NATO is planning “land corridors” that would allow U.S. and other allied forces to reach the front lines more quickly in the event of a widespread ground war between Europe and Russia.
The move comes after NATO leaders earlier this year warned Western governments to prepare for a full-scale war with Russia within the next 20 years.
The newly established military highway would see U.S. troops disembark at one of five designated ports, then deploy along pre-arranged routes depending on how a potential attack by Moscow unfolds, NATO officials said. Telegraph.
The new route would expand existing arrangements that have been in place since a summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, last year saw the alliance agree to deploy 300,000 troops at full capacity.
Under the current plan, US troops would land in a Dutch port and then be transported by rail through Germany to Poland. In the event of Russia invading the NATO ally, US troops would assemble in Rotterdam before heading east, according to the media.
Now the allies are also preparing to change the entry point for these troops in case Russia attacks the Netherlands or destroys a Nordic port.
Another plan being developed would see U.S. troops arrive at an Italian port and travel overland through Slovenia and Croatia to Hungary’s border with Ukraine.
Troops could also be sent to ports in Greece or Turkey before passing through Bulgaria and Romania to reach the allied eastern part of the country.
Additional plans call for troops to arrive at ports in the Balkans, Norway, Sweden and Finland.
“Everything will be built so that there is the resilience that is needed: robustness, reserves, redundancy,” Lt. Gen. Alexander Solfrank, commander of Joint Security Assistance Command (JSEC), told The Telegraph about the plans.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has stepped up his rhetoric in recent days after the United States and Germany gave approval for Ukraine to use weapons to attack several targets on Russian territory.
Putin warned on Wednesday that Russia could provide its allies with long-range weapons to use against the West, and suggested it would use nuclear weapons if Russian authority was threatened.
