Defence Ministers to agree NATO Readiness Initiative
Over the next two days, NATO defence ministers will take decisions to prepare the NATO Summit in July. Today (7 June 2018), ministers are expected to agree to boost the NATO Command Structure by around 1,200 personnel.
“We will also agree a NATO Readiness Initiative – the ‘Four Thirties’ – to ensure that by 2020, we have 30 mechanised battalions, 30 air squadrons and 30 combat vessels, ready within 30 days or less,” said Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Ministers will also discuss fairer burden-sharing, as well as NATO’s efforts to project stability and fight terrorism, including in Iraq.