Stoltenberg avoids assessing the coverage of the Atlantic Alliance over Ceuta and Melilla
The NATO summit in Madrid will “transform” the Atlantic Alliance and will mean “the greatest change” in the defense of all the allied countries. This was stated on Monday by the organization’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, who assured that NATO will raise its rapid response forces to more than 300,000 troops for deployment in an emergency.
Russia’s “brutal aggression” against Ukraine has put international security in check and has made Russia “the greatest direct threat to NATO and its values.” Dialogue with this country, today, “is not on the table”, since, according to Stoltenberg, Moscow has chosen the path of violence. The allied countries understand, therefore, that they must respond “to the new reality” by improving their defense and carrying out the largest revision of the deterrence and collective defense system since the Cold War.
Asked about Ceuta and Melilla, the Secretary General of NATO avoided assessing whether the two autonomous cities have the protection of the Alliance. In the event of an attack, Stoltenberg recalled that the application of article 5 of collective defense would depend on the North Atlantic Council and that it is a “political decision.”
The organization’s treaty guarantees the protection of its members when the attack occurs in Europe or North America, which would leave out Ceuta and Melilla, located in North Africa. Spain, however, does consider these two cities covered, since it understands that it is the responsibility of each country to establish its geographical limits.
presence in the east
The allies have increased their presence in Eastern Europe with about 40,000 soldiers. His intention now is to strengthen collaboration with countries such as Georgia or Moldova, to “protect them against possible Russian aggression.”
The new strategic framework that the leaders will discuss in Madrid will serve to shape NATO’s roadmap for the coming years. The increase in defense spending is the key to that plan. In recent years, the members of the Alliance have increased their investment in this field and nine of them already exceed 2% of the GDP set by the Alliance. “That percentage is a floor, not a ceiling,” says its secretary general.
The organization seeks to increase and improve its spending to boost its supplies of ammunition and fuel. It also wants to reinforce the deployment of its air forces and increase the number of troops in the rapid response brigades, up to 300,000 troops.
The increased capacity of these battalions, which will be able to go into action in a matter of a few days in the event of an attack on an ally, sends a clear message of support to the Baltic countries. And also, in turn, a deterrent for Russia, since any action against an ally will be seen as an affront to NATO. “Our intention is not to provoke a conflict, but to prevent it,” Stoltenberg said.
The future entry of Sweden and Finland into the organization, two countries not aligned with the Atlantic Alliance, constitutes another of the main topics of debate at the summit. His candidacy collides, however, with the veto of Turkey, which since May has resisted its integration into NATO. Ankara’s no keeps the negotiations blocked, since the process requires unanimity among the allied countries.
The leaders of Sweden, Finland and Turkey will attend the meeting in Madrid, but the hopes of achieving an unblocking of the current situation seem remote. Stoltenberg himself recognized “progress” in the accession process of the Nordic countries, but avoided giving any deadline.
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