Ukraine conflict: NATO defence ministers agree new regional defence plan for summit approval

NATO defence ministers' meeting in Brussels on 15–16 June agreed on a new package of regional defence plans for approval by the alliance's 11–12 July Vilnius summit. (NATO)

NATO defence ministers' meeting in Brussels on 15–16 June agreed on a new package of regional defence plans designed to substantially boost allies' military high readiness and return them, at least partially, to Cold War-era territorial defence assignments. Its final approval will be given by allied leaders during NATO's 11–12 July Vilnius summit.

A year in the making, the package will “fully connect” allies' collective defence “with the planning for our forces, capabilities, and command and control”, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters after the meeting.

The regional defence package will hinge on maintaining 300,000 allied troops at high readiness – deploying within 30 days' notice – with “substantial” air and maritime backup capabilities, according to Stoltenberg. Allies will soon hold their first force generation conference to begin designating the troops, which NATO said needs to be completed by the end of 2023.

The package of plans includes a new model for NATO's Integrated Air and Missile Defence that will “enable more allies to use air assets and move them around or combine them [with other allies' assets] as needed” in response to threats, a senior NATO official told reporters on 15 June. “It is more obvious now that Russia might be willing to cross the line into open conflict [with NATO], so that model and a lot of air and maritime capabilities are crucial.”