The plan is yet to be ratified by US Congress. As evident in details disclosed by today, the endeavour is quite to the tune of what we have heard before. US units arrive in Europe, to participate in exercises; NATO infrastructure and facilities needed to receive troops get a boost; probably, US warships will be sighted on seas near here. The plan includes closer military cooperation with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine not belonging to NATO.
Upon arrival in Warsaw, Mr Obama demonstratively spoke to the backdrop of US fighter planes and his overall aim seemed to be reassurance of US explicit dedication to do its ally duty – the rock-solidness of NATO collective defence. That an attack against a single member state means a firm response from all at once – that’ll be the main deterrence towards Russia or any other player interested in putting our alliance to the test. Nothing new in this restatement of Article 5; even so, somebody obviously needed to hear it. For as soon as this goes unmentioned for a while, public space develops headlines à la «Who would die for Narva?». Which make absolutely no sense. Not difficult for us to find as little-known spots in North America, regarding which we might then ask how any German, Brit or Californian might be willing to lay down his life for a small town in Wisconsin, or Saskatchewan.