NATO looks to weapons, extra troop rotations to bolster eastern flank

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday weapons positioned in Eastern European countries and extra troop rotations are to support the alliance’s already strengthened presence in the region.

Stoltenberg, speaking at a press conference in Brussels, said "pre-positioned equipment - weapons - is essential for any rapid reinforcement."

The extra forces are to be "earmarked, pre-assigned for that specific territory, meaning that they will train, they will rotate in and out, they will know the country, the territory," Stoltenberg said.

NATO already increased its military presence along its eastern flank following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, doubling its battlegroups stationed in the region from four to eight.

Germany already announced last week that it wants to increase its troop presence in Lithuania.

Stoltenberg said that final details of NATO’s longer-term response to security threats posed by Russia will be decided on at a summit of the alliance’s leaders in Madrid at the end of the month.

Also on Wednesday, Stoltenberg announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is invited to take part in a summit of the alliance’s leaders at the end of the month in Madrid.

"[Zelenksy] is, of course, welcome to come in person. If that's not possible for him, he will address us by videoconference," Stoltenberg said.

NATO’s "leaders are extremely committed to support Ukraine,” Stoltenberg continued, and to "demonstrate that solidarity not only in words but also in deeds."

Zelensky already addressed the 30 NATO heads of state and government via video-link at their last summit in March in Brussels following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Stoltenberg further announced that he expects NATO leaders to decide at the Madrid meeting on further support for Ukraine to help its military transition from Soviet-era equipment to modern western weapons.

Stoltenberg addressed the press ahead of a meeting of NATO’s defence ministers in Brussels.

The two-day meeting starting in the evening will mark the final spurt in preparations for the NATO leaders' meeting in Madrid, where the alliance plans not only to decide on its eastern reinforcement but to adopt its overall strategy for the coming years.

The ministers are also expected to continue discussions in Brussels on the alliance’s future funding, which originally started over a year ago but are again on the table after several members pledged to significantly increase their military and arms budgets following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Beforehand, on Wednesday afternoon, the US is to hold consultations of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, which coordinates arms deliveries to Ukraine.

NATO is officially not participating in the talks, to avoid being militarily involved in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, and because non-aligned countries are part of the group.

Although not on the agenda, Turkey's opposition to the Swedish and Finnish applications to join NATO is also likely to be discussed on the sidelines.

Stoltenberg said he is now less optimistic that the issue will be resolved ahead of the Madrid meeting.

"I cannot tell you exactly when, but I can only tell you that what we do in NATO is the same thing we do always when there are differences," Stoltenberg said, "and that is [to] consult, discuss, and then find a way to address concerns in a united way forward."