Nato defence ministers are planning to introduce changes in the alliance’s deterrence and defence strategy.
Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg claimed the changes were in response to a changing security environment.
He stated that the alliance will adapt its strategy to combat threats from Russia andextremist insurgencies in the south.
The Nato members have already agreed to strengthen military presence along Russia’s periphery.
The alliance seeks to protect Eastern allies from a potential Russian strike, without engaging in active military activities.
Stoltenberg said: "As long as we are firm, predictable and strong, we can also engage with Russia in political dialogue.
"We don’t seek confrontation with Russia. We do not seek a new Cold War."
Russian airstrikes in Syria invited criticism from certain Nato allies, who claimed that the strikes served as an obstacle to ceasefire and restoring peace in the region.
The airstrikes drove refugees to Nato’s ally Turkey, adding to the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
The Russian airstrikes are also considered a violation of Nato airspace.
Stoltenberg stated that increasing military presence in the East will boost allies’ defences against foreign insurgencies, and ‘send a powerful signal to deter any aggression or intimidation’.
The US plans to quadruple funding for the European Reassurance Initiative, which is said to fund ‘persistent rotational presence of air, land, and maritime forces and more training and exercises’.
The Nato ministers will also formulate ways to combat hybrid attacks, such as Russia’s strategy in Ukraine, and attempt to combine conventional military force with subversion, cyber attacks and propaganda.
Nato vows to work in close alliance with the EU to deal with a range of issues including combating cyber threats.
It is also a part of the US-led coalition’s crusade against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
Stoltenberg said. "We are actively considering the US request for Nato AWACS surveillance planes to backfill national capabilities."
Image: Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Photo: courtesy of US DOD.
