“They won’t be 11 feet (3.3 meters) tall, but they won’t be 2 feet (60 centimeters) either,” NATO Military Committee Chairman Admiral Rob Bauer told reporters. “Therefore, we must never underestimate the ability of the Russians to recover.”
US President Joe Biden and his NATO counterparts are set to unveil a far-reaching overhaul of the alliance’s planning system this week at a summit in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital.
NATO, as an alliance, is not giving Ukraine weapons or ammunition, in an attempt to avoid being drawn into an open war with Russia, which is a nuclear power. At the same time, it is intensively strengthening the defenses of member countries that adjoin Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.
Some 40,000 soldiers are on alert, from Estonia in the north to Romania on the Black Sea. Some 100 planes fly over that area every day, and a total of 27 warships ply the waters of the Baltic and Mediterranean seas. Such numbers are likely to increase.
Under its new plans, NATO aims to have up to 300,000 troops ready to deploy to its eastern flank in 30 days. According to these plans, the territory of the military alliance is divided into three zones: the high north and the Atlantic, an area north of the Alps and another in southern Europe.
Bauer said the new plans are based on the strength of the Russian army before President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine nearly 17 months ago. He added that the war has depleted the Russian army, but not its air force or naval force.
As for the Russian ground forces, “94% are being used in the war in Ukraine,” the official said.
“What we see in general terms is that the Russians take care of themselves before NATO. They are not looking for a conflict with NATO. I think that shows that they are very, very busy,” he added. “As for the ground forces, I don’t think they have the resources to do something to another country.”
FUENTE: Associated Press
