V Corps commander: After Russian invasion, NATO presented with ‘historic opportunity’
European nations are willing to spend "money to modernize their equipment and replenish their stocks, but also money to train their forces," said Lt. Gen. John Kolasheski.
By ANDREW EVERSDEN
on October 12, 2022 at 4:02 PM
AUSA 2022 — Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to a “historic opportunity” for the NATO alliance, according to the Army’s V Corps commander, as the treaty organization is positioned to expand and current members signal enthusiasm for spending on defense modernization.
“There really is a historic opportunity that we are seeing in Europe,” Lt. Gen. John Kolasheski, commander of the V Corps, said today at the annual Association of the United States Army conference. “[There are] potentially two new members. You’ve got militaries and government that are willing to invest in their militaries.”
In May, Finland and Sweden formally requested to join the Atlantic treaty group following decades of neutrality during the Cold War. The US Senate ratified Sweden and Finland to NATO at the beginning of August. All 30 NATO nations have to ratify a new member before they can join. Hungary and Turkey are the remaining hold outs.
https://breakingdefense.com/2022/10/v-corps-commander-after-russian-invasion-nato-presented-with-historic-opportunity/