The Russian aggression has generated a dynamic that until now had been impossible.

A remarkable closeness and harmony, which entails from the beginning that the EU is being invited as its own actor to the summits and meetings of Alliance ministers.

However, despite everything they have in common, and the evident complementarity that has been revealed, both parties are unable to formalize a joint declaration on which they have been working for years.

The EU is now being able to go places that the Alliance cannot, like openly arming Ukraine, for example, without provoking an open clash with Moscow.

And there are good relations at the staff level, but both entities are still looking for ways to capitalize on the situation.

Since 2014, the Allies have trained Ukraine's armed forces and significantly strengthened their capabilities.

They are putting that training into practice now, on the front lines, with great courage.

In recent months, the allies have stepped up military support.

Supply of anti-tank and air defense systems, drones, fuel and ammunition, as well as economic aid.

Tomorrow, I hope allies agree to provide additional support, including cybersecurity assistance, as well as equipment to help Ukraine protect against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats," Stoltenberg said.

"President Putin's invasion is brutal.

And human suffering is horrible and painful

to witness

We are determined to do everything we can to support Ukraine, but we have a responsibility to ensure that the war does not escalate beyond Ukraine into a NATO-Russia conflict.

This would cause even more death and even more destruction," he reiterated, closing any door, for the umpteenth time, to more direct involvement, including any possibility of airspace closures.

MESSAGE TO CHINA

In London in December 2019, a very unusual paragraph was read out in the NATO conclusions.

"We recognize that China's growing influence and its international policies present opportunities and challenges that we must address together as an Alliance," the text said.

It is the first time in its history that the Atlanticist leaders put the Asian giant in the crosshairs

,

opening a reflection on the strategic vision historically dedicated to Moscow or international terrorism.

"NATO focused first on the Soviet Union and then on Russia. It is the first time that the opportunities of China's rise, but also the challenges, have been jointly analyzed, according to various assessments. The mere idea that the 29 address it is an important step in the right direction. It is not a one-dimensional issue, the Chinese economic boom creates opportunities, millions of people have been lifted out of poverty. But China also invests heavily in its capabilities. A few weeks ago it tested a ballistic missile that can reach Europe, supersonic missiles that would have violated the EIT if it had been added," the secretary general said at the time.

Last June, Beijing was once again present.

"There is a strong convergence between the allies. We see an opportunity to engage with China on issues such as arms control or climate change, but the growing influence and its international policies are challenges for our security, the leaders agree that there is "We

have to address them jointly and act to defend our security interests.

We are concerned about their policies, which are in conflict with the values ​​contained in the Washington Treaty

. The increase in their nuclear arsenal and other sophisticated weapons," the Norwegian said then.

And tomorrow the issue will be the protagonist again.

"We are facing a fundamentally changing security environment, in which

authoritarian powers are increasingly prepared to use force to get their way.

.

So I hope that we also address the role of China in this crisis.

Beijing has joined Moscow in questioning the right of independent nations to choose their own path.

China has provided political support for Russia, including by spreading blatant lies and disinformation.

And the allies are concerned that China may provide material support to the Russian invasion.

I hope the leaders will call on China to fulfill its responsibilities as a member of the UN Security Council and refrain from supporting Russia's war effort.

We want you to join the rest of the world in calling for an immediate and peaceful end to this war," Stoltenberg added on Wednesday, opening a new vector to an already large, complicated and delicate board.

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  • NATO

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  • Europe

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