The North Atlantic Alliance intends to enhance the battle readiness of its troops due to the possible threats from Russia, as Welt am Sonntag informed on May 2, Deutche Welle reports.
It is expected that NATO has to be ready to deploy around 30,000 service members in the conflict zone within 30 days in a crisis situation.
The special units of rapid deployment can support the NATO Response Force (NRF) if necessary. The latter comprises 20,000 soldiers who are annually sent on a rotation system for service by the NATO member stated.
It is noted that the plans are to be agreed in details at the level of the Defence Ministers of the Alliance member states at the meeting in Brussels on June 11-12.
The Alliance is going to hold Trident Juncture drills, the biggest one since the times of the Cold War. It is expected that they will take place in autumn 2018. About 45, 000 soldiers of the NATO-countries will participate in them as well as the dozens of the vessels, aircraft involved in the maneuvers near Norway's coast for the responding to the 'imitated threat'.
Russia also intends to hold the large-scale drills 'East 2018' in August-September. It is planned to involve the forces and equipment of Eastern and Central military districts, Nord fleet.
On May 31, Russian – NATO Council had a meeting at the level of the Ambassadors in Brussels, where they discussed the situation in Ukraine, Russia’s military activities and upcoming training.
