NATO outlines plan how to respond to open confrontation with Russia

This is reported by Reuters.

For the first time since the Cold War, NATO is preparing a plan in case of an armed attack on the Alliance. For a long time, the bloc did not see the need to develop large-scale defense plans because it was fighting small wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and did not feel threatened by Russia.

But now NATO wants to plan everything in advance before it faces an equal enemy, the agency writes.

“The fundamental difference between crisis management and collective defense is this: It is not we but our adversary who determines the timeline," said Admiral Rob Bauer, one of NATO's top military officials. "We have to prepare for the fact that conflict can present itself at any time.”

The Alliance is also expected to provide guidance to countries on how to modernize their forces and logistics.

“Allies will know exactly what forces and capabilities are needed, including where, what and how to deploy,” said NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg. 

• According to Politico, the US is considering the possibility of the war in Ukraine turning into a frozen conflict.