NATO chief spotlights alliance's boost in defense spending, forces

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg recently trumpeted the increase in NATO defense spending, reversing course after years of decreases, following Russia’s actions in Georgia and Ukraine.

“Our estimates for 2016 show a further increase across NATO’s European allies and Canada,” Stoltenberg said. “These are only estimates, but they are encouraging. After many years of going in the wrong direction, we are starting to go into the right direction.”

Stoltenberg said NATO has tripled the size of its Response Force, which now encompasses 40,000 troops, and will deploy four multinational battlions in the Baltic states and Poland. The core of the Response Force is a new, 5,000-troop-strong Spearhead Force that can be ready to move in days.

 

“National governments and parliaments have worked very hard to update procedures and remove hurdles, and we have made significant progress,” Stoltenberg said. “Last month, the Spearhead Force conducted an exercise which showed how far we have come; 1,000 troops and 400 military vehicles moved from Spain to Poland -- within four days. We will continue to work to improve freedom of movement for our troops and equipment because when a crisis emerges, speed can make a difference.”