Lieutenant General Alexander Sollfrank - head of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Joint Support Activation Command (JSEC), called on countries in Europe to establish a “ military Schengen” zone to allow rapid movement of troops, equipment and ammunition in the event of a conflict with Russia.
“We are running out of time. What we cannot do in peacetime will not be ready in a crisis or war,” said Alexander Sollfrank.
British and American soldiers next to NATO flags. (Photo: Sputnik)
Alexander Sollfrank, who is in charge of NATO's rotation of troops and equipment across the European continent, said that although JSEC was created to prepare for a potential war with Russia, its work is hampered by national regulations.
Under current regulations, the transport of ammunition across European borders usually requires a special permit, while the transport of large quantities of troops or equipment may require prior notification.
Mr. Alexander Sollfrank said that it is necessary to establish a "military Schengen" area to overcome these problems, similar to the Schengen agreement that allows free travel between most European Union (EU) countries.
NATO currently has 10,000 troops in eight battle groups stationed across Eastern Europe. In a statement by 2022, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg set a goal of supporting forward-deployed forces with 300,000 high-readiness reservists.
According to the plan announced by Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, 100,000 of these troops will be able to reach the battlefield within a week, while the rest will arrive a month later.
Although Russia has repeatedly warned that NATO has become a de facto party to the conflict in Ukraine by providing Kiev with weapons, training and intelligence, Moscow has said it does not want a direct military confrontation with NATO.
However, Mr. Alexander Sollfrank said that NATO must prepare itself for such a conflict. He said: "We need to be ahead, we need to be well prepared before Article 5 of the NATO Treaty is activated."
Kong Anh (Source: RT)
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