NATO to be ready for a new Cold War era

Secretary general Stoltenberg: «the Alliance is doubling the military size»

Jens Stoltenberg

by Emanuele Bonini

Tension rose as the NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg stressed «we are now boosting our collective defence more than we have done since the end of the Cold War». This is «the answer both to the challenges to the East and to the South», explained referring to Ukrainian crisis and turmoil in North Africa. «The security environment is now more challenging than it has been for decades», said Stoltenberg at the joint press conference with Supreme allied commander Europe, general Phillip Breedlove. Thus «what you are doing now is actually to adapt NATO to a new security environment». As a result the Alliance is «doubling the size of the NATO Response Force from 13,000 to 30,000 troops». Stoltenberg pointed out that at the same time his organisation is «setting up a new 5,000-strong quick reaction Spearhead Force. With some units ready to move within as little as 48 hours». In the near future one of the biggest military training missions will be held «in the south». There «we are preparing to hold this autumn our biggest exercise for many years, expected to include over 25,000 troops in this exercise». The NATO chief tries to minimise saying «these measures are defensive, proportionate, and in line with our international commitments», but these measures sound as a declaration of war or, in a better scenario, as a preparation of war.