NATO’s commander responsible for defense planning has announced that an important step has been taken to strengthen the alliance’s force structure. The alliance, which consists of 32 countries, is asking member countries to increase their military capability targets by 30%. It is stated that this goal is part of a series of strategic steps aimed at further strengthening the security of allies. NATO Allied Commander Transformation Admiral Pierre Vandier stated that these changes will strengthen the alliance’s force structure and contribute to the creation of a more flexible and effective defense infrastructure in the long term, in a statement he made at the Paris Defense and Strategy Forum on March 12.
Capability Targets: For a Strong Future for NATO
Vandier stated that the new capability targets set by NATO aim to significantly increase the current military capacity of member countries. These targets include creating capabilities such as a localized brigade or air and naval group, rather than providing a certain number of soldiers or equipment. The admiral emphasized that with this approach, allies will have a more flexible and mobile military force structure.
This proposed increase represents a huge gap, as it leaves a 30% deficit in meeting the allies’ current goals. Vandier said, “We are in a time when everything is important, and we lack everything. So we have to be very smart,” and that it is vital to fill this gap. In this context, it was emphasized that NATO’s offensive weapons and deterrent forces in particular need to be strengthened in order to achieve a stronger defense capacity.
US Contribution to NATO and the Strengthening of Europe
Increasing NATO’s defense capabilities is of critical importance, especially in terms of the U.S. role in Europe. Vandier stated that a situation such as the U.S. withdrawing from the alliance was “very speculative,” and emphasized that the U.S. administration still sees NATO as very important and that Europe needs to carry more of its own defense burden. It was stated that the capacity targets set for 2025 were accepted, but that the U.S. was expected to continue to make greater contributions in Europe.
US President Donald Trump has warned that European countries should pay more for defence, and that security guarantees could be at risk for countries that do not spend enough. The fact that one-third of NATO members in Europe missed the target of spending 2% of GDP on defence last year shows how important these targets are.
New Capabilities and Strategic Autonomy
Admiral Vandier stated that the importance of technology in NATO’s future strategies is increasing. New generation technologies, especially drones, artificial intelligence, space-based imaging and robotics, have great potential to strengthen Europe’s defense infrastructure. It was noted that most of these technologies are solutions obtained by adapting developments in the civilian field to the military field. For example, it was stated that satellite sensors that measure carbon emissions in space or detect forest fires could also be used in military applications.
Vandier stressed that increasing threats in space in particular are a major concern for NATO and that Europe must increase its capacity in this area. It was stated that NATO must take urgent steps to strengthen its defense capacity in the space domain, considering the military capabilities of Russia and China in space.
Objectives and Challenges in NATO's Defense Planning
NATO’s new goals are aimed not only at increasing the number of military capabilities, but also at increasing their strategic efficiency. Admiral Vandier emphasized the importance of not only the number of equipment and soldiers in restructuring the force structure, but also the effective integration of these forces. For example, it is stated that if 20% of an ally’s mechanized brigade consists of unmanned aerial vehicles, this force will be much more lethal and effective.
But acquiring these new capabilities will not be easy. Some enablers are easy to establish, but others require complex, long-term investments and commitments, Vandier said. He added that this process will take time and that some countries will need to make larger investments to have the capacity to provide strategic autonomy.
A Critical Step for NATO's Future
NATO’s new defense planning is seen as an important step in making the alliance’s defense capacity stronger and more durable. The member countries’ setting goals to increase their military capabilities will make NATO’s defense force more effective against future threats. However, this process should be supported not only by an increase in military hardware and personnel, but also by technological investments and strategic autonomy.
Achieving these goals will enable NATO members to work together to form a stronger alliance and will be an important milestone in ensuring global security.
