From Wales to Warsaw and Beyond: NATO’s Strategic Adaptation to the Russian Resurgence on Europe’s Eastern Flank

Abstract

The illegal annexation of Crimea in the spring of 2014 changed dramatically security perceptions and increased the anxiety in Eastern Europe even among NATO member states. NATO reacted quickly by adopting the Readiness Action Plan, transforming the NATO Response Force, and deciding to establish command control centers, or NATO Force Integration Units (NFIUs), in six countries on its Eastern flank. In light of the forthcoming Summit in Warsaw, the author reasons that despite such significant security measures, NATO capabilities and actions are still insufficient to adequately face the current level of uncertainty and challenges on the Eastern side of Europe and to reassure its members. This article explores requirements and options in deepening the sense of security of the eastern NATO members who face Russian classical military as well as hybrid threats. The focus is on developing a two prong deterrence strategy - punishment-based and deterrence by denial, strengthening Flost Nation Support military infrastructure, streamlining operational decision making by empowering the SACEUR, and intensifying cooperation with the European Union and non-NATO Baltic counties.