NATO has 4,000 pages of plans for its eastern flank in response to Moscow

NATO has approximately 4,000 pages of military plans for various escalation scenarios on its eastern flank, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, chairman of the Alliance’s Military Committee, stated on Saturday, September 19, in Copenhagen.

The documents range from responses to a limited crisis or interference on allied territory to situations that could lead to the invocation of Article 5 on collective defense.

These plans are part of the regional defense architecture established following Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine. While their operational content remains classified, they outline the responses, troop movements, and decision-making mechanisms anticipated based on the level of threat.

The chiefs of staff from the 32 member countries convened on September 18 and 19 in the Danish capital. NATO reports that discussions focused on strengthening collective deterrence and defense, operational readiness, new military capabilities, and support for Ukraine.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Giuseppe Cavo Dragone asserted that the command structure, soldiers, and necessary armaments were ready, while noting that the Alliance continues to enhance its capabilities. NATO did not announce any new major deployments or activation of Article 5 during this occasion.

The military official linked this preparation to incidents observed in recent weeks across Europe, citing airspace violations, drone incursions, and hybrid activities attributed to Russia. In its official report, the Alliance believes these actions aim to test the resolve of its members and asserts its readiness to defend its entire territory.

This sequence follows a warning from Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Speaking before Parliament in Warsaw, he stated that intelligence gathered by allied countries raised concerns about hybrid attacks involving drones or missiles against states supporting Ukraine, which could be presented as accidental. These assessments have not been made public.

The Alliance has already bolstered its presence on its eastern flank, where it maintains advanced ground forces in eight member countries and plans mechanisms to rapidly increase this presence. In September 2025, it notably launched “Eastern Sentinel” to strengthen its posture along this flank.

The NATO Military Committee is scheduled to meet again in plenary session in January 2027 in Brussels, according to the schedule published by the Alliance.