NATO Plans to Increase Number of Highly-trained Forces to 300,000 Strong

Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization ( NATO) announced Monday that member states will increase the number of highly-trained forces to "much more than 300,000" strong as they strengthen their defenses against the backdrop of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "We will strengthen our pre-emptive defenses," Stoltenberg said ahead of this week's NATO summit in Madrid. He added that the alliance will reinforce its battle groups in the eastern part of the organization to brigade levels. He affirmed that NATO will transform the Response Force and increase the number of our highly–trained forces to well over 300,000." In a related context, the Group of Seven (7G) pledged to provide continuous support to Ukraine in the face of the Russian attack, in a statement issued during its meeting at Elmau Palace in Germany.