NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is facing some serious challenges in defending its member countries from attacks. Army General Christopher Cavoli, who is in charge of NATO’s military operations in Europe, recently spoke about these issues at a security forum.
One of the biggest threats NATO faces right now is Russia. Russia has been causing a lot of problems, especially with its actions in Ukraine. But Russia isn’t the only concern. General Cavoli also mentioned that China could be a problem in the future.
Since General Cavoli took over his role right after the Madrid Summit in 2022, NATO has been making significant changes to prepare for these threats. At that summit, NATO leaders decided to focus on stopping Russia and protecting NATO’s territory. This was a big change because, after the Cold War, NATO was more focused on missions outside its member countries.
Changes in Strategy of NATO
During the Cold War, NATO was all about protecting its member countries from the Soviet Union. But after the Cold War ended, North Atlantic Treaty Organization started sending troops to places like the Balkans, Kosovo, and Afghanistan. These missions required smaller groups of soldiers who would go for specific periods. This allowed NATO countries to save money and build a force optimized for those kinds of missions.
But everything changed when Russia invaded Ukraine again. North Atlantic Treaty Organization realized it needed to go back to its old way of doing things — focusing on protecting its member countries. General Cavoli said, “We require standing armies that are geographically concentrated on particular regions and at standing readiness levels.” This means NATO needs to have troops ready to fight at all times, stationed in different parts of Europe.
To do this, NATO has developed new plans. These plans are for defending different regions in Europe, such as northwest Europe, central Europe, and southeast Europe. These are traditional military plans that outline how to protect specific areas, what forces to use, and what methods to employ. General Cavoli claims that this has resulted in numerous advancements inside North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
One of the biggest challenges is that North Atlantic Treaty Organization needs more troops ready to fight. This requires a lot of money. General Cavoli is happy to see that 23 North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries are now meeting the goal of spending 2% of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defense. This means more money is being spent on military needs.
Since the Madrid Summit, North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries now have a “shopping list” of military equipment they need. This list has been accepted by NATO members, and they are spending money to buy these items. On the military side, North Atlantic Treaty Organization has also changed how it commands and controls its forces, conducts exercises, and positions its troops across Europe.
Preparing for the Future
Supporting Ukraine is essential for the security of the United States and Europe, General Cavoli said. But people also need to think about what comes next. “There can be no mistaking: Regardless of how the situation in Ukraine ends, we will have a major issue with Russia” he explained. This means that even after the war in Ukraine ends, Russia will still be a threat.
General Cavoli pointed out that Russia will likely rebuild its military forces and remain on NATO’s borders. The people leading Russia now will probably still be in charge, and they will still see NATO as an enemy. This will make Russia very angry.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization must keep supporting Ukraine and prepare for the end of the war. Americans need to understand how serious the situation is for Europeans. Many people in Europe see Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a threat to their very existence. “I believe that the extent to which our European partners have realized that the house is on fire is underrated in the United States.” General Cavoli said. Europeans are genuinely concerned about the stability of their continent and the survival of their countries.
NATO faces many challenges in defending its member countries. The threats from Russia and potentially China require North Atlantic Treaty Organization to change its focus and be ready to fight at all times. This means more troops, more money, and new plans. Supporting Ukraine is crucial, but NATO also needs to prepare for what happens after the conflict in Ukraine ends.