NATO set to boost forces on its eastern flank, chief says

NATO is set to agree to reinforce its eastern flank with a major new deployment of combat ready troops to Central and Eastern Europe.

Speaking ahead of a gathering of NATO leaders in Brussels, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stressed that the alliance does not want a direct conflict with Russia.

Even so, allies are likely to commit to a substantial increase in forces in Eastern Europe for the long term, he said. In the short-term, more equipment to protect against chemical, nuclear or biological weapons will be sent to help the Ukrainian forces, he added.

“I expect leaders will agree to strengthen NATO’s posture in all domains, with major increases to our forces in the eastern part of the alliance: on land, in the air and at sea,” the secretary-general told reporters. 

The hastily-convened meeting comes amid growing fears over Europe’s long-term security. The U.S. and others have warned that Russia may be preparing to use chemical or biological weapons as the war in Ukraine drags on.

The secretary-general, who emphasized that NATO has already significantly upped its presence on the eastern flank, also noted that he expects leaders to task military commanders with looking into the alliance’s long-term options. 

“There is a need to reset our deterrence and defense, and I expect that to be a substantial increase in our presence for the long term,” Stoltenberg said. 

The next step in NATO’s response is set to be the deployment of battlegroups in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, Stoltenberg said. That will increase the number of multinational battlegroups along the alliance’s eastern edge from four to eight. 

NATO has been under growing pressure to boost its assistance to Ukraine, though leaders have repeatedly insisted they cannot agree to Kyiv’s top priority request to enforce a no-fly zone because the risk of a direct clash with Russian forces is too great.

Stoltenberg said he expected NATO leaders to increase their contributions to Ukraine’s defense further at the summit. The extra support is likely to include “cybersecurity assistance” and “equipment to help Ukraine protect against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats,” he said.

At their gathering, heads of state and government are set to also address China’s response to the war. 

“I expect leaders will call on China to live up to its responsibilities as a member of the U.N. Security Council, refrain from supporting Russia’s war effort and join the rest of the world in calling for an immediate, peaceful end to this war,” Stoltenberg said.