Russia–NATO relations

The United States is increasing its military presence in Europe and moving to Poland the headquarters of an army corps, key to US military cooperation with the continent.

This was announced by US President Joe Biden in a statement together with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg at the beginning of the alliance's summit in Madrid.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will call on his NATO allies at the Madrid summit to increase their defense spending in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, his cabinet said.

After Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, NATO member states pledged to spend at least 2.0% of their gross domestic product on defense by 2024 to ensure the alliance's combat readiness.

Zelensky was also told that the alliance would continue to help Kyiv in that, said the Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo after arriving at the NATO summit.

The Ukraine war has taken center stage at a NATO summit in Madrid on June 29, while Finland and Sweden will be formally invited to join the alliance after Türkiye dropped its opposition.

NATO leaders are set to approve the alliance's new strategic concept this week, with a huge increase in rapid reaction force.

In addition to doubling the forces that will be deployed in Eastern Europe in the context of the war in Ukraine, the number of troops that can be deployed in a high readiness for rapid response is also increasing: from 40,000 to "well over" 300,000.

Spain is campaigning for NATO to pay more attention to non-military threats on its so-called southern flank

While Russia's invasion of Ukraine is certain to dominate an upcoming NATO summit in Madrid, Spain and other member nations are quietly pushing the Western alliance to consider how mercenaries aligned with Russian President Vladimir Putin are spreading Moscow's influence to Africa.

That would have happened in line with NATO's current plans to defend the country from any Russian attack, the Estonian prime minister said.
Kaja Kallas told reporters on Wednesday that the alliance's existing defense plans for the three Baltic states is such that it will allow them to be overrun before they are released after 180 days, the Financial Times reports.

Türkiye has seemingly accelerated its diplomatic efforts for making a food corridor from Ukraine to the world markets possible under a plan crafted by the United Nations. While a military delegation is holding talks with their Russian counterparts in Moscow, Türkiye will host defense and foreign secretaries of the United Kingdom on June 23 in the Turkish capital.

Defence and deterrence, not destruction

A woman holds a photo of Russian President Vladimir Putin during a pro-Russian protest in Belgrade, Serbia, 15 April 2022. Photo: EPA-EFE/ANDREJ CUKIC.

Has NATO ever posed a real threat to Russia?