According to international affairs think tank the Atlantic Council, Russia is currently equipped to overrun U.S. and NATO forces stationed across Eastern Europe and annex land before defenses are able to mobilize. While the US has made deterrence against Russia a priority in its defense strategy through a number of allocations, they are largely disconnected and do not have a coordinated battle plan that integrates intelligence, surveillance, missile defense, and long range artillery. Authored by a former NATO Supreme Allied Commander and a former Deputy Secretary General, the paper claims that “concerns have grown that a quick Russian land grab might present the Alliance with a fait accompli, dividing the Alliance and paralyzing decision-making before reinforcements could arrive.” The paper urges increased U.S. presence of the Army and Air Force in Poland as a staging area for defense of the broader region, including the Baltics, as well as a strengthened Navy presence out of Denmark. These deployments must not, however exceed agreements on “substantial combat forces,” which would provide Russia with an excuse to further strengthen its capabilities in the area.
Source: Think tank: NATO must prepare to counter a rapid Russia invasion in Europe
