The Kremlin says it will respond if NATO's proposal for a "military Schengen" in Europe becomes a reality

2023-11-24 17:59:01Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
The Kremlin says it will respond if NATO's proposal for a "military
NATO soldiers

The Kremlin said on Friday that NATO's desire to have a "military Schengen" in Europe to allow the alliance's armed forces to move freely to counter Russia had raised tensions and was a cause for concern.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia will respond if the proposal becomes a reality.

The head of NATO's logistics command, Lieutenant General Alexander Sollfrank, told Reuters in an interview published on Thursday that he would like to see a "military Schengen".

He said he was concerned that red tape across Europe was hampering troop movements, a problem that could cause major delays if a conflict with Russia erupted.

"We are running out of time. What we do not do in peacetime will not be ready in case of crisis or war," Sollfrank said.

NATO must not cause a miscalculation in the Kremlin by giving the impression that Moscow may have a chance to win because the alliance is not prepared, he warned.

"We have to be ahead of the curve. We need to prepare the theater long before Article 5 is invoked," he said, referring to NATO's collective defense clause, which effectively puts the alliance at war.

NATO's Joint Support and Enablement Command (JSEC) began operating in Ulm, Germany in 2021. JSEC is tasked with coordinating the rapid movement of troops and tanks across the continent and logistical preparations such as ammunition storage in the alliance the eastern wing.


Video