On Tuesday 2 October, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg urged Russia to answer the Alliance’s concerns regarding its new missile system.
“After years of denials, Russia recently acknowledged the existence of a new missile system, called 9M729. Russia has not provided any credible answers on this new missile. All Allies agree that the most plausible assessment would be that Russia is in violation of the Treaty (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty). It is therefore urgent that Russia addresses these concerns in a substantial and transparent manner”, Stoltenberg explained during a press briefing ahead of the meeting of NATO defence ministers to be held in Brussels on 3 and 4 October.
He went on to explain that the Allies remain concerned about Russia’s lack of respect for its international commitments, especially the INF Treaty which “abolishes a whole category of weapons and is a crucial element of our security”. “Now this treaty is in danger because of Russia’s actions”, he said, going on to add that it was “extremely important” to ensure that Russia upholds the Treaty.
Kay Bailey Hutchison, US Ambassador, took a firmer tone. “It is now time for Russia to sit at the negotiating table and put an end to the violations”, she told the press, warning that, if the system were to become capable of delivering, the United States “would examine the capacity to destroy a missile that could hit any one of our European countries as well as America”. The question is expected to be raised by Defence Secretary James Mattis during the ministerial meeting. The nuclear planning group will be meeting on Friday morning.
Preparations for Trident Juncture exercise.
During their meeting, the ministers will also discuss the NATO Trident Juncture exercise planned for 25 October to 7 November in Norway. “This is one of our biggest exercises for years. It will involve some 45,000 participants from 31 allied and partner countries - with some 150 aircraft, 60 vessels and over 10,000 vehicles”, Stoltenberg explained. In his view, the scenario “which is fictitious but realistic” will “simulate NATO’s collective response to an armed attack against an ally” and will exert the Alliance’s ability to strengthen its troops from Europe and from the other side of the Atlantic. “The exercise is a defensive one. And it is transparent. All members of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, including Russia, have been invited to send observers”, he added.
The ministerial meeting’s agenda also covers burden-sharing, progress made in strengthening deterrence and defence, and the continued adaptation of the Alliance’s responses to conventional, hybrid and cybernetic threats.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini will also brief the Alliance on progress made as part of the EU’s defence initiatives. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)