BRUSSELS — NATO defense ministers will discuss a joint response to Russia’s ever-increasing missile buildup in Europe during a Feb. 12-13 summit in Brussels, according to the 29-nation alliance’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
During a pre-summit conference at NATO headquarters on Feb. 11, the bloc’s top official said that following the ultimate breakdown of the key Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019, Russia continued posing a threat by deploying new 9M729 missiles (NATO code SSC-8), as well as numerous other missile systems, both nuclear and conventional.
“We have to understand that the SSC-8 missiles and also the other new missiles, partly already deployed and partly under development, like, for instance, the (advanced hypersonic glide vehicle) Avangard,” Stoltenberg asserted.
“They are part of a broader pattern we have seen in Russia over several years, with heavy investments in new, modern military capabilities, nuclear and conventional, new modern missiles.”
According to the secretary general, the alliance has already launched its reaction to Russia’s threatening buildup.
“We have, for the first time in our history, deployed combat-ready troops to the eastern part of the Alliance. We have increased our presence in the air, on land and at sea,” the official also said.
“And we are investing in new, modern capabilities, including in air defense systems and missile defense. So air and missile defense is one of the strands. We are now looking into what more we can do. We are also looking into conventional capabilities, exercises, but also arms control.
“Because we strongly believe that the best answer to this is to have effective arms control, to make sure that we avoid a new, big arms race. It is dangerous and it’s costly. But as long as Russia does not respect existing agreements, like the INF agreement, then, of course, there is no way that we can maintain that treaty because a treaty that is only respected on one side doesn’t keep us safe.”
But at the same time, he also added, NATO would not simply mirror Russia in pursuing a missile stockpile race in the continent.
“We have no intention of deploying new nuclear land-based weapon systems in Europe, but we have to make sure that we maintain a credible deterrence and defense, also, in a world without the INF treaty and with more Russian missiles.”
Apart from that, the new ministerial summit expects to have NATO’s relations with Moscow and Kyiv in its agenda — and welcome Ukraine’s Defense Minister Andriy Zagordnyuk “to review the country’s reforms and NATO support.”
“There will be a breakfast hosted by the Canadian defense minister (Harjit Sajjan) for all NATO allies,” Stoltenberg said.
“And then we will meet with the Ukrainian defense minister and discuss the importance of continuing the reform process. But also, of course, express our strong support to Ukraine – political support, practical support – and, of course, support for the efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict (with Russia).”
