NATO's defence ministers have decided to set up two new headquarters. "The command structure must change when security environment changes," said Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg after first day of a Treffensder NATO defense minister. The step is not against a particular state. " But Russia is much more specific and has invested a lot of insMilitär. "

Since end of cold War, military alliance had successively dismantled headquarters and troops, and current decision is a turnaround. After missions outside alliance, such as Balkans, Libya, and Afghanistan, NATO is now reopening to national defence.

The extended command structure provides for development of two planning and management centres. A headquarters will lead to troop redeployments within Europe. The second is to be able to control naval operations in Atlantic, in order to keep sea between USA and Europe in event of a war. Detailed plans will now be held until defence ministers meet in February. It is not clear, for example, wher one of new headquarters is located in Germany and how much additional staff is made available.

Of 33 headquarters that existed earlier, only seven are left today according to NATO information. The staff strength of headquarters decreased from 22,000 to 6,800. Now we want to increase again, because alliance no longer considers its current structure sufficient for current security situation.

"We need a command structure that can make sure that right troops are in right place-with right equipment and at right time," said Stoltenberg. Only in this way can credible deterrence be guaranteed in Europe. At same time, he made it clear that EU and private sector would also have to participate in efforts.

The civil infrastructure – roads, rail networks and airports – must meet military requirements, said Norwegian. "The national governments, private sector and European Union have key roles," said Stoltenberg. The EU external Commissioner Federica Mogherini announced in Brussels that EU Commission wanted to submit proposals by end of week on how to improve troop transport within Europe.

NATO agrees on guidelines for cyber war

In addition to building headquarters, NATO intends to use cyber against opponents in its operations in future. According to Stoltenberg, defense ministers agreed on guidelines for military hacker attacks. "Cyber will play a role in any potential military conflict in future," he said. With targeted cyberattacks, for example, propaganda pages of opponent can be crippled on Internet. However, it would also be possible to turn off entire computer or mobile networks in order to disrupt communication or power supply of military equipment.

As an example of successful use of cyber, Stoltenberg called US-led fight against terrorist militia Islamic State (IS). It regularly attacks communication and computer networks of IS fighters.

But for time being, NATO's own capabilities for cyber will not develop. They are to be provided voluntarily by Member States in case of an emergency. Cyber attacks also belong to capabilities of Bundeswehr. The troupe has been doing such attacks for years in a secretly acting unit in Rheinbach near Bonn. For example, IT soldiers could interfere with enemy's communication channels in a foreign deployment. The unit is to be increased by 2021.

Date Of Update: 09 November 2017, 12:03