Baltic Sea as a “NATO lake” and limits to Erdogan romance: NATO Summit delivers blows to Russia

Türkiye called off its objection to NATO membership of Finland and Sweden. The Alliance is enforced with two fully interoperable fighting-capable nations in strategic locations. With the plans of Helsinki to procure 64 F-35As, it is turning into a powerful deterrence force up North. NATO will increase its intelligence capabilities, including those related to the Kola peninsula where the Russian Northern Fleet is stationed, particularly nuclear subs armed with ICBMs. Russia will face more challenges to its Arctic strategy, particularly the militarization of the region aimed at the dominant position to establish a monopoly on the Northern Sea Route. The Baltic Sea will be turned into a de facto NATO "lake," making vulnerable Russia’s sea lines of communications and its ability to support its Kaliningrad exclave. The latter became troublesome for Russia after the EU closed its airspace and Lithuania imposed restrictions on certain goods transferred to and from the exclave via rail. From now on, the Baltic states will reduce their geographical vulnerability. With NATO's new Force Posture, increased from 40,000 to 300,000, and revision of war plans, Russia is losing its hypothetical advantage of seizing the Baltic states (a 2016 RAND study concluded that it would take Russia 60 hours to reach the outskirts of Tallinn and Riga). Ankara no longer has the arms embargo by Finland and Sweden. Türkiye agreed on a modus operandi regarding the Kurdish issue and mended its relations with the US. Now, Türkiye will restore access to badly needed defense articles and services, particularly the modernization of F-16s, and, quite possibly, it will solve the issue of procuring more F-16s and carrying on with the contract for F-35s. The rapprochement with the US and consensus with the rest of its Allies that Russia is “the most significant and direct threat to Allies’ security” set the limit for Ankara’s alignment with Moscow. Along with losing the Baltic region and beyond to NATO, Russia got what it deserved – a recognition that it is “the most significant and direct threat to Allies’ security and to peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area.” Undoubtedly, the Kremlin propaganda machine will turn this statement into proof of “the aggressive” nature of the Alliance. However, the Russian propaganda would never mention that its illegal annexation of Crimea changed the tide of the US forces leaving the continent and forced European nations to stop voluntarily pacifying their militaries and increase their defense expenditures. Russia's all-out war precipitated the considerable reinforcement of the Eastern Flank and the partners outside the Allied umbrella. Rapid reaction forces are increased by almost eight times to 300,000. Proving that “the transatlantic bond between our nations is indispensable to our security,” the US has made significant steps to strengthen the security of its European Allies:

• The first permanent US forces on the Eastern Flank will be V Corps HQ Forward Command Post.
• An additional rotational US Brigade Combat Team will be positioned in Romania.
• Enhanced rotational deployments in the Baltics will include armored vehicles, aviation, air defense, and special operations forces.
• The US will add two more destroyers stationed in Italy, bringing the firepower to six, and deploy two squadrons of F-35 aircraft to the UK.
• Also, an unspecified quantity of the US air defense systems and other enablers will be deployed to Germany and Italy.

China made its way to NATO’s sight in a much softer form than had been anticipated.

“China is not an adversary, but of course, we need to take into account the consequences of our security when we see China investing heavily in a new modern military capacity,” stated the Secretary-General.

It seems that Germany and France are willing to try their luck by applying to China the cautious approach that had failed with Russia. China is not named either as a competitor or an adversary but has been described through its opaque aims and hybrid actions that “undercut the rules-based international order run counter to our values and interests” and “harm Alliance security.” China-Russia relations are also mentioned in the Strategy. Yet, pragmatically, NATO expressed its openness “to constructive engagement with the PRC, including to build reciprocal transparency, with a view to safeguarding the Alliance’s security interests.” It is not yet clear to what extent the Alliance would be a part of the US Indo-Pacific strategy. But the presence of the leaders of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea for the first time in NATO history hints that its role is going to be substantial. A strong, independent Ukraine was defined as “vital for the stability of the Euro-Atlantic area.”

Zelenskyy appealed to NATO leaders: “we need security guarantees, and you must find a place for Ukraine in the common security space. Either there is urgent and sufficient for Ukraine’s victory assistance or Russia’s postponed war with you.”

“Ukraine can count on us for as long as it takes,” replied the Secretary-General. So, NATO launched an updated Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine, a mechanism to provide non-lethal assistance (secure communications, fuel, and medical supplies, equipment to counter mines and anti-drone systems), and support for defense reforms in Ukraine. There would also be more training for Ukrainian forces on more modern weapons systems provided by NATO nations but beyond NATO frames. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said at the NATO Madrid summit that the allies will continue to provide Ukraine with financial means, humanitarian aid, and weapons “for as long as it is necessary to enable Ukraine to defend itself.” So, the UK will provide another £1 billion of military support to Ukraine that will go towards capabilities including “sophisticated air defense systems, uncrewed aerial vehicles, innovative new electronic warfare equipment and thousands of pieces of vital kit for Ukrainian soldiers.” Norway will replenish the UK stock with 3 MLRS that require modernization so that the UK might send its own to Ukraine. In addition, Italy is reported to send howitzers to Ukraine and the Czech Republic some Bivoj UAVs. Therefore, the process of providing Ukraine with long-range capabilities continues, although not as fast as expected. It’s still unclear whether, in the foreground of the reassured East Flank countries, some NATO members actually got the urgency with which Ukraine requires assistance. “You are now adopting the Strategy of the Alliance… for the next ten years. [it is ] 126 days of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine… We don’t have ten years. Are you really sure that you have that [ten years]?” President Zelensky said in his statement.

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