NATO will need 35 to 50 additional brigades to fully implement its new defense plans against a potential Russian attack, a source within the military alliance told Reuters. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the source declined to provide more details about the plans, which are classified. A brigade consists of 3,000 to 7,000 troops, so creating 35 to 50 new brigades would pose a significant challenge for the military alliance.
This challenge is underscored by NATO’s serious demonstration of strength against the threat of a Russian attack following the 2022 aggression against Ukraine. A source told Reuters that Germany alone would need to quadruple its defense capacities. At last year’s summit in Vilnius, NATO leaders agreed that the alliance should draft its first major defense plans in more than three decades, and officials are working to translate these documents into concrete military requirements.
NATO leaders are expected to advance these plans in Washington this week at the summit marking the 75th anniversary of the transatlantic security alliance. Asked for comment, a NATO official said that the alliance’s planners have identified “detailed requirements for troops and weapons necessary for the defense of the alliance.”
“Missile and air defense, long-range weapons, logistics, and large-scale ground maneuver formations are among the priorities,” the source stated. “NATO is likely to set targets for more necessary capabilities as we develop our forces to implement plans and counter the threats we face. We are confident that our deterrent capabilities are and will remain strong.”
The German Ministry of Defense declined to comment on NATO’s future plans, citing their classified nature. It said all allies have been asked to coordinate with NATO regarding capability requirements, and these efforts will be detailed next year.
It is unclear which NATO allies will form these additional 35 to 50 brigades. The troops may be formed from other parts of the armed forces, new soldiers may be recruited, or NATO members might take a combined approach.
Air defense is another segment identified by military planners as lacking, as the war in Ukraine has demonstrated the importance of these systems for the protection of critical civilian and military infrastructure.
Such systems would be especially important for Germany as a major logistical hub and central area for any potential conflict with Russia. Germany had 36 “Patriot” air defense units when it was a NATO border state during the Cold War and even relied on additional support from NATO allies. Today, German forces have been reduced to nine “Patriot” units after gifting three to Ukraine following the Russian invasion in 2022, and the government has begun ordering additional “Patriot” and other defense systems to increase capabilities.
Ground-based air defense systems are built to detect and neutralize enemy missiles.
After the Cold War, many NATO allies reduced the number of air defense units to reflect the assessment that they would only face a limited number of countries with missile threats, such as Iran. This perception changed dramatically with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, highlighting the reductions in air defense armament among NATO members.
The agreement on the first major defense plans since the Cold War, known by NATO as “regional plans,” marked a significant shift in the approach of the Western military alliance, which for decades did not see the need to draft massive defense plans, believing that post-Soviet Russia no longer posed an existential threat.
Prepared by: Rexhep Maloku/KALLXO.com
