NATO leaders credited the failure to send Berlin’s promised tanks to Ukraine. What was supposed to be the day of determination turned out to be a day of hesitation with yet another postponement of military aid to Kyiv. However, Western tanks are “not the silver bullet” against Russia, said the commander of allied forces in Europe, US General Christopher Cavoli. In any case, the military added, “there needs to be a balance between all weapon systems.”
The Italian-American, who grew up in Rome, will lead the new NATO army in Europe
The Russian threat
“If the Russians are fighting with tanks, the Ukrainians need them too,” NATO Military Committee chief Admiral Rob Bauer told reporters after the meeting of senior Alliance Atlantica officers held in Brussels. Whatever the outcome of the war, Bauer added: “We all agree that the Russians will most likely have the same ambitions even if they lose.” And that’s why a possible withdrawal of Moscow soldiers from Ukraine “won’t make the threat go away,” Bauer warned. In fact, he added, Russia will try to “rebuild” and even “improve” its military system and “learn from this conflict.” Hence the change of strategy of the “Atlanticians”.
Cold War atmosphere
“For many years, NATO has focused on crisis management. Now we are returning to the original role of collective defense and this has profound consequences,” General Cavoli said. “National military plans – he continued – will be realigned and integrated with those of NATO and all allies will have a common agenda. This approach will guide our operations, our attitude, our activities, our investments, and initiate changes in command structures,” the general added. In short, times have changed. For many years the Atlantic Alliance was able to neglect the armed forces of other countries in order to devote itself to “crises” such as the fight against terrorism, but now NATO is returning to its original task: the defense of the Allied countries (implied: by foreign forces, Russia in prime).
The next offensive
Looking back on the current war, Bauer warned that the most likely scenario is that a new offensive against Ukraine will begin in the spring. “We don’t know for sure,” he warned, “but it’s based on the assumption that if the Russians haven’t changed their strategic goals, there will most likely be a new offensive in the spring.” And so on. Ukrainians need to prepare for this,” concluded the senior NATO official.