NATO Secretary General spoke about the model for deploying alliance forces near the borders with Russia

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. File photoBRUSSELS, June 16 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, following a meeting in Brussels of the heads of the defense ministries of the alliance countries, which discussed further strengthening in the eastern direction, revealed the details of the new defense model being developed, which, in particular, will apply near the borders with Russia. Stoltenberg expects the scheme to be approved at the summit in Madrid on June 28-30.Patrushev accused NATO of ending the dialogue between Russia and Ukraine, according to him, the new “force deployment model” consists of a number of elements. “It concerns, in particular, the ground component of NATO forces on the eastern flank of the alliance. The first is the strengthening of preliminary positioning. We have already increased our presence, doubled the combat groupings on the eastern flank from four to eight in recent months,” he said. In the words, the second component is “the strengthening of battlegroups, including those with command capabilities, which is necessary for the rapid organization of reinforcements.”

"Another element is the preliminary placement of weapons and vehicles. <…> As a rule, difficulties arise with the transportation of heavy weapons and ammunition. It is easier to organize the deployment of forces if there are depots of weapons and ammunition in place,” he explained.

Stoltenberg also noted that “the new model provides for more forces in high combat readiness, including the priority use of specific allies prepared for defense, to ensure rapid reinforcement, that is, not all forces will be sent for positioning, some of them will remain in their countries, but will be ready to quickly arrive on the spot if necessary. “Moscow has repeatedly stressed that Russia will never attack any of NATO countries. According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, NATO is well aware of Moscow's lack of plans to attack anyone, but simply use the pretext to place more equipment and battalions near the Russian borders. Moscow has repeatedly expressed concern about NATO build-up in Europe.