Spotlight: NATO decides to strengthen security in eastern, southern flank

During the two-day Warsaw Summit, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) took a series of decisions aimed at increasing security both in its eastern and southern flank.

The second day of the Summit focused on the southern flank security, and included decision on support for EU anti-human trafficking mission, counteracting the Islamic State (IS) and terrorism.

NATO will provide more support for its partner countries in counteracting extremism, an example of which is sending airborne warning and control AWACS planes to provide support for the anti-IS coalition and commencing military training for the soldiers in Iraq.

The AWACS planes will fly over international and Turkish airspace. Meanwhile, talks with Turkey are being conducted regarding the expansion of the Alliance activity in this region.

NATO will also "increase its cooperation with Jordan to establish a stable island in this region and ensure efficient fight against the Islamic State", according to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

For the sake of NATO's southern flank security, the Alliance will also increase support for anti-IS coalition, train military forces and launch capacity-building program in Iraq. The main goal is to ensure local forces are capable of maintaining peace and safety.

Another important step is the launch of new NATO operation "Sea Guardian" on the Mediterranean Sea.

It will be based on "Active Endeavour" mission held in the Strait of Gibraltar region, aimed at protecting civil vessels from terrorist attacks.

The mission against terrorists will also support the EU "Sophia" operation against human trafficking, commenced by the EU in summer 2015, as a result of which, thousands of castaways have been rescued so far and dozens were arrested.

NATO also decided to extend its Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan after 2016, continue to train, advise and aid the security forces in Afghanistan. Moreover, NATO allies have promised at the summit to fund Afghan forces about 1 billion U.S. dollars annually over the next three years.

The second day also brought the confirmation of NATO's support for Ukraine, its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The first session of the North Atlantic Council on Friday brought decisions of strengthening NATO's eastern flank in Poland and Baltic states, one element of a more comprehensive adaptation of NATO deterrence and defense.

Four multinational battalions are to be deployed in four host countries, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland, led by respectively Canada, Germany, Britain and the United States. Apart from a thousand men battalion, the headquarters of American Armored Brigade will be located in Poland. Another 150 soldiers will be sent to the country by Britain.

On the same day, the first day of the Summit, NATO also regarded cyberspace as a new operational domain and acknowledged the initial operational readiness of the anti-missile shield.

Acknowledging the initial operational readiness of the anti-missile shield in fact means that NATO can officially take over control over the component of the missile defense system, located in Romania (Aegis Ashore). The system is aimed at efficient protection and reacting to the threats from outside Europe.

The Alliance also pledged to strengthen its collective defensive in all of the fields, including increasing their cybernetic protection and information exchange. Endit