In the News March 28
NATO Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State
Agenda for Further All-Sided NATO Expansion
Speaking at a press conference following NATO’s extraordinary summit convened in Brussels on March 24 on the Ukraine-Russia conflict, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the summit was convened “to address the biggest threat to our security in a generation: President Putin’s war against Ukraine.” He said that NATO stands with the Ukrainian people and told reporters that “President Zelensky addressed us with an impassioned message” in which he thanked NATO allies for their support and stressed “the vital importance of even more military assistance.”
He announced that the alliance will “continue to impose unprecedented costs on Russia,” and reinforce NATO’s “deterrence and defence.” The summit approved four new NATO battlegroups, one each in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia. These he said bring the total to eight multinational NATO battlegroups, with four already stationed in the Baltic countries and Poland.
“So we have eight multinational battlegroups now. From the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea,” he said. He reiterated the lie that the intention is to protect what he no longer called Europe but “NATO territory” which indicates its continued expansion eastward.
U.S. President Joe Biden, in a statement on the NATO Summit issued March 24, said the establishment of the four new battlegroups “is a strong signal that we will collectively defend and protect every inch of NATO territory.” Biden also indicated that the U.S., using NATO, has eyes on other parts of the world. Speaking at a meeting in Warsaw with the Polish President and other officials on March 26, Biden said “America’s ability to meet its role in other parts of the world rests upon a united Europe and a secure Europe.”
Stoltenberg basically echoed this saying, “We have a responsibility to prevent this conflict from becoming a full-fledged war in Europe, involving not only Ukraine and Russia, but NATO allies and Russia.” He added, “That will be more dangerous and more devastating,”
Stoltenberg said there are 100,000 U.S. troops supporting NATO efforts, with 40,000 multinational Rapid Response Force under direct NATO command “mostly in the eastern part of the Alliance.” In addition to highlighting the U.S. troops, he particularly applauded the European allies and Canada for stepping up. These forces, he said, are backed by “major air and naval power,” including “an unprecedented five carrier strike groups from the High North to the Mediterranean.”
Besides trying to impress with the tales of overwhelming NATO strength, the crux of the matter lies in what he said next, which is that NATO leaders had agreed “to reset our deterrence and defence for the longer-term.” He described this as measures “to face a new security reality.” Elaborating this “new security reality” during questions, Stoltenberg said, “So this is long term, we are prepared for [the] long haul because we can already today say that the Russian invasion, President Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has changed our security environment for the long term. It is a new reality. It is a new normal and NATO is responding for the long term.” This could also mean expanding beyond Europe, such as strengthening the role of “partners” in Colombia, in South America and elsewhere, like Pakistan, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea.
Stoltenberg said that the deployment involves “substantially more forces in the eastern part of the Alliance, at higher readiness, with more prepositioned equipment and supplies.” More jets are to be deployed in the air, and NATO will “strengthen our integrated air and missile defence.” On the waters, NATO will have “carrier strike groups, submarines and significant numbers of combat ships on a persistent basis.”
Cyber defences will also be strengthened. He said that NATO will “enhance our exercises, focusing on collective defence and interoperability,” details of which will be decided at the Madrid NATO Summit in June.
Stoltenberg said that the leaders agreed to provide further support to Ukraine, saying this was “helping to uphold their fundamental right to self-defence.” There is financial and humanitarian aid, he said, while significant military supplies include “anti-tank and air defence systems, and drones.”
“Today,” he concluded, “we agreed to do more. Including cybersecurity assistance. And equipment to help Ukraine protect against biological, chemical, radiological, and nuclear threats. This could include detection, protection, and medical supplies, as well as training for decontamination and crisis management.” Stoltenberg also said that “NATO leaders” agreed they have to increase support “for other partners at risk from Russian threats and interference, including Georgia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
What does it mean when Stoltenberg says, “we have a responsibility to ensure the conflict does not escalate further. Because this would be even more dangerous and more devastating?”
Since the biological research labs located all over Ukraine are funded by the U.S. and the Pentagon, the warning to the people of Ukraine and the world concerns what the U.S. might do with the killer pathogens stored there, not Russia. It is the U.S./NATO which clearly pose the increasing dangers of escalation and war as the U.S. continues to threaten all countries which refuse to submit to its dictate and come under its control. This includes the NATO countries with Biden warning, speaking in Warsaw, March 26, “The single-most important criterion in this time of a changing world — so much has changed, and not just here but in other parts of the world — is that NATO stay absolutely, completely, thoroughly united; that there be no separation in our points of view; that whatever we do, we do in unison; and everyone — everyone comes along.”
Abiding by this demand and echoing U.S. threats against China, Stoltenberg said, “Allied leaders” addressed China and its role in the crisis. “Today,” Stoltenberg said, “Allied leaders called on China to refrain from supporting Russia’s war effort. China must not provide economic or military support for the Russian invasion. Instead, Beijing should use its significant influence on Russia. And promote an immediate, peaceful resolution.” Belarus was also warned that it “must stop acting as an accomplice to Putin’s invasion.”
Stoltenberg also reported that the Summit “reaffirmed our strong commitment to NATO’s Open Door policy, under Article 10 of the Washington Treaty.” He said, “NATO enlargement has been an historic success. Spreading democracy, freedom, and prosperity across Europe. One month since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, NATO’s security environment has fundamentally changed. For the long haul. And we are responding. But security does not come for free. And doing more will cost more.”
Article 10 of the Washington Treaty states: “The Parties may, by unanimous agreement, invite any other European State in a position to further the principles of this Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area to accede to this Treaty. Any State so invited may become a Party to the Treaty by depositing its instrument of accession with the Government of the United States of America. The Government of the United States of America will inform each of the Parties of the deposit of each such instrument of accession.”
Stoltenberg said that the leaders agreed to “redouble efforts to meet the Defence Investment Pledge we made in 2014.” He said members agreed to “submit additional plans on how to meet the pledge in time for the Madrid Summit in June.”
The Defence Investment Pledge was adopted by “NATO Leaders” in 2014 after repeated insistence by the U.S. It called for “all Allies to stop cuts to defence budgets and meet the NATO-agreed guideline of spending at least two per cent of Gross Domestic Product on defence within a decade. Allies also agreed, in that same timeframe, to move towards spending at least 20 per cent of annual defence expenditure on major new equipment, including related research and development. Finally, the Pledge committed Allies to ensuring that their land, air and maritime forces meet NATO-agreed guidelines for deployability, sustainability and other agreed metrics, and that their armed forces can operate together effectively, including through the implementation of NATO standards and doctrines.”
The NATO website says, “Since 2014, Allies have made considerable progress in increasing defence spending and investing in major equipment, taking steps toward fairer burden-sharing. 2021 was the seventh consecutive year of increased defence spending by European Allies and Canada, which contributed a cumulative extra of U.S.$190 billion since 2014. Allies are not just delivering more of the heavier, high-end capabilities NATO needs; they are also improving the readiness, deployability, sustainability and interoperability of their forces. However, the security threats and challenges have not decreased and the need to invest in defence remains essential to ensure the Alliance has the forces and capabilities it needs.”
Map released by NATO March 2022 on its further increases in troops in eastern Europe – click to enlarge.
It is clear the U.S./NATO forces which have taken over the governments of member countries are punch drunk with their power and think themselves unstoppable. It is up to the peoples of the world to step up their fight for peace with all their might and establish anti-war governments whose aim is to humanize the natural and social environment by upholding the rights of all.
TML Daily, posted March 28, 2022.
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