NATO does not expect Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine to end anytime soon. “Putin is preparing for a long war,” Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană said Wednesday at the start of a two-day meeting of the Western Defense Alliance’s military committee.
Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin has already mobilized more than 200,000 additional soldiers, ramping up arms production and also buying additional weapons from authoritarian regimes such as Iran. “We have to be prepared for a long road,” says Geoană. “2023 will be a difficult year and we must support Ukraine for as long as necessary.”
Military Committee Chairman Admiral Rob Bauer called the conference a “sacred duty” to always be prepared for the unexpected. It is also crucial to inform the political leadership honestly about strengths and weaknesses. “Today, modern warfare is as much about bits and bots as it is about mud and blood,” said the Dutchman.
Geoană believes that it is now necessary to expand industrial capabilities for the production of weapons and ammunition and make better use of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to strengthen NATO’s capabilities in light of the situation . It is also important to invest even more in defense.
The 2 percent target set nearly a decade ago is increasingly seen as a floor rather than a ceiling on defense spending, he said. Alliance members should continue to make progress beyond 2024 and make new commitments.
The current target of 2% means that all NATO countries must come close to the target of spending at least 2% of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defense by 2024. It will be replaced by a new target at the next regular summit in July, as desired by many Allies.
At the meeting of NATO’s highest military body, until next Thursday, topics such as the continued reinforcement of the eastern flank and the military situation in Ukraine will be discussed. Participants include the Chiefs of Staff of Member States.
(t online)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
