In Brussels on Feb. 7, Polish President Andrzej Duda made clear he wants more NATO troops in Poland but also all along the Eastern flank, from the Baltics down to the Black Sea. “I do believe that NATO’s presence in the Eastern flank should be increased along the whole Eastern flank starting from the north, all the way down to the south,” he said during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. “All countries which would like to receive this strengthening should be given such strengthening. I think it should happen.” He remarked that while the U.S. is deploying troops on President Joe Biden’s order, “I would like these decisions to be taken at the level of the whole Alliance. I would like this to be our common decisions and common forces, which would reinforce the Eastern flank.”
Stoltenberg stated that while, indeed, the North Atlantic Council has not made a decision to activate the NATO Response Force, NATO commander Gen. Tod Wolters has already used his existing authorities to reinforce NATO in the East. “And we have also seen how NATO Allies like Spain, Denmark, United Kingdom, the United States and others have actually provided more capabilities for surveillance for reassurance activities in the Eastern part Alliance and particularly in the Black Sea region,” he said.
Stoltenberg also revealed that the Alliance is in fact considering additional measures. “[W]e are considering more longer-term adjustments to our posture, our presence in the Eastern part of the Alliance,” he said. “No final decision has been made on that. But there is a process now going on within NATO also of course in close consultation with our military commanders to adjust our presence in the Eastern part of the Alliance to further strengthen our deterrence and defense.” NATO defense ministers will be meeting later this month where such questions are likely to be taken up.
