Romanian Military Thinking

          24 February 2022 will remain a watershed date in European history; that day, the Russian regime led by President Vladimir Putin launched a military invasion of Ukraine, marking the return of war in Europe for the first time in decades.
          Much of what has transpired since the war’s onset has come as a surprise, whether in its political and strategic dimensions or operational and tactical terms. The war was not an impossibility prior to 24 February, but it was certainly viewed in the West as improbable from the perspective of a rational cost-benefit analysis. This is especially so when one considers Putin’s attempt to swallow the entirety of Ukrainian territory. The means with which Russia attempted its conquest also raised a number of questions as to its armed forces’ level of preparedness, organization, and operational ability. Today, it is clear that Russia’s military capacity was overestimated while Ukraine’s capacity to resist was underestimated.

          For its part, the Atlantic Alliance has displayed a political unity that was admittedly lacking in recent years prior. The United States has demonstrated unequivocal commitment to the defence of Europe, while European Allies have shown both political resolve and a will to take defence spending seriously. Very little dissent or freeriding has occurred in the West. Solidarity with Ukraine has been optimal, both politically and through the delivery of weapons.

          The European Union (EU) too has acted swiftly, most notably through the imposition of sanctions on Russia in lockstep with US and UK sanctions. The EU has also decided to finance the delivery of weapons to Ukraine.

          This debate will examine some identified lessons that NATO, its Allies, and partners can draw from the war in Ukraine while the Alliance released its new Strategic Concept and, once again, has demonstrated its ability to adapt to a new environment.