40,000 soldiers are transferred to the eastern flank - Strong warning against the use of chemical weapons - Defense against nuclear weapons activated
Big special NATO summit in Brussels! The most crucial signal: We stand up for each other and, if in doubt, defend the Alliance's territory.
Because: The former Soviet republics in the East fear that they could next be targeted by Kremlin tyrant Vladimir Putin (69), the Russian dictator should not see the fact that NATO is not intervening in the Ukraine war with its soldiers as a weakness and thus as an invitation to attack alliance countries.
The DOUBLING of NATO soldiers on the eastern flank is intended to convey this determination for potential Defense in a tough manner.
Forty thousand new troops will be sent to Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Slovakia. Another 40,000 soldiers are already in Poland and the three Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.
In addition, for the first time, three French nuclear submarines are at sea simultaneously, reports the newspaper "Télégramme." Usually, only one of the ships is on constant patrol in the Atlantic.
NATO boss Jens Stoltenberg (63) said that the Alliance had activated the Defense against possible Russian attacks with chemical, biological or even nuclear weapons. For the first time ever!
"The use of chemical weapons would be a serious violation of international law and would have serious consequences," Stoltenberg said. He expressed concern that Russia has accused Ukraine of using chemical or biological weapons.
"We've seen before that this way of blaming others is actually a way to create an excuse to do the same thing yourself," Stoltenberg said on Thursday.
"There is also a risk that people in NATO countries could be affected, for example, through infection or the spread of chemical substances," warned the alliance boss. For example, if chemical bombs were used in Ukraine, poison clouds could also reach NATO territory.
The question in the room: Would that be considered an attack on NATO?
Heads of state warn of "serious consequences."
In the summit's final declaration, the heads of state made it clear: "Any use of chemical or biological weapons by Russia would be unacceptable and would have serious consequences."
Stoltenberg announced that Ukraine should also be equipped to defend itself against weapons of mass destruction. This included material for uncovering such attacks and training in decontamination and crisis management.
Meanwhile, the US government is having security experts examine scenarios of how NATO could react to further Russian escalations. The so-called "Tiger Team" is considering options if Putin advances into NATO territory to attack convoys with weapons and aid supplies for Ukraine, the "New York Times" reported on Wednesday.
Background to the deliberations: The Kremlin chief may be so frustrated with his lack of military progress in Ukraine that he wants to warn the West not to intervene.