NATO member countries opened their summit in Madrid by promising to strengthen their presence on Europe’s eastern flank to levels not seen since the end of the Cold War. The first day of the meeting of the leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization will have mainly served to raise the tone against Russia and its invasion of Ukraine. Canada has promised to do its part, diplomatically by opening new embassies and militarily in Latvia — though details on that front will have to wait until later.
As soon as he arrived at the NATO summit, the American president, Joe Biden, announced that the United States would deploy a new brigade in rotation in Romania, where France leads a tactical group, and will establish a permanent headquarters in Poland, in order to to coordinate defense efforts in Eastern Europe if Russia tries to expand its operations. The Americans will also send two additional F-35 fighter squadrons to Britain and set up air defense systems in Germany and Italy. “We must make sure that NATO is ready from land, air and sea,” warned Joe Biden in the morning. “We are demonstrating that NATO is more necessary and more important than ever. »
A few hours later, Canada and Latvia signed a joint declaration which will enhance NATO’s presence in the Baltic country, which borders Russia. Canada, which leads a command of its own troops and those of nine other allied countries, will continue its operations for another five years. “And probably more,” suggested Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pabriks.
His Canadian counterpart, Anita Anand, was sparing of details at a press conference at the end of the day on Wednesday. “We will provide more troops, together with our allies. But we have to discuss [avec ces alliés] how many additional forces will be deployed by each of the ten members of the enhanced forward presence,” she said. Ditto for the equipment and the military capacities which will have to be granted to Latvia. These conversations have started, but the two ministers could not predict when they will be finished.
The objective will be to improve NATO’s presence in the country, which currently has a tactical group of 1,500 soldiers, including 700 Canadians. The deployment will reach the size of a combat-capable brigade, which typically numbers 5,000 to 6,000 personnel. Minister Pabriks said he hoped “this brigade will be ready for combat from the first moments, from the first millimeter” of an invasion – without setting a timetable.
The Latvian minister did not mince his words about the Russian imperial threat, which is at the gates of his country. “We all need to understand, and Canadians at home need to understand, that Ukraine is fighting this war for all of us. […] And if it fails, there is a great chance that Russia will wage its next war against all of us. »
Germany and the United Kingdom, which lead NATO missions in Lithuania and Estonia respectively, had also already pledged to step up their efforts there.
Support for Ukraine in all sauces
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the extension of Canada’s contribution to Latvia even before the two countries concerned publicly confirmed it. The signing of the agreement was done quickly, in the afternoon.
The Atlantic Alliance also plans to mobilize 300,000 soldiers who will be ready to deploy quickly to provide reinforcements on the ground, if necessary (there are 40,000 on the alert at present). They would be “pre-assigned” to a specific region, would familiarize themselves with the terrain, deploy equipment there in a preventive manner, so as to be able to be sent there as soon as a Russian incursion occurs. Mr. Stoltenberg had warned, at the opening of this first summit since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, that the 30 member countries – which will soon have two new partners, Sweden and Finland, as agreed on Tuesday – would agree this week in Madrid “ of the biggest overhaul of our collective defense since the end of the cold war”.
Four new embassies
Canada has also announced the opening of full embassies in Estonia and Lithuania—currently under the Latvian Embassy. The latter will be enlarged and relocated to a new building. Ambassadors will also be appointed to Slovakia and Armenia. All through an investment of $95 million. “More than ever, Canada must have eyes and ears on the ground,” argued Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky again asked NATO partners for help in the morning. Specifically air defense systems, modern weapons that do not date from the Soviet era and financial support, with Ukraine spending five billion dollars a month to defend itself.
The warning was the same as that served by others: “If Russia destroys us, it will destroy you,” he insisted.
Russia, she denounced the “aggressiveness” of NATO towards her. “The Madrid summit consolidates the course of aggressive containment of Russia by the ‘Atlantic’ bloc,” mocked Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, according to BFMTV.
However, NATO has resolutely chosen its side. The host country even invited the Kyiv Orchestra to welcome the Alliance leaders before their evening group dinner.
Still the target of 2% of GDP
In this spirit of historic response to Russia, member countries have also reiterated their commitment to spend 2% of their GDP on defence. Secretary-General Stoltenberg’s latest report said on Monday that Canada will spend 1.27% of its own this year, down from the 1.36% of GDP estimated for 2021.
“If we reduce our military spending when tensions ease, we must be able to increase it when tensions are on the rise and we live in a more dangerous world,” Mr. Stoltenberg commented.
The Canadian government argues that it has increased its defense budgets in recent years and is contributing generously to NATO efforts in Eastern Europe.
The announcement of an extension of the Canadian command in Latvia effectively sends a “strong message of continued support for NATO” which will make it possible to compensate for the “unremarkable” height of its military expenditure, reacted Robert Baines, president of the NATO. Canadian NATO Association.
The president of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, David Perry, finds it logical that Canada should concentrate its efforts in Latvia, where it is already involved. Canada will now try to convince its allies to increase their presence in the region as well and could procure a limited air defense capability, according to what Minister Anand seemed to suggest.
This report was financed thanks to the support of the Transat International Journalism Fund.The duty.