On the Most Important Decisions of NATO’s Warsaw Summit

Abstract

NATO’s Warsaw Summit decisions have been characterized by observers as a sign of renewal. Even though NATO identifies no adversaries, in the current insecure environment it was deemed necessary to reinforce defense and deterrence capabilities of the Alliance for which reason allied defense budgets have increased by 3%. Russia is seen as one of the major causes of insecurity. As a result of the summit, allies will provide for the persistent rotational forward presence of four multinational battalions in the Baltic countries and Poland, and extends the domains of warfare to include cyberspace as well. In order to reinforce NATO’s Eastern flank, Hungary operates a command and control unit. Furthermore, NATO’s engagement in defending European (maritime) borders is of key importance.