Baku, Azerbaijan, June 2
By Leman Zeynalova - Trend:
NATO is discussing enhancing readiness of existing national forces, a NATO official told Trend.
“NATO is not considering setting up or deploying a new force. The focus of our discussions is about enhancing the readiness of existing national forces, and their ability to move within Europe and across the Atlantic,” said the official.
“NATO continues to increase the readiness of troops in response to security challenges, to defend all Allies against any threat. We've already tripled the NATO Response Force and enhanced our forward presence in the East of the Alliance. Now we're looking at what more we need to do to reinforce, if needed, and increase our forces' ability to move within Europe and across the Atlantic.
“Next week, defence ministers are expected to pave the way for leaders' decision at the July Summit relating to the readiness levels of Allied armed forces, reinforcement and the Alliance's command structure. As Secretary General Stoltenberg said in Poland this week, ensuring rapid reinforcements of deployed forces will be a main focus of the July summit. He made clear that ministers will discuss a readiness initiative to increase the readiness and identify specific forces that can be available on short notice, if needed.
“NATO defence ministers will not discuss a specific troop number. Our focus is on continuing to improve the readiness of specific units of individual Allies to respond to an unpredictable security environment,” added the NATO official.