Although there is an overall political consensus that NATO should strengthen its defenses along the Eastern flank, the NATO member countries are dividing themselves on how to do it. Russia's aggression in the Baltic and Ukraine have only exacerbated the differences in NATO member countries' views.
The United States has a responsibility to ensure that NATO is capable of responding to threats to its Eastern flank. But it is hard to answer the question of NATO's effectiveness in responding. There are several obstacles that must be overcome in order to protect NATO's Eastern flank.
Russia's advanced defenses, including missile sites and fighter plane bases, are one of the obstacles. These defenses enable Moscow to engage NATO reinforcements prior to reaching forward-deployed troops. This means that NATO cannot do as much on the Eastern flank as before. Many talented people are still trying to figure out ways to strengthen this flank.
Moving equipment across Europe can be a logistical nightmare. In the past, it was simple to transport troops and their equipment across Europe. However, today moving troops across Europe is much more challenging. It's difficult to move troops throughout Europe fast while still maintaining their capabilities. Dedicated weapons might not be in sufficient numbers.
A second challenge is the requirement for permanent forces on Eastern flank. NATO members disagree on whether these forces should be permanent, rotating, or limited in size. Many Central Europeans fear that the U.S. will send troops to Europe. Others are concerned about Russia’s ability to use NATO Russia Found Act in order to sow divisions within NATO.
NATO must agree with its member states on a long range strategy to defend Russia. The strategy must address unity, resilience, deterrence. It must also consider cyber and hybrid threats. NATO must agree to a strategy that addresses all member states' interests. The strategy must address how NATO’s Eastern flank will strengthen and be reinforced.
While NATO member states may be concerned about Russia invading Latvia, others doubt that Russia will attack Estonia. These concerns aside, many believe that the Eastern flank needs to be manned permanently. Other ways to strengthen the Eastern flank include a Military Schengen that would allow equipment to be freely moved to Eastern flank countries.
While NATO has made a lot of progress in strengthening its east-facing defenses, there is still a split on its role. Some member states from the southern region feel that NATO is not doing enough for their security. These fears weaken the sense of solidarity among NATO members. The United States counters these fears with its defense guarantees. This strategy, however, has limited potential for strengthening NATO's defensive capabilities.
NATO is responding to Russia's ongoing offensive in Ukraine. NATO has responded to Russia's offensive in Ukraine by strengthening its Eastern flank and dispersing troops as well as strengthening its defenses. In the past, similar divisions were often overcome by NATO's major allies working together. The future front line of European conflict will be the Eastern flank. This new front line will take shape in the Baltic region and will be a major challenge for NATO's forces. However, Russia's threat has become more complicated and more potent, raising questions about NATO’s ability to respond effectively.