Iran Press/ Europe: The NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg announced Monday, ahead of a gathering of NATO leaders in Madrid on Tuesday, that the alliance will increase the size of its rapid reaction forces from 40,000 to 300,000 troops, and that more troops will be sent to the member countries bordering Russia.
Of the NATO's priorities — set to be outlined in the Strategic Concept, a document seeing its first update since 2010 — Stoltenberg said Russia will no longer be characterized as a strategic partner, but as "the most significant and direct threat to our security." For the first time, China will be addressed as a challenger to the alliance's security interests.
The document will "also cover our evolving approach to...terrorism, cyber and hybrid" threats, Stoltenberg said. He outlined forthcoming changes to the alliance's capabilities, including more pre-positioned equipment and supplies.
"Together, this constitutes the biggest overhaul of our collective deterrence and defense since the Cold War," the NATO chief said, adding that NATO investments are set to increase across its membership for the eighth consecutive year.
Allies will agree on an additional comprehensive assistance package for Ukraine and put in place a plan to transition its forces from Soviet-era equipment to "modern NATO equipment," he said.
The nearly eightfold increase comes amid Moscow's continuing special military operation in Ukraine, where Russian forces have pushed deeper into the eastern Donbas region and are poised to make additional gains, the Military Times reported.
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