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NATO leaders are expected to agree on a major alliance reinforcement on the east side when they meet in Madrid today.
The purpose of this decision is to strengthen the alliance, after the Russian occupation of Ukraine. The decision is a “fundamental change in prevention and protection” within the alliance, said NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg at the start of the three-day summit. He has said in some preliminary comments that the decisions of this summit will make the in-depth review of policies for protection from the Cold War.
The war in Ukraine has created a new atmosphere within the Western alliance, after several years of internal disagreements and rising tensions between the United States and Europe, at the time when Donald Trump was president of the United States.
French President Emmanuel Macron mentioned in 2019 that NATO was facing “brain death” as dilemmas grew over the path the alliance was taking.
The chaotic end of the 20-year US-NATO intervention in Afghanistan has had little effect, while the war in Ukraine has emphasized the alliance’s key goal: collective defense.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine “has made even clearer” how important NATO is for the future, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said at the start of the meeting.
In addition to the new spirit, NATO will also accept new members, as Sweden and Finland have decided to abandon neutrality and join the alliance after the start of the Russian occupation.
Turkey agreed on Tuesday to lift its veto on the two countries’ NATO membership, following the signing of commitments by Sweden and Finland to fight terrorism.
Ankara has opposed the two countries ‘membership for several weeks, accusing them of supporting the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the YPG, a Kurdish militia based in Syria.
Ankara considers both of these organizations as terrorists.
On Wednesday, the transatlantic alliance is expected to reach an agreement to position more equipment near Russia, including heavy weapons, increase the number of NATO troops in Eastern Europe and increase the number of high-level troops from 40,000 to 300,000.
NATO allies are still finalizing the composition of the troops to be deployed in Eastern Europe, as some member states want to avoid permanent bases due to high costs.
The Baltics, especially Estonia, have pushed NATO to change tactics after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and to ensure full territorial protection in Eastern Europe.
The Western Alliance, with 30 member countries, is also expected to agree on a strategic concept that highlights NATO missions and tasks.
The last policy update was made in 2010.
It is expected to categorize Russia as the biggest threat to NATO in the next 10 years, as well as to mention China for the first time.
NATO partner countries in the Indo-Pacific region – Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea – are attending the summit, a sign that the war in Ukraine has received all the attention of the alliance.
NATO member states are planning to show commitment that they will help Ukraine in the long run with equipment, training and modernization of Soviet-era military equipment./Radio Free Europe
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