Security and defense challenges – civil preparedness in NATO

Abstract

The current security and defense challenges, a new type of cold war, requires strengthening civil preparedness in areas that are critical for collective defense, enabling the conduct of operations and military mobility. The article analyses the Alliance’s approach to security and defense threats, including to counter hybrid threats. NATO’s decisions to reinforce the Allies Eastern Flank are presented. Allied forces should be able to move into and across Europe at high speed to reinforce a threatened Ally. Therefore, attention is paid to civil preparedness and civil sector resilience to provide support to military operations. It considers recent summit decisions and measures to improve military mobility. A wide range of civilian capabilities and active cooperation between public and private partners are critical. In conclusion, the research demonstrates that civil support is a critical enabler for the Alliance’s collective defense.