Approaching NATO deterrence and defence posture
by enhancing resilience on the Eastern Flank
It has been two years since NATO’s Eastern Flank tensions maintained very high levels. The war in Ukraine and the aggressive posture of Russia towards the Euro-Atlantic space have shattered the peace in times already challenged by an enduring multifold crisis: post-pandemic, climate change, the economic and energy crisis, the global decline of democracy. To these, the complicated situation in the Middle East grows violently and ripples great apprehension among peoples in Europe and all over the world. Under these circumstances, Euro-Atlantic nations must work together to identify viable solutions able to connect and engage them as equal partners in a single sound and articulate community. Forging a strong deterrence and defence posture requires an equally sized effort focused on mutually and holistically building up national and collective resilience as the supporting bedrock. NATO members underpin this effort to safeguard the shared values that bound them all to endure in spite of any threat.
The cross-cutting melange of cohesion, good governance, common goal, readiness and resilience will definitely give the Alliance the suitable instruments to efficiently build the necessary deterrence and defence posture in a 360-degree approach. Once more and beyond, the multi-domain mix of nuclear, conventional and missile defence capabilities, complemented by space and cyber assets, proportionately and coherently integrated with non-military capabilities will serve as a comprehensive set of tools, ready to deter any potential threat and counter any possible opportunities for aggression. Digital transformation and emerging and disruptive technologies, such as artificial intelligence, unmanned systems and quantum computing will empower these instruments. Implementing concepts of modern warfare – behaviour-centric approach and the manoeuvrist approach in cognitive warfare, multi-domain operations and mission command in combat – will serve as tenets to guide them towards victory. And national and Alliance-wide resilience, built under collective commitment, will give them strength to endure and to continue to deter any threat and, if necessary, to defend our values against military and non-military aggressions and challenges to our security.
Topics:
- New NATO Force Model ready to modernize and strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defence posture
- Emerging and disruptive technologies as enablers for military capabilities
- Enhancing readiness and building resilience on the Alliance’s Eastern Flank
- Black Sea Region – important geopolitical nexus in the Eastern Europe arena / Convergences and divergences on potential military developments within the Black Sea Region and the main resulting concerns
- Key tenets of NATO joint operational doctrine – multi-domain operations, behaviour-centric approach, manoeuvrist approach, mission command and comprehensive approach
- Military bilateral cooperation in the Region
