NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana outlined that deterrence and defense decisions will be set at the Vilnius summit on July 11-12, elevating air defense to a higher plane. He spoke during a NATO Parliamentary Assembly gathering in Luxembourg, emphasizing the strategic importance of air defense within the alliance’s evolving multi-regional plans.
Geoana stressed that the lessons from the Ukraine conflict, including Russia’s capabilities and the demonstrated effectiveness of Patriot air defense systems, push all alliance members to intensify their efforts. He affirmed that NATO will pursue expanded actions in this domain as part of a broader modernization of deterrence and defense capabilities.
The deputy secretary general noted ongoing work on the air defense system and the anticipation of adopting fresh deterrence and defense strategies. As these new plans are implemented, the alliance aims to achieve a markedly higher level of air defense readiness and coverage.
Geoana mentioned that several NATO allies, among them Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, are preparing relevant proposals to strengthen regional defense architectures and interoperability.
A separate report indicated that NATO is advancing a comprehensive defense framework in response to potential conflict with the Russian Federation, reflecting a significant shift in alliance posture since the end of the Cold War.
Rob Bauer, the head of the NATO Military Committee, underlined the necessity for preparedness, noting that a confrontation with Russia could unfold at any moment and that readiness remains a core priority for alliance forces.