NATO, after the Summit in Wales

One of the conclusions of the NATO Summit in Wales is that the Alliances ground, air and naval presence on its eastern flank will be increased.

Bogdan Matei, 08.09.2014, 13:25

Designed and set up right after WW2 in an attempt to keep the Soviets out of Europe, these days NATO is focusing on its initial purpose given the renewed appetite of Vladimir Putin’s Russia for new territories. Last week’s Summit in Newport, Wales, was dominated by the concerns generated by the rebellion of the pro-Russian secessionists in Ukraine and the logistics, financial and military support openly granted by Moscow. NATO leaders agreed to establish a spearhead force designed to increase the allies’ defensive capabilities.

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that there would be a continuous military presence in several countries on the Alliance’s border with the former Soviet area, such as Poland, Romania and the Baltic states, based on the rotation principle. If necessary, the spearhead force will become operational in 4 days at the most, the NATO chief has said. A command-and-control centre will be based in Romania, the country’s president Traian Basescu has announced.

Upon returning to Romania, President Basescu said the Summit has strengthened the Alliance’s solidarity and force. The president’s statements dispelled the fears of many Romanians, concerned about any type of conflicts taking place in the country’s vicinity. President Basescu has also said that Romania will be fully protected irrespective of war scenarios, and that there are fight back plans already in place in the event of an armed attack.

“Following the decisions of the recent NATO Summit, Romania will be fully protected in case of any type of attacks. Moreover, based on the same decisions, the NATO military structures and the national structures will have to contribute troops within NATO, so that Romania is protected irrespective of the type of war.”

President Basescu has pointed out that the allied countries will cover, based on the solidarity principle, the costs of military operations for the protection of Romania, just as Bucharest covered the costs of its military presence in Afghanistan.