War in Ukraine: NATO equips its forces against a nuclear, chemical or biological attack
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, alongside US President Joe Biden on March 24, 2022. AP - Thibault Camus
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NATO will provide Ukraine with protective equipment against chemical, biological and nuclear threats and will protect its forces deployed on the eastern flank against these threats, the Alliance's secretary general announced on Thursday.
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The Allies are "
concerned
" about the possibility of the use of such weapons in Ukraine after the Russian invasion and "
have agreed to provide equipment to help Ukraine protect itself against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats
" .
, explained the Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg at the end of an extraordinary summit of the leaders of the Alliance.
“
It could be detection, equipment, protection and medical support, as well as training in contamination and crisis management
,” he said.
“
We are also improving the readiness of allied forces.
The Supreme Commander of the Alliance's military forces, General Walters, has activated NATO's chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense elements and our allies are deploying defense assets to reinforce the forces of the Battlegroups
", said he added.
"
We are therefore taking action both to support Ukraine and to defend ourselves
," he said.
Stoltenberg's term extended for a year
Allies agreed to do more to help Ukraine after hearing Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelensky
stress "
the vital importance of providing more military assistance to his country
", said Jens Stoltenberg, reappointed for a term. year.
He did not specify what armaments would be provided by the allies, but the United States "
has begun consultations to provide anti-ship missiles to Ukraine
", a senior American official said during the summit.
Alliance leaders also approved the creation of
four new battlegroups in Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria and Slovakia
, and to reinforce the four already formed in Poland and the three Baltic countries.
More than 100,000 American soldiers are currently present in Europe and more than 40,000 troops are under direct NATO command in the eastern part of the Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg pointed out.
"
It's unheard of
," he said.
The leaders of the Alliance will decide during their summit at the end of June in Madrid on an overhaul of their defense.
Discussions will focus on the sustainability of these forces and the increase in Allied military spending.
“
Security pays off.
Doing more costs more
,” he warned.
(
With
AFP)
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