NATO’s chief warned on Tuesday not to underestimate the power of Russia’s military, especially after the recent mutiny by Wagner Group mercenaries.
Jens Stoltenberg expressed that during the upcoming NATO leaders’ meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania on July 11-12, the alliance may consider enhancing its strength and preparedness in order to confront Russia and its ally Belarus.
Stoltenberg Emphasizes NATO’s Commitment to Ally Protection
Stoltenberg emphasized the importance of preventing any misunderstandings in Moscow or Minsk regarding NATO’s ability to protect its allies against potential threats.
During a meeting in The Hague with eight NATO leaders, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda stated that neighboring countries would face an increased risk if the Wagner Group were to deploy its serial killers in Belarus.
Stoltenberg mentioned that it is still premature to draw conclusions about the intentions of Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin and his forces, or whether they will all end up in Belarus.
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Wagner Group Mutiny Raises Concerns for Putin’s Power
The leaders agreed that in light of the recent uprising by Wagner fighters in Russia, NATO should continue strengthening its forces along the eastern flank to dissuade Russian President Vladimir Putin from expanding the conflict further.
In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, NATO deployed multinational battle groups in Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. These forces supplemented the four groups deployed in 2017 in the Baltic states and Poland, thereby extending NATO’s presence from the Baltics to the Black Sea. Germany announced its readiness to establish a permanent military presence in Lithuania if necessary.
Although the Wagner Group mutiny lasted less than 24 hours, it represents a significant development in a series of events that pose a severe threat to Putin’s hold on power in the 16-month-long war in Ukraine.
The conflict has prompted Sweden and Finland to seek NATO membership, with Finland already becoming the alliance’s latest member.
However, Turkey’s objections are currently delaying Sweden’s membership approval. Stoltenberg stated that he plans to convene an urgent meeting in the near future to address Turkish concerns and make a final attempt to include Sweden as part of the allies during the July summit in Lithuania.
NATO requires unanimous agreement from all members for expansion. Turkey accuses Sweden of being too lenient towards groups that Ankara considers security threats, including militant Kurdish groups and individuals associated with the 2016 coup attempt.
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