(Paris) NATO does not plan to deploy reinforcements to Sweden and Finland when these two countries have joined the Atlantic alliance, given their military effectiveness, its deputy secretary general, Mircea Geoana, said on Tuesday.
Posted at 12:31 p.m.
“We do not plan to have an additional presence in the two countries, they have formidable national forces. They are able to defend themselves,” he said in a telephone interview with AFP.
Such a deployment had been waved like a red rag by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the time of the accession of these two countries decided urgently after the Russian aggression against Ukraine.
“If Finland and Sweden want it, let them join. It’s their business”, but “in the event of the deployment of military contingents and military infrastructure there, we will be forced to respond symmetrically and create the same threats”, he warned last week.
“We do not currently intend to have NATO bases in these two countries, because they are countries of very high military and strategic maturity”, explains Mr. Geoana.
The Atlantic alliance launched their integration process on Tuesday, which must be validated by the parliaments of the thirty member countries. With a big question mark on Turkey, which conditions its support on changes in Stockholm and Helsinki vis-à-vis the Kurdish militants fought by Ankara.
“We hope to have the process completed quickly,” said Mr. Geoana, refusing to give a more precise timetable.
“A lot of countries have already started the procedure, I believe that the ratification will follow the same path” and be quick, he declared, in unison with Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg who indicated on Tuesday that he was counting “on the allies for rapid ratification”.
“Active concern”
Asked about NATO’s support for Ukraine attacked by Russia since February 24, he welcomed the mobilization of member countries and allies, but recognizes an “active concern” about the sustainability of material support in arms and ammunition.
The “Ukrainian Defense Contact Group”, responsible for reviewing equipment needs, “is working very well”, he said. But “there is of course the problem of stocks in the allied countries”.
The capacities of several countries, especially European ones, are limited and the industrial devices are not necessarily calibrated for a sustained effort, while the war seems to be a long term one.
“We hope that the industry can have the capacity to provide the necessary equipment, it is a subject of active concern, consultation, creative solution”, declared the Romanian official.
“There is an effort to increase capacity and creativity on the part of suppliers and it is working very well so far,” he said, assuring that Western countries were ready to support Ukraine in the duration.
At the Madrid summit at the end of June, everyone was aware of the need “to have strategic patience”, he said, pointing to “a long-term unity in support of Ukraine” while some observers warn against a wear and tear on public opinion and on the financial and industrial capacities of Western countries.
Asked about Mr Stoltenberg’s future as head of the organisation, Mircea Geoana said the matter had been postponed, although he admitted that the future of NATO’s leadership had been discussed before the war.
“The Secretary General and his entire team are monitoring” the situation caused by the conflict, he assured.