Transport & logistics
Poland is seen as Nato’s forward base for any conflict in the region. “The development of enhanced infrastructure in Poland, in particular, will contribute to strengthening deterrence,” says Bosbotinis, adding the country will be of central importance as the “hub for Nato in Eastern Europe, as the alliance develops its new force model”.
Above: US soldiers assigned to Bull Troop, 1st Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment during a training exercise in Germany in 2022.
Below: A demonstration of air assault capabilities during exercises in Mihail Kogalniceanu, Romania, in 2022.
2021 with a €1.69bn budget, building on the initial 2018 plan and broadening the scope and range of actions into new areas. “Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine confirmed the urgent need to reinforce military mobility,” the European Commission said. The initiative covers improving dual-use transport infrastructures; updating military requirements, including fuel supply chains; the development of strategic lift capabilities; and protection against risks linked to foreign direct investment in critical infrastructure, among other things. The news, however, didn’t go far enough for some. Even those in the military sphere spoke of their disappointment at the lack of ambition and funding. A Dutch government representative told Reuters the funds were “almost nothing” and would “never be enough”.
One step forward
Despite the gloom, though, there are some significant projects already underway. The recent missile strike in Poland, despite ultimately turning out to be friendly fire from Ukrainian air defence missile, nonetheless emphasised the work Nato needs to do.
At present, the principal hubs for US reinforcement, for example, are in Germany. By establishing infrastructure in Poland, Nato’s ability to respond to crises will be enhanced, more choice will exist for deployments as well as creating redundancy. To that end, Poland is investing heavily in its infrastructure. Albeit largely for civil use, the country’s Solidarity Transport Hub will integrate air, rail and road, centred around what will be Central and Eastern Europe’s largest airport. Located in the centre of the country, just outside the capital, and with an expected opening date in 2028 – as well as the two-runway airport – the development will include 2,000km of new rail and 400km of new roads. The project’s chief said the site would also play a significant military role, welcoming troops and supplies, and acting as a large tactical connections base for the movement of substantial quantities of ammunition, supplies and logistics. It’s clear that across Nato, and more importantly on the ground in Europe, significant change is needed. The way forces interoperate is increasingly under the spotlight, the understanding political leaders have of what’s happening at ground level has been questioned, and the amount of financial resource being made available is under fire. However, the reality is that, if it were needed, Nato and its European partners would work together; it may be clunky and even inefficient, but it could be done. But the one thing you can’t do is build infrastructure quickly. There’s a lot to do; projects like the one in Poland and the action plans put forward by Brussels are a good start, but that’s just what they are – a start. For now, Russia is thoroughly preoccupied in Ukraine and, even if it were to seek to act, Nato has enough assets in the region. Whether either of these will remain the case in years to come, only time will tell. Bosbotinis says Nato’s deployment of enhanced
air, ground and naval forces in the region provides flexibility and options to policymakers in the event of an incident. “The enhanced Nato presence in Eastern Europe, including US Air Force F-22s and additional F-35s, constitutes a powerful message to Moscow and is a credible deterrent,” he says. But, he warns, Russia will remain a distinct threat to European security for the foreseeable future. “While the reemergence of an ability to launch a large-scale cross-border assault will take considerable time to recover, the requirement for forward-based forces in Eastern Europe, able to respond to whatever threat may emerge, will be of critical importance.” ●
54 Defence & Security Systems International /
www.defence-and-security.com
US Department of Defense
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