NATO Weighs Biggest Military Planning Overhaul in Two Decades: Prioritize Russia, Scale Back Overseas Missions
NATO's 32 member countries have begun negotiating the alliance's next capability targets in what Politico described as the biggest overhaul of NATO military planning in at least two decades: prioritizing preparations for a major war with Russia in Europe over providing spare troops for overseas crisis-management missions such as Iraq and Afghanistan.
According to four NATO diplomats briefed on a draft planning document known as the Political Guidance, allies are considering dropping a longstanding requirement to provide enough forces for both a major European conflict and several smaller overseas operations at the same time. The draft replaces that "and" with an "or": forces for one scenario or the other. The Political Guidance is expected to be agreed by February, with new capability requirements approved by 2029. The talks remain at a very early stage.
Camille Grand, a former NATO assistant secretary-general for defense investment, said the proposal reflected "a very clear understanding that no matter what, for NATO, a major contingency in Europe will overtake any other priorities or events." The United States, northern European countries and eastern-flank states favor prioritizing defense against Russia, while some southern European members want NATO to retain a substantial overseas crisis role. A senior NATO official stressed that existing missions in Kosovo and Iraq would not automatically change and that the alliance was not abandoning crisis response.
The debate comes as Washington presses European allies to take greater responsibility for defending NATO territory. The Pentagon is set to unveil a review of its presence in Europe next month, which could involve withdrawing some troops.
(Source: Politico)
Source: Politico
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于比利时布鲁塞尔的北约总部大楼。照片：CC0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
