NATO Military Chiefs To Discuss Deterring Russia In Brussels Meeting - Pentagon

Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. John Dunford and military chiefs from 28 other NATO members are meeting in Brussels this week to examine alliance troop deployments and discuss deterrence missions against Russia, the Joint Chiefs said in a press release on Wednesday

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th January, 2019) Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. John Dunford and military chiefs from 28 other NATO members are meeting in Brussels this week to examine alliance troop deployments and discuss deterrence missions against Russia, the Joint Chiefs said in a press release on Wednesday.

"Defense officials said the chiefs will examine all the operations in which alliance forces are participating, including those in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo," the release said. "They will discuss alliance assurance and deterrence missions aimed at demonstrating alliance unity in the face of Russian adventurism."

Participants will also discuss strategic developments, forthcoming NATO military strategy, future changes in the alliance's alliance command structure changes and the NATO readiness initiative.

The readiness initiative involves a NATO commitment to have, by 2020, 30 battalions; 30 air squadrons; and 30 naval combat vessels ready to use within 30 days, according to NATO.

The initiative is part of a NATO military buildup in Europe in response to tensions between the alliance and Russia that surfaced after voters in Crimea chose to rejoin Russia in a 2014 referendum.

The alliance has tripled the size of the NATO Response Force to around 40,000 troops, deployed four multinational battle groups to the Baltic States and Poland, increased its presence in the Black Sea region, and set up a number of small headquarters to link national and NATO forces, according to the NATO website.