Against Russia, most direct security threat to Western allies
, NATO is getting stronger, It’s a certainty. Evidenced by the combined military contribution of future Swedish and Finnish members: 28,500 active soldiers, 2,300 armored vehicles, 1,000 artillery pieces, 220 tanks, 175 ships and 158 aircraft.
This is also borne out by recent German statements, with the Social Democratic Chancellor Scholz promising to build the largest European conventional army within NATO
after the establishment of an exceptional fund of 100 billion euros aimed at modernize the Bundeswehrthe German army.
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Uncle Sam to the rescue
Joe Biden, for his part, announced a new reinforcement of American forces in Spain, Poland, Romania, the Baltic States, the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy. Two missile frigates in Spain to reinforce the four already there; two fighter squadrons F-35 in the UK to replace F-15 redeployed to Poland; a combat brigade in Romania; a permanent Corps Headquarters in Poland; more artillery, air force, air defense and special forces in the three Baltic countries; anti-aircraft defenses in Italy and Germany…
But neither the White House nor the Pentagon wanted to reveal how many additional American soldiers would be, in total, deployed to reinforce the 100,000 American soldiers already in Europe. In Germany, (635 more soldiers) and in Italy (65), the helping hand has nothing to do with a punch.
Numbers and limits
Arithmetic however deserves to be handled with precaution, Jens Stoltenberg, the Secretary General of NATO, knows it well. However, he too continues to want to make numbers, announcing on June 27 that the NATO Response Force, 40,000 strong, will be increased well above
of 300,000 soldiers!
Indeed, this reinforcement has limits. On the one hand, the sprinkling of forces, even powerful ones, induces vulnerability and reduces responsiveness. On the other hand, such forces need substantial fuel, ammunition, spare parts and stocks; however, the situation in this respect is hardly satisfactory, being deteriorated by the massive deliveries to Ukraine.
Finally, the display of Western means, especially so considerable, is reminiscent of the (not so good) old days of the Cold War. We then understand why Russia is not intimidated
by this military reinforcement, in particular American, in Europe, and that it has already specified that what is happening now will undoubtedly lead, in response, to measures
on his part.
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