NATO decides on historical upgrade program against Russia!

NATO decides on historical upgrade program against Russia!

Brüssel, Belgien - NATO today decided at a meeting in Brussels a comprehensive upgrade program, which has been described as the largest since the Cold War. This is done in the context of a growing threat from Russia, which requires a significant increase in the deterrent and defense skills of the member states. US Defense Minister Peter Hegseth announced that an agreement on the increase in national defense spending can soon be reached. According to NATO General Secretary Mark Rutte, it is a "historical" program that sets new targets for the military skills of the Allies.

The new defense guidelines are based on intelligence assessments on the current threat situation. The guidelines for military skills were particularly increased by around 30 percent, which leads to planned defense spending of at least 3.5 percent of national GDP. In addition, 1.5 percent of GDP are planned for defense -relevant expenses. The long -term goal provides for an overall quota of five percent of GDP for defense spending. Hegseth was optimistic that the United States will achieve consensus, even if some countries still hesitate but could be convinced.

Poland on the way to the military power

at the same time, Poland strongly forcates its military armament. Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak emphasizes that the focus is on securing peace, while the country has completed large armaments deals, especially South Korea. This cooperation includes the purchase of ten new tanks and 24 Haubitzen. In the meantime, Germany has given only 14 armored shadows to Ukraine in the past ten months, which indicates the difficulties of the German armed forces in modernization.

Military order in Poland could lead to a strategic advantage in Central Europe, since the country plans to expand its army to 300,000 soldiers by 2035. While Poland can already mobilize 123,000 soldiers, according to NATO, the Bundeswehr has a mobilizable strength of 189,000 soldiers. With 1.3 million soldiers, the United States remains the largest NATO army.

defense spending under the influence of the Ukraine conflict

The further development of NATO defense spending is also a reaction to the Russian attack war on Ukraine. According to current reports, the NATO states in 2024 are expected to spend an average of around 2.71 percent of their GDP for defense, which corresponds to a total of around $ 1.5 trillion. The European Allies and Canada in particular have confirmed their obligation to increase defense spending to 2.02 percent of GDP.

Development in Poland is remarkable because the country is at the top with a rate of 4.12 percent of GDP for defense spending. In contrast, countries such as Spain and Luxembourg have only planned 1.28 and 1.29 percent of GDP for defense. The increased expenses of the NATO countries are not only a reaction to external threats, but also the result of internal discussions in which some states, such as the Czech head of government, are open to higher defense spending

Overall, the current security situation of the NATO countries not only reflects the geopolitical challenges, but also a rethinking in defense policy, which is characterized by the increase in defense spending and mobilizing resources.

The comprehensive plans and international cooperation are crucial to ensure stability and security in Europe. The upcoming decisions and their implementation will show how NATO will act in the face of the challenges.

Further information on the current developments can be found in the reports of Vol.at , t-online.de and tagesschau.de .