Tag: nato

Future defence capabilities of European continent in jeopardy after Trump win

military

NATO strategists are said to be drafting worst-case scenario plans, in case the President Elect makes good of his intentions of withdrawing large contingents of American troops from military bases around Europe.

Mr. Trump has previously said that he believes the United States should be ‘less involved’ in European defence missions, going as far as saying that the US Army may only step up to defend NATO-aligned and allied countries if they ‘pay their bills.’

Article 5 of the NATO charter hinges on the principle of ‘collective defence’, which means that an attack on a NATO ally is considered an attack on all allies. Now, the top echelon at NATO HQ wants to ensure that Mr. Trump will abide by such principle.

The 45th President of the United States, however, referred to the NATO alliance as ‘obsolete’, potentially throwing long-established defence plans into disarray.

If Mr. Trump does order the withdrawal of American soldiers from Europe, no country in the continent will be able to provide enough troops to replace them.

The impending uncertainty has prompted Germany, one of the largest military powers in the continent, to budget for the allocation of 130bn for military spending by the year 2030.

Still, the United States is continuing with the deployment of troops around Eastern European countries for the time being, to strengthen front-line battalions.

Two minutes to midnight: 300,000 NATO troops on high alert over escalating tensions with Russia

natotank

300,000 NATO troops have received readiness orders over growing fears of a military confrontation with Russia.

Around 15 divisions on front line states are now on a status of ‘high alert’ as tensions escalate between opposing sides.

NATO General Secretary, Jens Stoltenberg, has confirmed that the executive order hopes to achieve a faster reaction status should conflict break out.

The heightened state of alert is in direct response to Russia’s own display of military might in recent times, and particularly over its intervention in war-torn Syria.

Russia has provided a large amount of weaponry and specialized equipment to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has used it to quell rebel forces in Aleppo and elsewhere.

A large number of Russian citizens actually believe that their country’s intervention in Syria could easily lead to World War III.

The military buildup in the region has also arisen due to grave concerns among western strategists that the Russian military might may overrun NATO forces in the area in a matter of hours, should armed confrontation start.

NATO analysts also fear that Russia may attempt the annexation of Baltic states such as Lithuania or Latvia, just like it did in Crimea two years ago. Such move could have grave repercussions indeed for the geo-political stability in Europe.