Robin Emmott

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – NATO allies are putting forces on standby https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/nato-sends-ships-jets-eastern-europe-ukraine-crisis-2022-01-24 and sending reinforcements to eastern Europe in response to Russia’s buildup of more than 100,000 troops on Ukraine’s borders.

These are the problems with NATO’s future steps.

WILL NATO COME TO UKRAINE’S DEFENCE???

Not militarily. Ukraine isn’t a NATO member and it is not bound by treaty to defend the country. U.S. President Joe Biden https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-says-putting-us-troops-ground-ukraine-is-not-table-2021-12-08 has said he will not send American or allied troops to fight Russia in Ukraine.

Kyiv however is a good partner, and NATO promised Kyiv eventual NATO membership at the summit of 2008.

The 30-member North Atlantic Treaty Organisation works with Ukraine at the moment to modernise their armed forces. Canada runs a training programme for Ukraine. Denmark has also increased efforts to make Ukraine’s army NATO-compliant. The alliance has also said it will help Ukraine defend against cyber attacks https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/us-offers-ukraine-support-needed-recover-cyberattack-2022-01-14 and is providing secure communications equipment for military command.

HOW DOES ARMING UKRAINE WORK?

Britain, the United States and other Baltic countries are sending weapons to Ukraine. These include anti-tank missiles and small arms, as well as boats and boats. Turkey supplied drones to Ukraine, which the Ukrainian military used against Russian-backed separatists.

Germany, however, is opposed to sending weapons to Ukraine. Berlin instead offered a $6 million field hospital, and all necessary training to the Ukrainian troops in order for them to use it.

NOW, WHY DOES NATO USE FORCE ON STANDBY?!

The alliance https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/best-supporting-actor-nato-secondary-role-if-russia-invades-ukraine-2022-01-18 is concerned about a potential spillover from any conflict between Russia and Ukraine, particularly in the Black Sea region, where Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, and in the Baltic Sea.

About 8,500 American soldiers have been placed on high alert by the U.S. Department of Defense. Denmark will send a F-16 warplane to Lithuania and a frigate for the Baltic Sea. Spain has sent both a minesweeper ship and a frigate in support of NATO’s maritime forces in the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea.

Madrid may also consider sending fighter jets into Bulgaria. In addition, the Netherlands offered two F-35 Warplanes to Bulgaria in April.

France might send troops to Romania as part of NATO’s command.

WHY DO ALLIES STILL FOLLOW QUICKLY?

Russia claims it does not intend to invade Ukraine

NATO is both a military and political organisation. It has extended its offer of talks to Moscow through the NATO-Russia Council, Brussels, in order to reach a resolution.

Furthermore, the 30 member countries of an alliance have different priorities and so decisions must be made collectively. It can be difficult to raise enough troops for joint missions.

NATO allies discuss whether to increase troop rotations through Eastern Europe. This issue will be discussed by the allied defense ministers at a meeting that is scheduled to take place in Brussels mid-February.

NATO currently has four multi-national battalion-sized battlegroups (or approximately 4,000 soldiers), led by Canada.

These troops act as the “trip wire” to NATO’s 40,000 strong response force. They can quickly come in and get more U.S. soldiers and weapons across the Atlantic.

It is likely that the biggest decisions will not be made until June when NATO leaders meet in Madrid. To cement NATO’s deterring Russia focus, the leaders are expected to reach an agreement on a Strategic Concept.

WHAT IS NATO LIKELY to DO IN BLACK SEA?

Bulgarian government said that they are ready to put up 1,000 troops in Bulgaria, with the help of soldiers from other NATO countries.

This could happen in April or May.

Multinational land forces of as many as 4,000 soldiers are available in Romania by the Western Alliance. There are also American soldiers stationed in separate bases in Romania, and Bulgaria.

France has offered additional troops to Romania, and Romania might see a larger NATO presence. Romania and the United States are currently in negotiations over an increase in troop numbers.

The multinational force in Romania, although operational since 2017, is still a command on the ground, and does not include any air, marine, or special forces.