Washington DC, 16 November 2016 – NATO governments must be under no illusion: Russia continues to pose a global and comprehensive threat. Allies must therefore press ahead with the implementation of measures to strengthen NATO’s collective defence and deterrence, NATO PA President Hon. Michael R. Turner (United States) argues in a new report released today.

"Deterring to Defend: NATO After the Warsaw Summit” paints a vivid picture of the scale and diversity of Russia’s global strategy from the nuclear threats directed against NATO Allies to the ongoing illegal occupation of Georgia and Ukraine, and indiscriminate air campaign in Syria. While acknowledging the important steps taken by Allied Heads of State and Government at their Summit meeting in Warsaw on 8-9 July 2016, the report stresses that more still needs to be done for NATO to hope to change Russia’s calculus.

“Many of the decisions which Allied leaders took in Warsaw are truly significant”, the report reads, “However, they should be seen as part of a process, not as an endpoint”.

Among the recommendations highlighted in the report are: a significant increase in the number of NATO and US troops deployed in the Baltic states, Poland and Romania; more prepositioned equipment, and more investment in infrastructure to enable and accelerate reinforcements; further increases in defence budgets leading to a more balanced sharing of the burden among Allies; and further investments in critical conventional and nuclear capabilities.

Mr Turner first published his recommendations on the importance of strengthening NATO’s deterrent in a report entitled “Deterrence to Defend: Delivering on NATO’s Promise” issued ahead of the Warsaw Summit.

The new report released today includes updated analysis of the threats confronting Allies and recommendations on necessary responses.