NATO prepares “Schengen military space”

Germany offered it NATO is establishing and hosting a new command for transporting troops and materials within Europe. Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen confirmed at a meeting of the alliance in Brussels relevant plans.

“German has offered to serve as a framework nation, and others are very grateful for”, the conservative CDU politician said. NATO should be able to deliver its troops quickly in “times tension or crisis”. But the Federal Republic speaks the “at the heart of Europe” and “experience on the topic of logistics and support”.

Kiln-Bonn é region possible for Command

Where exactly the central logistics Quaarter will be built and how many soldiers will perform the service there, this has not been finally decided. The favourite is considered the Klin-Bonn region, German news agency dpa has learned. The German Armed Forces Base and the Bundeswehre Armed Forces Office still hold their location.

With the strengthening of its command structure and the armed forces, NATO primarily reacts to Russia's policy, perceived as aggressive politics. Since the Ukraine crisis and Russia's annexation of Crime, NATO has markedly increased the presence of its troops in Eastern Europe. It now adapts its command structure to accelerate the transfer of troops from the US to Europe and within Europe.

These facilities have been significantly reduced under the policy of enlargement in recent decades. Of the several dozen central NATO quartet plants, only seven remain today. The number of personnel has dropped from far more than 20,000 soldiers to about 66,000.

Doubts in Response

In a classified NATO report, military officials have recently voiced doubts whether the Alliance would be able currently to respond adequately and quickly to an unexpected Russian military attack. Concerns are raised primarily on the state of roads and railway lines that can be used for military goals in the East, and primarily on bureaucratic barriers to transport troops and equipment.

We need a “Military Schengen”, von der Leyen said in Brussels. When in case of crisis and tension you need to move troops at large distances within Europe, then this should be well planned and function at great speed and efficiency. ”

Alongside Germany it is thought that another command will build the US, to better secure transport routes between North America and Europe over the Atlantic. Here's to protecting sea routes and protecting sensitive infrastructure. In Atlantic for example, there are cables to transport internet and communications data. /DW