United Armed Forces of NATO. NATO's regional headquarters in the southern sector. Lisbon, Portugal

FOREIGN MILITARY REVIEW No. 10/2009, pp. 3-14

GENERAL MILITARY ISSUES

ColonelA. KALUGIN

The highest political and military-political governing bodies of the Alliance are the NATO Council, the NATO Defense Planning Committee and the NATO Nuclear Planning Group, which are supported by various committees, agencies, bureaus and other specialized structures. The activities of the supreme governing bodies are organized by the secretary general of the alliance.

NATO Council- the supreme body of the North Atlantic Alliance, which has the right to make decisions on all issues of the alliance's activities. It includes representatives of all member countries of the bloc, enjoying equal rights in discussion and decision-making.

Activities of the higher political body is organized in the form of sessions that are held at various levels (heads of state and government, ministers of foreign affairs, ministers of defense, permanent representatives of member states). The place, time and level of their holding is determined by the secretary general of the alliance after appropriate consultations. At the same time, the powers of the NATO Council, the right to make decisions by it and the decisions themselves have the same status and legal force regardless of the level of representation.

Meetings at the level of heads of state and government are held to resolve particularly important issues, as a rule, once every two years. At least twice a year, summer and winter sessions of the NATO Council are held at the level of foreign ministers, at which, depending on the nature of the issues discussed, the participation of other ministers of the member states of the alliance is possible. Summer sessions are held alternately in the participating countries, winter sessions - at the headquarters of the alliance in Brussels. At these meetings, the most important political and military-political issues of the organization's activities are considered.

The structure of the highest governing bodies of NATO

Also twice a year, the NATO Council meets at the level of defense ministers. They discuss the problems of the use of coalition troops (forces) and the conceptual issues of the military development of the united armed forces (JAF) of the bloc.

Meetings of the council at the level of permanent representatives of the member states of the alliance in the rank of ambassadors (meetings of the NATO Permanent Council) are held at least once a week. They consider the political aspects of the bloc's current activities, coordinate the positions of the member countries on current international issues, the actions of national governments are coordinated to carry out military-political measures developed by coalition governing bodies. When urgent decisions are needed, extraordinary sessions of the NATO Council may be convened.

Decisions at Council meetings are taken by consensus, drawn up in the form of a final document and signed by representatives of the participating States.

The headquarters of the NATO Council, as well as most other permanent and temporary executive bodies, are located in Brussels. The official working languages ​​are English and French.

Military Committee Planning (POL) NATO is the highest military and political body of the North Atlantic Alliance. Committee meetings with the participation of the ministers of defense of the countries - members of the bloc are held twice a year before the sessions of the NATO Council. They discuss the problems of planning joint military activities, including the construction of the alliance's joint armed forces, plans for their improvement and comprehensive support, and the appointment of commanders of coalition military command and control bodies. In the period between meetings of the KVP, the military-political activities of the organization are managed by the NATO Standing Committee for Military Planning, which consists of permanent representatives of the countries of the bloc (they also work in the Permanent Council of NATO). During its meetings, current military-political and administrative-financial issues are discussed, as well as various aspects of the functioning of subordinate military bodies are considered. The decisions of the Defense Planning Committee are final and not subject to approval by the NATO Council.

nuclear group planning (NSG) NATO - the supreme governing body of the alliance on nuclear policy. The main purpose of the group is to study the general problems of the Alliance's nuclear strategy, develop plans for the development of the nuclear forces of the bloc, consider deployment, ensuring the safety, security and survivability of nuclear weapons, arms control and WMD proliferation. Meetings of the NSG with the participation of the ministers of defense of the countries of the alliance (except France) are held, as a rule, twice a year as part of the work of the Defense Planning Committee chaired by Secretary General NATO or its alternate. The representative of Iceland participates in the work of the group as an observer. Between meetings of the NSG, its functions are performed by the Permanent Nuclear Planning Group, which includes representatives of the bloc's member states in the NATO Permanent Council.

The main preparatory work for the meetings of the Nuclear Planning Group is carried out by the NSG Headquarters Group, which meets at least once a week. The main advisory body to the NSG is the High Level Panel. It includes high-ranking representatives of the military departments and government agencies of the countries - members of the bloc, as well as experts specializing in the field of coalition nuclear policy. This group meets several times a year and is chaired by the United States.

NATO Secretary General He is the chairman of the NATO Council, the Defense Planning Committee, the Nuclear Planning Group and a number of leading standing committees of the alliance (the Main Civil Emergency Planning Committee, the Standards Committee, the NATO Logistics Leadership Conference, the Conference of National Armaments Heads). He coordinates the work of these structures, controls the implementation of the decisions made and performs representative functions.

In addition, the Secretary General chairs the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) and the Mediterranean Cooperation Group, and also chairs the NATO-Russia Council (NRC), the NATO-Ukraine Commission and the NATO-Georgia Commission. He is not part of any national delegation and is accountable only to the NATO Council.

The Secretary General is elected, as a rule, for a four-year term on the basis of the principle of unanimity of all countries of the bloc. Allied states (about half a year - a year before taking office) put forward their candidacies, and a new secretary general is officially appointed at a session of the NATO Council. However, the informal coordination of acceptable candidates is carried out primarily between the leading countries of the alliance with the active involvement of their foreign policy and defense departments in this work. At the alliance's summit in Strasbourg/Kehl, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who was previously Prime Minister of Denmark, was approved as the new NATO Secretary General. His date of inauguration is August 1, 2009.

The main working body of the Secretary General is NATO International Secretariat , consisting of six departments and two independent departments. The total staff of the secretariat is about 1,300 people.

Office of Political and Security Affairs is responsible for planning and implementing NATO activities in the political field related to the implementation of the main tasks of the alliance, as well as for organizing interaction with international organizations and partner countries. This body develops documents on issues of foreign policy and financial and economic activities for the VPR of the bloc and the participating countries. The overall direction of the Office is provided by the NATO Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security, who is also the Chairman of the Political Committee and serves as Chairman of a number of other committees.

Control military policy and planning responsible for the planning and implementation of NATO's military activities, the implementation of the alliance's policy in the field of nuclear weapons and weapons protection mass destruction. It deals with the issues of coordinating the doctrines and strategic concepts of the participating countries, conducting research on general and particular aspects of the military planning and policy of the alliance, coordinating the plans for building the bloc's allied forces and their technical equipment, studying the armed forces of non-NATO countries and their capabilities for conducting military operations. , the organization of computer accounting of data on the NATO Allied Forces and the conduct of studies to assess the effectiveness of the alliance's activities in the military field. The Directorate is led by the Assistant Secretary General for Military Policy and Planning.

operational management Responsible for maintaining the combat capabilities of the Allied Forces at the required level, organizing crisis management, peacekeeping, civil emergency planning, operational and combat training. It is also engaged in the study and implementation of issues related to the settlement of political and military crises, prepares the bloc's joint military operations, supervises their conduct and organizes interaction in this area with the UN, the OSCE and the EU, and also forms a policy of military-civilian cooperation within NATO. The Office is headed by the Assistant Secretary General for Operations, who is also Chairman of the General Committee for Civil Emergency Planning.

Office of Military Investment responsible for the development and implementation of the alliance's investment policy in order to increase NATO's military capabilities and increase the bloc's resources. This body is entrusted with the preparation of relevant documents on issues of promising scientific research and development, production and procurement of weapons and military equipment, development of air defense systems and control systems air traffic, as well as improving the military infrastructure in the alliance's area of ​​responsibility. The overall management of the office is carried out by the Assistant Secretary General for Defense Investment, who is also the Chairman of the Conference of National Armaments Heads and the Infrastructure Committee, as well as co-chair of the NATO Standardization Committee.

Public Relations Department Responsible for outreach support for NATO activities. To this end, it closely cooperates with the media, organizes the publication and distribution of printed information, support for the alliance's information server on the Internet, as well as holding seminars, conferences and various events highlighting NATO activities. The Office is led by the Assistant Secretary General for Public Relations.

NATO Secretary General's Office responsible for organizing the preparation and holding of meetings of the NATO Council, the Defense Planning Committee and the Nuclear Planning Group, as well as for organizing the work of NATO Headquarters in general and the International Secretariat in particular. The Directorate keeps minutes of the meetings of NATO's supreme bodies, draws up and takes into account the decisions made, monitors their passage and implementation. One of its main tasks is to ensure the activities of the supreme bodies of NATO in various conditions of the situation. At the same time, the department performs the functions of the personnel department for technical and service personnel, as well as the financial department of the International Secretariat. The general management of the department is carried out by the Assistant Secretary General for Executive and Administrative Affairs.

To the highest military authorities of the Alliance include the NATO Military Committee and the NATO International Military Headquarters.

Military Committee (MC) of NATO operates under the overall direction of the NATO Council and the NATO Defense Planning Committee. It consists of the chiefs of the general staffs of the countries of the alliance. Iceland, which has no armed forces, is represented by a civilian observer. The Committee participates in the development of concepts for the use of the Allied Forces of the bloc, organizes the implementation of programs for the construction of coalition troops (forces), develops plans for conducting military operations, informs the highest governing bodies of the alliance about the military-political situation in various regions of the world, prepares recommendations on military issues for the NATO Council and the Committee military planning, manages the activities of subordinate military bodies.

The NATO Military Committee is headed by a chairman elected for a three-year term. He chairs the meetings of the VC and participates in an advisory capacity in the meetings of the NATO Council and the Defense Planning Committee. In addition, the person holding this position performs representative functions in the bloc countries and partner countries that are members of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and the PfP program. The Chairman also represents the Military Committee in the Russia-NATO Council, the NATO-Ukraine and NATO-Georgia Commissions and the Mediterranean Cooperation Group.

A representative of the United States is appointed as Vice-Chairman of the VC. He is responsible for planning the use of the bloc's nuclear forces, organizing arms control, informing the leadership about the state of the NATO Allied Forces, and developing recommendations for decision-making by the highest governing bodies of the alliance.

Meetings of the NATO Military Committee at the level of Chiefs of General Staff are held at least three times a year. Two of them are held in Brussels, and one - in turn in the participating countries. NATO Supreme Commanders may attend. Between meetings, the Permanent Military Committee, which includes representatives of the General Staff of the member countries military organization alliance. It meets weekly on Thursdays following the Wednesday meetings of the NATO Permanent Council.

NATO International Military Headquarters (IMS) reports to the NATO Military Committee and ensures its work. The headquarters is responsible for analyzing the military policy of the alliance, preparing recommendations for its development, planning the activities of the VC, drafting its decisions and implementing them. IMS staff (440 people, including 80 civil servants), seconded by national military bodies to work in it, do not have representative functions and report only to NATO command.

The Military Committee appoints one of the representatives of the countries participating in the bloc's military organization with the rank of general (admiral) to the post of chief of the International Military Staff. The chairman of the VC and the head of the IHS cannot be representatives of the same country.

The International Military Staff consists of five directorates, three divisions, three bureaus and the NATO Headquarters Secretariat for Command and Control Consultations. In addition, the structure of the headquarters includes the NATO Situation Center (Situation Centre), which is allocated to the NATO International Secretariat and reports to the Assistant Secretary General for Operations.

The daily activities of the IHS are ensured by chief of staff department(personal office). He is responsible for coordinating the work of the divisions of the headquarters, as well as for accounting and bringing to his staff incoming information and documents.

Office of Military Policy and Planning organizes the development of NATO's military-strategic plans, determines the procedure for the use of nuclear forces and the bloc's joint military forces, and plans the main directions for their further development. The Directorate also prepares proposals for changes in the coalition military strategy of the alliance, taking into account new military-strategic concepts, participates in planning activities for the PfP program, develops and agrees on materials for negotiations on limiting and reducing nuclear forces, conventional weapons and armed forces in Europe.

operational management develops current operational plans and directives for operational and combat training, prepares draft decisions of the Military Committee on specific issues construction and use of NATO Allied Armed Forces, draws up plans for KShU and military games, submits to the VC reports on major exercises conducted. This body coordinates plans for operational and combat training of the armed forces of the countries of the bloc, including exercises with the participation of states participating in the PfP program. In addition, management coordinates application plans electronic warfare and their modernization, ensures the activities of the NATO Committee on air defense and organizes the implementation of its decisions.

Intelligence Directorate along with the assessment and processing of incoming intelligence information, prepares information and analytical materials for the highest governing bodies of NATO. The Directorate does not have its own forces and means for collecting intelligence, therefore, in its work it uses information provided by the NATO Strategic Command of Operations and the member states of the bloc.

Directorate for Cooperation and Regional Security responsible for interaction with the countries - participants of the PfP, EAPC, Mediterranean Dialogue, development of cooperation with the EU and the OSCE, coordination of partnership activities with Russia, Ukraine and Georgia. It also develops recommendations on disarmament and NATO's involvement in arms control.

Directorate of Logistics, Armaments and Resources responsible for the development of the logistics framework, logistics planning and organization, and transportation NATO Allied Forces, as well as for the operational equipment of the zone of responsibility of these forces. It analyzes the possibilities of the coalition structures and countries - members of the alliance for the allocation and use of human, material and financial resources, develops draft annual NATO military budgets. In addition, the management is responsible for the standardization and interoperability of weapons.

NATO Headquarters Command and Control Consultancy Secretariat has dual subordination (structurally part of the International Military Staff, but operationally subordinate to the NATO International Secretariat). Its tasks are to develop directives for the implementation, operation and maintenance NATO communications and information systems, as well as monitoring their implementation. The Secretariat assists NATO's highest decision-making bodies in the use of command and control systems and communications. It operates under the joint direction of the Assistant Secretary General for Defense Investment and the Chief of the International Military Staff.

A special place in the activities of the International Military Staff is occupied by NATO Assessment Center(SITCEN), which is responsible for the collection, compilation and analysis of political, economic and military information, as well as for the development of information and analytical materials. He monitors the military-political situation in all regions of the world around the clock and promptly brings it to the leadership of the alliance. The center has a direct connection with the NATO Military Committee and the operational center of the headquarters of the alliance's strategic command of operations. It also interacts directly with similar national centers of the participating countries.

Structure management bodies of the combined armed forces of the alliance has three levels - strategic, operational-strategic and operational (specific). At the strategic level, there are two commands - the strategic command of operations (SOC) of the combined armed forces of the alliance and the command of strategic research (SRC) of NATO.

Allied Strategic Operations Command (Casto, Belgium) carries out the functions of organizing the operational planning and use of groupings of troops (forces) of the North Atlantic Alliance in the entire NATO area of ​​​​responsibility and beyond.

The structure of the headquarters of the SKO is typical for a military body management of the Allied Forces NATO and includes nine directorates: personnel (L), intelligence (J2), operational and combat training (J3), logistics (J4), advanced planning (J5), communications and information systems(J6), organization of the EBP and exercises (J7), budgetary and financial (J8) and military-civilian activities (J9). Controls J3 and J7, as well as J5 and J9 in peacetime are combined.

The headquarters departments are functionally divided into operational (J2, J3, J5, J7 and J9) and providing (L, J4, J6 and J8), of which the first five are directly subordinate to the Deputy Chief of Staff (ZNSh) for operational issues, the rest - ZNSh for security. This strategic-level command is headed by a supreme commander from among the generals (admirals) of the US armed forces, who holds this post concurrently with the post of commander of the joint command of the US Armed Forces in the European zone. He is appointed by the decision of the NATO Council with the approval of all countries of the bloc. Its term of office is three years, renewable up to five years.

Three coalition control bodies of the operational-strategic level are subordinated to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief - the joint commands of the Allied Allied Forces "North", "South" and "West". In the event of the outbreak of large-scale hostilities, these structures will solve the tasks of leading the troops (forces) of the bloc in the entire NATO area of ​​​​responsibility and beyond.

In addition to the above command and control bodies, the following commands are directly subordinate to the Allied Commander-in-Chief: Joint Submarine Forces of NATO; the NATO strike fleet in the Atlantic, which can be deployed on the basis of the 2nd operational fleet of the US Navy, if necessary; airborne early warning and aviation control AWACS - NATO, responsible for the timely provision of the alliance's SKO with operational information on the air and sea situation, as well as for organizing the interaction of the joint commands to control aviation, air defense forces and means.

The following main tasks are entrusted to the Supreme Command of the Allied Armed Forces of the bloc: development of operational plans for the use of coalition groupings of troops (forces); maintenance of the Allied Allied Armed Forces in the necessary degree of combat readiness; management of daily activities of subordinate troops (forces); organization of operational and combat training of the troops (forces) of the bloc and control over the course of its implementation in the national armed forces allocated to the NATO Joint Forces; participation in determining the directions of the military construction of the NATO Allied Forces; distribution financial resources and other resources between subordinate governments, organizations and institutions.

In addition, in the course of hostilities, the Supreme High Command of the Allied Forces of NATO carries out: leadership of groupings of troops (forces) in the zone of responsibility of the alliance and beyond; coordination of actions of subordinate authorities; organization of interaction between troops (forces) and comprehensive support of the bloc's joint military forces.

The zone of responsibility of the strategic command of NATO operations includes the territories of the bloc member states (except the USA, Canada and France) and the islands belonging to them, the waters of the Northern, Irish, Norwegian, Baltic, Mediterranean, Black and Seas of Azov, zones of the straits - the Baltic, Black Sea, Gibraltar, English Channel, the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean (north of the Tropic of Cancer), as well as the airspace above them.

The Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces of NATO exercises his powers through the headquarters of the strategic and joint commands subordinate to him in the entire zone of responsibility of the bloc and beyond.

Commandstrategic research NATO, formed on the basis of the former Allied Allied Strategic Command in the Atlantic, located in Norfolk (USA). It is not entrusted with the functions of operational management, construction and determination of new operational capabilities of the coalition armed forces.

The structure of the CSI includes two main departments (research and support), directly subordinate to the Supreme Command. Each of them, in turn, includes two departments responsible for implementing the results of experiments (exercises) and improving the combat capabilities of the block (subordinate to the main research department), as well as for the development and operation of automated control systems, intelligence and communications, logistics provision (subordinate to the main department of provision). The remaining departments, departments and centers of the headquarters are subordinate to the Supreme Command through the heads of the respective departments. The command is headed by an American general (admiral), who has the status of supreme commander in chief and simultaneously performs the functions of commander of the unified command of the unified forces of the US Armed Forces.

The following main tasks are entrusted to the Supreme Command of the CSI of the alliance: development of strategic concepts and determination of the directions of the military-technical policy of the alliance; planning and organization of military construction; development of operational (combat) training programs; determination of the content and direction of the further development of the combat capabilities of the alliance; formation of R&D programs and development of technical specifications for the creation of new models of weapons and military equipment; organization and analysis of results fundamental research in the development of modern means of armed struggle; provision of conditions for further reformation of the bloc's Allied Forces.

In the interests of solving these tasks, the NATO CSI manages the educational and methodological activities of the military educational institutions and research centers of the block transferred to its jurisdiction, such as the joint center for the development of concepts for the combat use of the NATO Allied Forces (Yotta, Norway), the joint NATO Allied Combat Training Center ( Bydgoszcz, Poland), NATO Allied Anti-Submarine Research Center (Spezia, Italy), Joint Center for Analysis and Generalization of NATO Allied Combat Experience (Monsanto, Portugal), as well as NATO Military College (Rome, Italy), NATO School in Oberammergau (Germany) , the NATO School of Communications (Latina, Italy), the NATO Allied Forces Center for Countering Terrorism at Sea (Suda, Greece) and a number of other military educational and research institutions. In addition, the strategic research command plays a leading role in organizing the work of the training centers being created to train the armed forces of the states participating in the Partnership for Peace program.

The Alliance, positioning itself as the only guarantor of peace and stability on a global scale, is taking steps to modernize NATO's governing bodies. In order to respond in a timely manner to possible threats and challenges, the leadership of the alliance creates new structures in the management system. In particular, it is actively working on the development of capabilities to ensure the collective protection of information systems of NATO and member countries. To this end, the CSI is completing the formation of a computer security department that will assess threats, provide technical assistance to the states of the bloc, and promptly respond to incidents in the field of computer security.

In addition, in order to expand the alliance's capabilities to carry out military contacts with partner states, including their involvement in crisis response operations in various regions of the world, it is planned to create a department of military cooperation as part of the North Kazakhstan region. It will be formed on the basis of the NATO Partnership Coordinating Cell, as well as the cooperation departments that are part of the CSI and the COI. The head of this department will simultaneously be the deputy chief of staff of the North Kazakhstan region for international military cooperation.

Thus, NATO's current senior command structure allows for a flexible response to the changing security environment. It is constantly being improved in accordance with new challenges, which, in general, allows the leadership of the North Atlantic Alliance to quickly make decisions on the most important issues of military-political and military activities and ensure their implementation, including in the field of developing the military potential of the bloc and the use of coalition troops (forces) in in the interests of countering modern threats to ensure the security of countries- alliance members.

Joint armed forces - troops, forces and means, command and control bodies allocated by agreement between two or more states for joint actions in order to ensure their security. The joint armed forces of each state include, as a rule, the most trained and equipped with modern weapons and technical equipment formations and units.

The special forces of the CRRF consist of representatives of the internal affairs agencies or the police, internal troops, security agencies and special services, as well as agencies for the prevention and elimination of the consequences of emergency situations.

The UN armed forces are the joint armed forces of the member states of the United Nations, the procedure for their creation is regulated by Article 43 of the UN Charter. The military contingents provided by the UN member countries to the disposal of the Security Council, under its leadership and command, in essence, constitute the unified armed forces of the UN. Their task is to help prevent hostilities, restore and maintain order, and provide humanitarian assistance. Their functions also include monitoring compliance with the ceasefire agreement, monitoring the withdrawal of troops and patrolling the buffer zones. Traditionally, the armed forces of the Scandinavian countries, Canada, Austria, Ireland, France, Great Britain, as well as Ghana, Nepal, and Fiji took part in the formation of the UN multinational forces. In modern conditions, the military formations of the United States, Russia, Ukraine and other states are also involved in them.

The NATO Joint Armed Forces (NATO Allied Forces) are the coalition armed forces of the states that are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Created in accordance with the decisions of the fifth session of the NATO Council in September 1950.

Currently, 28 states are members of NATO: Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal , Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, USA, Spain, UK, Turkey. NATO's primary mission is to protect the freedom and security of its member states through political and military means. NATO adheres to the principle that an attack on one or more members of the organization is considered an attack on the alliance as a whole.

The structure of the NATO Joint Armed Forces in terms of numbers, combat strength and equipment is more focused on local-scale military operations and peacekeeping operations (including those outside the bloc's area of ​​responsibility), solving problems of preventing or eliminating sources of threats related to terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

Allied Forces are composed of theater nuclear forces and general purpose forces. Nuclear forces are assigned the role of a deterrent for potential aggressors. They include tactical aircraft carrier squadrons of the Air Force (Air Force) and the Navy (Navy). The general-purpose forces are the most significant in composition and are represented by formations of the ground forces, air force and navy that are not included in the nuclear component of the bloc.

The project of the European Defense Community was announced by French Prime Minister René Pleven in 1950. Then, in July 1950, North Korea, backed by China, attacked South Korea to unite the country under a communist flag. Fears were growing in Europe that a similar scenario could also be implemented here, and then a project was developed according to which the armed forces of France, Italy, West Germany and the Benelux countries were to be united under a common command. , he was not supported by the National Assembly of France.

Attempts to create a unified European army continued further. In 1991, France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and Spain formed joint brigades with a single command in Strasbourg and named them "Eurocorps". In 1995, the French, Italians, Spaniards and Portuguese agreed to create the Eurofor (European Operational Rapid Force).

At the Helsinki Conference in 1999, the European Union began to develop a common defense policy, and the concept of rapid reaction forces was developed. The conference participants decided to use the rapid reaction forces only for peacekeeping operations and humanitarian missions. At the same time, the prerogative of the UN was recognized in making decisions on the start of peacekeeping operations, as well as NATO's "right of first refusal", which allowed the use of European troops only if the alliance for some reason refused to participate in the operation. The decision to create the European Union Rapid Reaction Force (EUFOR, European Union Force) was made in September 2000.

The issues of ensuring military security were at the head of the agenda of the EU summit, then British Prime Minister David Cameron spoke out against the creation of a unified EU armed forces.

The German newspaper Welt am Sonntag published an interview with the head of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, who said that the EU needs to create its own unified army as a tool to defend Europe's interests. This idea was approved by German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, and the German opposition criticized Juncker's proposal.

UK, Sweden, Poland. As stated official representative EC Margaritis Schinas, this issue will be raised at the EU summit in June.

League countries Arab states(LAS) approved the creation of inter-Arab joint armed rapid reaction forces, the purpose of which is to eliminate threats in the region.

The material was prepared on the basis of information from RIA Novosti and open sources

FOREIGN MILITARY REVIEW No. 5/2002, pp. 2-5

GENERAL MILITARY ISSUES

NATO COALITION GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE

Lieutenant Colonel K. KASATKIN

The leadership of NATO, in accordance with the program for reforming the command and control structure of the bloc, continues to carry out a set of measures to reorganize the command and staff structures of the alliance. At present, the formation of coalition control bodies has been basically completed, as a result of which the number of commands and headquarters has been reduced by more than 3 times (from 65 to 20), mainly due to the abolition of links at the operational-tactical and tactical levels.

The new structure of NATO command and control bodies includes three levels of commands and headquarters of the bloc. The first level (strategic) is the strategic commands (SC) of the NATO Allied Forces in the Atlantic and in Europe; the second (operational-strategic) - regional commands (RC); the third (operational) - sub-regional (SRK) and specific (OVVS, OVMS) commands.

All NATO command and control bodies are staffed according to the multinational principle, which has a number of characteristic features: strategic-level command and control bodies are staffed by representatives of all countries of the alliance; the composition of regional and sub-regional commands and headquarters includes representatives of at least five member states of the alliance; the quota of posts of the participating countries in the headquarters of the sub-regional commands is distributed as follows: at least 50 percent. positions are allocated for representatives of the state on whose territory the SRK headquarters is located, the rest are occupied by military personnel sent by countries most actively participating in the activities of a particular command or most closely cooperating with it in the military-technical field.

In accordance with the directive documents of the Allied Forces of NATO, only strategic and regional commands have areas of responsibility. Sub-regional commands perform tasks within the boundaries of the respective regional command.

The dividing line between the strategic commands remained unchanged, with the exception of the area around the Canary Islands and the airspace above them, which, at the request of Spain, were included in the area of ​​responsibility of the NATO SC in Europe (previously they were in the area of ​​responsibility of the Allied Command Command in the Atlantic).

The formation of the structure of NATO command and control bodies is carried out taking into account the concept of "multinational operational forces" (MNOS), which provides for the possibility of using military contingents of countries that are not members of the alliance in operations conducted by the North Atlantic Alliance.

For the deployment of command and control bodies for multinational groupings of troops (forces), operational groups are being formed at the headquarters of the Allied Forces of NATO at various levels, which will become the basis for the deployment of the headquarters of the ONOS. Depending on the scale and nature of the upcoming operation, they are supposed to be understaffed with reinforcement and support groups.

In accordance with the provisions of the strategic concept of the North Atlantic Alliance, the commands and headquarters of the Allied Forces of the bloc should be able to simultaneously deploy two headquarters to lead large groupings of troops (forces), and to control small formations (one or two formations) - a number of small headquarters. The deployment of MPOS headquarters is supposed to be carried out mainly on the basis of sub-regional commands located near the conflict area (crisis situation).

The NATO Allied Strategic Commands in Europe and the Atlantic are headed by the Supreme Commanders (representatives of the US Armed Forces), who manage the alliance's combined armed forces through the relevant headquarters of the strategic commands and are responsible for the overall management of the construction of the bloc's armed forces, planning and carrying out all types of military activities in their areas of responsibility and, if necessary, beyond them.

The commanders-in-chief of the regional commands are entrusted with the task of direct control of the groupings of troops (forces) placed at their disposal. In addition to managing the activities of the bloc's troops (forces), NATO commanders at all levels are entrusted with a number of fundamentally new tasks, including the fight against international terrorism, countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and organizing operational and combat training events under the PfP program.

NATO Allied Commands in Europe. The overall leadership of the united armed forces of the bloc in Europe is carried out by the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces of NATO (representative of the US Armed Forces) through the headquarters of the strategic command, which is located in Casteau (Belgium).

The area of ​​responsibility of the NATO SC in Europe includes the territories of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Turkey, Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary, the waters of the Northern, Irish, Norwegian, Baltic, Mediterranean, Ligurian, Tyrrhenian, the Ionian, Adriatic, Aegean, Marmara, Black and Azov Seas, the zones of the Baltic and Black Sea straits, the Strait of Gibraltar, the English Channel, the Canary Islands, coastal waters and airspace above them.

There are nine directorates at the NATO SC headquarters in Europe: L - personnel, J2 - intelligence, J3 - operational, J4 - logistic support, J5 - current planning, J6 - communications and information systems, J7 - advanced planning and organization of combat training, J8 - budgetary and financial and J9 - military-civilian activities.

NATO Allied Command Europe has two regional commands: Allied Command North and South. The headquarters of these commands have seven similar departments (J3 and J7, as well as J5 and J9 combined).

To the Regional Command of the Joint Forces at TO "North" the functions of the abolished NATO Allied Command Commands in the North-Western European and Central European theater of operations were transferred. The headquarters of the NATO Allied Forces "North" is located in Brunsum (Netherlands). Representatives of the Armed Forces of Germany or Great Britain are appointed to the position of commander-in-chief (on the principle of rotation). The area of ​​responsibility of this command includes the territories, airspace and coastal waters of Great Britain, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Poland and the Czech Republic, the waters of the Northern, partly Norwegian and Baltic Seas, as well as the zone of the Baltic Straits.

The NATO Allied Command North has two operational commands (the North Allied Command and the North Allied Command) and three sub-regional commands (North, North-East and Center).

In its own way organizational structure the headquarters of these commands are basically identical and correspond to the headquarters of the regional command.

At the same time, in the headquarters of sub-regional commands, in the zone of responsibility of which the ground forces predominate, more positions are allocated for representatives of the ground forces; at the headquarters, which can be entrusted with the leadership of the actions of troops (forces) in coastal areas, the number of officers of the naval forces has been increased.

Command of the OVVS ON TO "North"(Ramshtein, Germany) deployed on the basis of the NATO Air Force Command in the Central European Theater of Operations. A representative of the US Armed Forces is appointed to the position of commander, who is an assistant to the commander-in-chief of the North Allied Forces RK on the use of the bloc's air force groupings. In addition, he is entrusted with the functions of air defense commander and head of the regional system for controlling aerospace space in the zone of responsibility of the NATO Allied Forces "North" and coordinating aviation actions with other commands. Five air operations control centers (CUVO) deployed in the Federal Republic of Germany (the cities of Kalkar and Messhetten), Denmark (the city of Finderud), Great Britain (the city of High Wycombe) and Norway (the city of Reitan) are subordinate to the commander.

Command of the OVMS ON TO "North"(Northwood, UK) is headed by a representative of the British Armed Forces, who is also the commander of the regional command of the Allied Forces of NATO "East" of the strategic command of the allied forces in the Atlantic, and the headquarters of these commands are a single body. The command performs the tasks of managing naval groups in the area of ​​​​responsibility of the NATO Allied Forces Regional Command "North".

Sub-regional command of the Allied Forces at TO "North"(Yotta, Norway), headed by a representative of the Norwegian Armed Forces, leads the coalition groupings of troops (forces) in the conduct of hostilities in northern Europe. The same command is entrusted with the tasks of organizing air defense and protecting sea lanes in the Northeast Atlantic.

Sub-regional command of the Allied Forces at TO "North-East"(Karup, Denmark, headed by a representative of the Danish Armed Forces) is intended for command and control of troops (forces) in the conduct of hostilities in the zone of the Baltic Straits and on approaches to them. In addition, the troops (forces) of the SRK "North-East" can be involved in solving problems together with the groupings of the sub-regional command of the Allied Forces of NATO "Center" in Central Europe.

Sub-regional command of the Allied Forces at TO "Center"(Heidelberg, Germany, according to the principle of rotation, representatives of the Armed Forces Germany and the United States) is intended to guide the actions of coalition groupings of troops (forces) in Central Europe.

The Allied Regional Command "South" (headquarters in Naples, Italy, representative of the US Armed Forces) was formed on the basis of the headquarters of the Allied Command Command of NATO in the South Theater of Operations. Its area of ​​responsibility includes the territories, airspace and coastal waters of Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Hungary, the waters of the Mediterranean, Black and Azov Seas. This regional command is entrusted with the task of managing the troops (forces) of the united armed forces of the bloc in southern Europe through its subordinate sectoral commands (OVVS and OVMS), as well as through four sub-regional ones (“South”, “South-East”, “South-Center” and Southwest). In terms of their structure and the tasks solved by their headquarters in peacetime and wartime, these commands are similar to the corresponding commands of the NATO Allied Command North.

Air Force Command for TO "South"(Naples, Italy, representative of the US Armed Forces) manages the activities of the combined Air Force within the area of ​​responsibility of the entire regional command. The Commander of the NATO Allied Forces "South" is the assistant to the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces of NATO "South" on the use of the air forces of the bloc. In addition, he is entrusted with the functions of air defense commander and head of the regional system for controlling aerospace in the zone of responsibility of the NATO Allied Forces "South" and coordinating aviation actions with other commands. The commander also has five air operations control centers deployed in Italy (Poggio Renatico), Turkey (Eskisehir), Greece (Larissa), Spain (Torrejon) and Portugal (Monsanto).

Command of the OVMS TO "South"(Naples, Italy, representative of the Armed Forces of this country) performs the tasks of managing naval groups in the area of ​​​​responsibility of the regional command of the Allied Forces of NATO "South".

Sub-regional command of the Allied Forces for TO "South-East"(Izmir, Turkey, representative of the Armed Forces of this country) is intended to organize the protection of maritime communications in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea, to prevent possible aggression from Libya, Iraq, Iran and Syria, as well as to conduct peacekeeping operations in the Balkans and the Middle East.

Sub-regional command of the Allied Forces at TO "South-Center"(Larisa, Greece, representative of the Armed Forces of this country) performs the tasks of protecting the interests of Western European states in the central part of the Mediterranean Sea, the Aegean Sea and the western part of the Black Sea. Since the NATO Allied Forces South Center is located in an area with an unstable situation, NATO military experts believe that it will actively participate in organizing peacekeeping operations in the Mediterranean region.

Subregional Allied Command for TO "South"(Verona, Italy, representative of the Armed Forces of this country) is responsible for organizing the protection of maritime communications in the central part of the Mediterranean Sea and peacekeeping operations in the Balkans.

Sub-regional command of the Allied Forces at TO "South-West"(Madrid, Spain, representative of the Spanish Armed Forces) is responsible for the protection of maritime communications in the Western Mediterranean (Gibraltar). In addition, he is entrusted with the tasks of organizing and conducting peacekeeping operations in the Maghreb countries, preventing the activities of international extremist organizations in the western Mediterranean and mass migrations of the population.

NATO Allied Commands in the Atlantic. The overall leadership of the united armed forces of the bloc in the Atlantic is carried out by the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces of NATO (representative of the US Armed Forces) through the headquarters of the strategic command, which is located in Norfolk (USA). The area of ​​responsibility of this command includes the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland and Portugal, as well as the North Atlantic north of the Tropic of Cancer, with the exception of the territory of the Canaries and the airspace associated with it. The eastern border of the area of ​​responsibility runs along the coast of Africa, then north along the border of the NATO SC in Europe. The western boundary of the area of ​​responsibility is East Coast North America excluding Cuba. The maritime border of the zone of responsibility with states that are not members of the alliance actually runs along the border of their national territorial waters. The northern border of the zone of responsibility of the NATO SC of the Allied Forces in the Atlantic stretches to the North Pole.

There are three directorates at the headquarters of the NATO Allied Forces SC in the Atlantic: L - military policy and strategic planning, J2 - resources, J3 - communications and information systems.

The headquarters of the regional commands of the joint armed forces in the Atlantic are deployed at the locations of the former main commands of the Allied Forces, which are similar in their organizational structure to the regional commands in Europe. At the same time, in everyday conditions, regional commands do not have strictly defined areas of responsibility. These zones are assigned by the NATO High Command in the Atlantic in the event of an aggravation of the situation or a crisis in the region.

Regional Command of the Allied Forces at TO "Vostok"(Northwood, Great Britain, representative of the British Armed Forces) manages the activities of the troops (forces) of the bloc in the northeastern and eastern parts of the zone of responsibility of the NATO Strategic Command in the Atlantic, including Iceland. As noted above, the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces RK Vostok is at the same time the Commander of the Allied Command of the Allied Forces Regional Command "North" of the NATO Allied Forces Strategic Command in Europe, and the headquarters of these commands are a single body.

Regional Command of the Allied Forces at TO "West"(Norfolk, USA, representative of the US Armed Forces) manages the activities of the troops (forces) of the bloc in the western part of the zone of responsibility of the NATO Strategic Command in the Atlantic.

Regional Allied Command for TO "South-East"(Lisbon, Portugal, representative of the Portuguese Armed Forces) manages the activities of the troops (forces) of the bloc in the southeastern part of the zone of responsibility of the NATO Strategic Command in the Atlantic, including Portugal.

Strike Fleet Command ON TO in the Atlantic(Norfolk, USA, representative of the US Armed Forces) is directly subordinate to the strategic command of the NATO Allied Forces in the Atlantic, however, if necessary, it is envisaged to be transferred to the operational subordination of the Allied Command of the Allied Forces in Europe.

Command of the Joint Submarine Forces ON TO in the Atlantic(Norfolk, USA, representative of the US Armed Forces) is directly subordinated to the strategic command of the NATO Allied Forces in the Atlantic. The headquarters of this command does not have international status and its staffing includes only positions for officers of the US Navy.

The Commander of NATO Joint Submarine Forces in the Atlantic is responsible for the NATO Joint Submarine Forces in the Atlantic, which includes submarines of the US Navy, Great Britain and other participating countries. The organization of the use of submarines in the interests of the alliance is entrusted to the commander of the submarine forces of the US Atlantic Fleet, who is also the commander of the joint submarine forces in the zone of responsibility of the NATO Allied Command West and in general in the zone of responsibility of the NATO Joint Forces Command in the Atlantic. The commander of the joint submarine forces is entrusted with the function of coordinating the use of multi-purpose submarines so that they do not hinder the performance of tasks by strategic SSBNs.

The new organization of NATO command and control bodies, developed, according to Western European experts, “taking into account the assessment of the prospects for the development of the military-political and military-strategic situation in the Euro-Atlantic region, ensures the creation of a new European security system within the bloc. It is also designed to "connect" to it the armed forces of new members of the alliance without major reorganization measures.

FOREIGN MILITARY REVIEW No. 3/2000, pp. 2-7

GENERAL MILITARY ISSUES

Colonel A. STEPANOV

The military-political leadership of the North Atlantic Alliance, in the interests of bringing the command structure of the combined armed forces in line with the tasks defined by the new strategic concept of the alliance, has concentrated its efforts on improving the command and control system of NATO coalition troops (forces).

The decision to amend this structure was preceded by preparatory work, during which several options for reorganization were considered, taking into account military-political and strategic realities. Military experts proceeded from the fact that created in the period " cold war"NATO command and control system, designed primarily to repel the threat of "massive aggression" from former USSR and the Warsaw Pact, has become too cumbersome, preventing the alliance from responding adequately to dynamic changes in the situation.

In addition, a number of fundamentally new tasks have emerged. Along with measures to ensure the collective defense of the new NATO members, these are peacekeeping operations, the fight against international terrorism, countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and others. As a result, it became necessary to create a multifunctional, but more flexible structure of the unit's joint commands, which, according to the developers, will allow it to effectively carry out activities not only in the areas of responsibility of these commands, but also beyond them.

The former structure of the NATO Allied Command was focused primarily on the leadership of large groupings of troops (forces) intended for waging a large-scale war, and had four levels (Fig. 1).

Bodies of the highest (strategic) level were the supreme main commands - NATO Allied Forces in Europe and NATO Allied Forces in the Atlantic. They were subordinated to the main commands (GC) of the operational-strategic level. In Europe, there were three of them: the NATO Allied Command in the North-West European, Central European and South European theaters of military operations (NWE, CE and South theater of operations). There were five such commands in the Atlantic (in the Western, Eastern and Iberian Atlantic, as well as the Strike Fleet and NATO Joint Submarine Command Atlantic). They, in turn, were subordinate to the operational level commands (11 in Europe and 15 in the Atlantic), as well as 29 operational-tactical level commands.

The new structure of the alliance (Fig. 2) was first proposed at a meeting of the NATO military committee with the participation of the defense ministers of the bloc member countries on December 2, 1997, and was finally approved at the Washington summit in April 1999. The practical reorganization of the structure of coalition governing bodies began on September 1, 1999.

The adoption of the second reform of the NATO command structure after the Cold War (the first, less radical, was carried out in 1991) required considerable effort and was the result of lengthy bargaining over the geographical distribution of headquarters and the distribution of command positions among participating countries.

In determining the new command and control structure for the armed forces, NATO experts were guided by the following considerations. First, the directions for adapting the command structure to modern requirements, in their opinion, are determined by three main goals - military effectiveness, the preservation of transatlantic ties and the provision of a European identity in the field of defense and security. Secondly, the alliance should play a leading role in the European security system, and the new structure of NATO's military command and control should be able to solve the entire range of tasks of the North Atlantic Alliance. In addition, it is necessary that the governance structure has the necessary flexibility to ensure the participation of new NATO members in the bloc's activities.

In accordance with NATO guidelines, commanders at all levels are given greater freedom of action in all types of NATO military activities. At the same time, regional commands should be able to organize the reception of reinforcement troops (forces) and exercise leadership over them in the conduct of large-scale military operations.

The new command structure provides for a special approach to the areas of responsibility of the joint commands. Only the strategic and regional commands (NC and RC) in Europe will have permanently established areas of responsibility. The boundary between the strategic commands remains the same, with the exception of the area around the Canary Islands and the airspace above them, which, at the urgent request of Spain, are included in the area of ​​​​responsibility of the Allied Strategic Command in Europe. The leadership of aviation and navy activities in Europe is entrusted to the commanders of the combined Air Force and Navy of the regional commands "North" and "South". They will implement it through joint air and sea operations control centers in specific sectors of the zone.

NATO specialists propose to use the term "combination of two posts" for the chiefs of staff who can be combined. In particular, the headquarters of the SC "Vostok" of the NATO Allied Strategic Command in the Atlantic and the headquarters of the command of the Allied Forces Command of the Regional Command "North" of the NATO SC of the Allied Forces in Europe will be transformed into a single body (in Northwood, UK).

Great importance is given to the principle of rotation of the most important command posts. In accordance with it, in particular, commanders at the level of regional commands and below, deputy commanders, and chiefs of staff within the entire command structure, as well as the deputy chief of staff of the Allied Forces Strategic Command in Europe, will be appointed.

Recognizing that multinationality continues to be an important factor in ensuring the solidarity and cohesion of the bloc, NATO experts have developed a number of recommendations for recruiting government bodies:

The share of the country in whose territory the headquarters is located should account for no more than 50 percent. senior officer positions. The remaining positions must be distributed among the officers of other states, mainly those that border on the country on whose territory the headquarters is located;

Each participating country must send its officers to the main staff of the strategic commands;

All states within the regional command are obliged to allocate officers to the main staff of the command headquarters of the corresponding branches of the Armed Forces. Moreover, in order to improve interaction, they should also include specialists from the headquarters of the neighboring regional command;

An equal number of officers from at least five member states of the bloc should be allocated to the core staff of each sub-regional command (SRC) of the NATO Allied Forces.

It should be noted that it is the SRCs that are fundamentally new formations in the newly created NATO command and control structure. In fact, these are multi-service commands, which include representatives of both the ground forces and officers of the Air Force and Navy.

Sub-regional commands will play important role in the implementation of the concept of "multinational operational force" (MNOS), adopted by NATO in 1994. It provides for the creation of multinational joint operational formations (CJTF - Combined Joint Task Forces), designed to solve the problems of resolving crisis situations of various scale and intensity both in the bloc's area of ​​​​responsibility and beyond it with the involvement of troops and forces of countries that are not members of the alliance (at least two in Europe and one in the Atlantic).

The basis for the deployment of the headquarters of these formations in Europe will be the operational groups formed at the headquarters of the regional commands (up to 115 out of 700 people of the staff of the headquarters). Depending on the scale and nature of the upcoming operation, they are supposed to be understaffed with reinforcement and support groups, mainly for ground forces (up to 100,000 corps personnel). The headquarters will be deployed, as a rule, on the basis of the headquarters of the SRK, located close to the place of the conflict (crisis).

Under the NATO Allied Forces in the Atlantic, such a joint formation (CJTF) will be, in essence, a strike fleet (UF), which is planned to be deployed mainly in the Mediterranean region.

The reduction of the NATO command and control bodies from 65 to 20 will occur mainly due to the abolition of the lower levels of command of the operational and operational-tactical levels (according to NATO classification - the third and fourth levels).

Two strategic commands of the Allied Forces of the bloc will continue to function - on the Atlantic and in Europe, carrying out general planning and management of the activities of subordinate command and control bodies and troops (forces) in their areas of responsibility.

The structure of governing bodies will undergo the most significant changes Allied NATO V Europe. Commands and headquarters of three levels - strategic, operational-strategic and operational (the fourth, tactical level of command and control bodies, will be abolished) are being created in its composition. In total, instead of 42, the new structure is planned to have 14 coalition control bodies: one strategic, six operational-strategic (two RK and four specific) and seven operational levels (SRK).

The direct command of the united armed forces of the bloc in Europe will continue to be exercised by the Commander-in-Chief of the NATO Joint Forces Investigative Committee, whose headquarters will remain in Casteau (Belgium).

The self-proclaimed area of ​​responsibility of the NATO Allied Strategic Command in Europe includes: the territories of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Turkey, Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary, the waters of the Northern, Irish, Norwegian, Baltic, Mediterranean, Black and the Seas of Azov, the English Channel, the Strait of Gibraltar and approaches to it from the Atlantic, the zone of the Baltic Straits, as well as the Canary Islands, coastal waters and airspace above them.

On the basis of the two main commands of the NATO Allied Forces in the North-West European and Central European Theater of Operations, the Regional Allied Command of NATO is being deployed "North"(Brunsum, the Netherlands), whose area of ​​responsibility includes the territories of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and the Czech Republic, the waters of the North, Irish, Norwegian, Baltic Seas, the English Channel and the area of ​​the Baltic Straits. He will be subordinated to two specific commands - the combined air forces (OVVS) and the combined naval forces (OVMS) NATO "North", as well as three sub-regional commands of the NATO Allied Forces ("North", "North-East" and "Center" ).

The NATO Air Force Command "North" (Ramstein, Germany) is deployed on the basis of the NATO Air Force Command in the Central European theater of operations. NATO Allied Command North (Northwood, Great Britain) is also entrusted with the task of commanding the fleet of the NATO Allied Forces RK fleet East of the NATO Allied Strategic Command in the Atlantic. The headquarters of the SRK Allied Forces of NATO "North", "North-East" and "Center" are located respectively in the cities of Yotta (Norway), Karup (Denmark) and Heidelberg (Germany).

The main command of the NATO Allied Forces in the South European theater of operations will be transformed into the Allied Command of the Allied Forces of NATO "South" with the subordination of two specific commands (OVVS and the Allied Forces "South") and four SRCs of the Allied Forces of NATO ("South-East", "South", "South- Center" and "South-West"), two of which ("South-Center" and "South-West") are new. The program for reorganizing the bloc's military structure provides for granting this command broader powers and independence in resolving operational issues, since its area of ​​responsibility includes the main areas of instability (the Balkans, the Middle East).

The zone of responsibility of the regional command of the Allied Forces of NATO "South" (Naples, Italy) includes the territories of Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey and Hungary, the waters of the Mediterranean, Black and Azov seas, the zone of the Black Sea straits, the Strait of Gibraltar and approaches to it from the Atlantic, as well as the Canary Islands, coastal waters and airspace above them.

The headquarters of the Allied Commands of the Allied Forces and the Allied Naval Forces of NATO "South" are located in Naples (Italy), and the SRK "South-East", "South-Center", "South" and "South-West", respectively, in the cities of Izmir (Turkey), Larissa (Greece), Verona (Italy) and Madrid (Spain).

As the developers of the new command and control structure note, the organization of the headquarters of these commands is basically identical, which indicates the desire of the leadership of the alliance to create universal command and control bodies capable of effectively managing the necessary forces in the area of ​​responsibility, as well as beyond. They will differ only in the ratio of officers - representatives various kinds armed forces included in the structure of the headquarters. It is obvious, for example, that in the NATO Allied Forces "Center", the advantage will be given to the ground forces, since it is formed on the basis of the command of the combined ground forces of NATO in the Central theater of operations. And in the NATO Joint Forces SRC "North" and "North-East", the presence of representatives of various types of armed forces will be balanced, since they are formed on the basis of the NATO Allied Commands in Northern Europe and in the area of ​​the Baltic Straits, respectively.

The need to abolish many command structures is due to military-political reasons, as well as financial considerations. Thus, significant funds were allocated from the NATO budget for the maintenance of commands that represented the interests of individual member countries and were staffed mainly by officers of national armed forces. Therefore, the command of the NATO strike naval forces in the southern theater of operations, which was actually the command and control structure of the US 6th Fleet, is not included in the NATO Allied Command South. It will operate under the auspices of the American command, with its main operational mission unchanged.

IN Atlantic zone instead of a four-level command and control system, coalition commands and headquarters are being created at two levels - strategic and operational-strategic (a total of six command and control bodies): NATO Allied Strategic Command in the Atlantic, three NATO Allied Commands ("East", "West" and "Southeast"), as well as two separate commands (combined underwater strength and strike fleet NATO in the Atlantic). At the same time, 17 control bodies of the third and fourth levels are being abolished, and their functions are being transferred to reorganized command structures.

The area of ​​responsibility of the NATO Strategic Command in the Atlantic includes the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland and Portugal, as well as the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean (north of the Tropic of Cancer), with the exception of the Canary Islands and the airspace above them.

Direct control of the united armed forces of the bloc in the Atlantic zone will be carried out by the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces of NATO in the Atlantic, whose headquarters will, as before, be located in the Norfolk Military Base (USA). Its main functions are reduced to maintaining troops and forces in the necessary combat readiness, organizing operational and combat training of command and control bodies, providing all-round support for the combined armed forces and developing plans for their use.

According to NATO experts, the NATO command structure in the Atlantic is effective both from a political and military point of view. The absence of intermediate links between the strategic and regional commands in the Atlantic makes it possible to quickly manage subordinate forces and assets in the event of a change in the military-political situation in the Atlantic zone and in Europe.

The NATO Allied Command West (Norfolk) is entrusted with the command of the troops (forces) of the bloc in the western part of the zone of responsibility of the NATO Allied Forces Strategic Command in the Atlantic. The NATO Allied Command "Vostok" (Northwood, Great Britain) exercises control over troops (forces) both in the area of ​​responsibility of the NATO Allied Forces Command in the Atlantic, and the fleet of the NATO Allied Forces Regional Command "North" of the NATO Allied Forces in Europe. Unlike the previous NATO Allied Forces Substation in the Iberian Atlantic, the area of ​​responsibility of the Allied Allied Forces Regional Command "South-East" (Lisbon, Portugal) excluded the waters of the Canary Islands, which came under the responsibility of the sub-regional Allied Command "South-West" .

The headquarters of the strike fleet in the Atlantic (Norfolk) is mainly represented by the headquarters of the US 2nd Fleet with the inclusion of representatives of the armed forces of at least ten member countries of the alliance. The deployment of the UV will be focused primarily on the Mediterranean Sea, i.e., in the interests of the UK in Europe and the RK "South".

Joint Submarine Command Atlantic (Norfolk) is directly subordinate to the NATO Strategic Command Atlantic. Its headquarters does not have international status, and the staffing table includes only officer positions in the US Navy. It is assumed that the commander of the joint submarine forces will mainly coordinate the actions of the allies in planning the combat use of submarine forces.

In general, since the Atlantic Command will deploy its forces mainly to the European zone (RK Vostok, attack fleet), the positions of the Supreme Command of the Allied Forces in Europe, the commanders of the South RC and the UV will be given to US representatives.

The transition to the alliance's new command and control structure is planned to be carried out in three stages and fully completed by 2003. During first the stage that ended on September 1, 1999, the organizational and staffing structure of the coalition governing bodies was finally determined, the composition, number, deployment were agreed, detailed plans for their formation were approved, and practical measures were begun to implement these plans. At this stage, the main attention was paid to the southern flank, which borders on areas of instability, which, in the opinion of the bloc's military-political leadership, constitute the greatest threat to the security of Western countries.

In particular, the headquarters of the sub-regional commands of the Allied Forces of NATO "South-West" and "South-Center" were formed. For them, complexes of buildings were allocated in the settlements of Retamares (15 km west of Madrid, Spain) and Ternavos (30 km northwest of Larisa, Greece), respectively. In addition, the previously existing commands of the joint ground forces of NATO in the southern theater of operations were reorganized into the corresponding sub-regional commands of the Allied Forces of NATO "South" (Verona, Italy) and "South-East" (Izmir, Turkey). Thus, at the end of this stage, four sub-regional commands of the Allied Forces of NATO began to function in the south of Europe: "South-West", "South", "South-Center" and "South-East".

During second During this stage, which will last until the end of 2000, the formation of the strategic and operational-strategic (regional) level commands, their subordinate branch commands of the combined air and naval forces, as well as the NATO Allied Forces SRC in the north and in the center of Europe, will be completed. Thus, measures are currently being taken to create a new regional command of the NATO Allied Forces "North" (Brunsum, the Netherlands) and the subordinate commands of the same name of the Allied Commands of the Allied Forces and the NATO Allied Forces. The bloc's leadership believes that by April 2000 the NATO Allied Commands at the operational-strategic and operational levels will be able to solve the entire range of tasks envisaged by the alliance's new concept of command and control.

During third the stage of reorganization of the command structure of the Allied Forces of NATO, which will last until April 2003, it is planned to solve the tasks of linking all levels of leadership, complete the construction and modernization of infrastructure, equipping bodies and command posts with modern means of automation and communications, as well as training personnel for new commands and headquarters .

As a result of these measures, the leadership of the alliance expects by mid-2003 to complete the creation of a flexible command and control system capable of ensuring the effective use of coalition forces in armed conflicts of varying intensity, including participation in peacekeeping operations both within the unit's area of ​​responsibility and outside it.

Despite the fact that the number of headquarters is being reduced from 65 to 20, no reduction in the number of their personnel is envisaged. As before, about 14,000 people will be employed in the management structures of NATO. Measures to reorganize the management structure and modernize the communications system, according to Western experts, will require about $500 million.

The new structure of NATO command and control bodies, according to its authors, has been developed "taking into account the tasks facing the bloc at the present time, and an assessment of the prospects for the development of the military-political and strategic situation in the Euro-Atlantic area and ensures the preservation of the bloc's leading role in new system European security. It provides for the possibility of connecting new members of the alliance to it without major reorganization measures. At the same time, it is a developing structure that can be modified and improved.

An analysis of the practical measures and plans of the NATO leadership to reorganize the bloc's command and control structure testifies to the desire of its leadership to adapt the North Atlantic Alliance to the new conditions of the situation and give it the functions of a military-political organization responsible for ensuring stability and protecting "Western values" on a global scale. At the same time, after the elimination of intermediate links of management, according to the leadership of the bloc, it will be able to more quickly respond to changes in the situation, expand the possibilities for resolving crisis situations of various kinds both in the alliance's area of ​​responsibility and beyond.

UNDER THE COUNCIL OF THE EU, the Committee on Politics and Security and military structure, which will eventually become the military committee of the European Union (EU), as well as a group of military experts - the basis of the future military headquarters of this organization.

It is planned that the committee on politics and security will consist of permanent representatives of the EU member states at the level of ambassadors. Its tasks will include determining the general foreign policy and security policy, including the formation of military potential, the creation of a mechanism for consultation with third countries wishing to participate in peacekeeping operations together with the states of the European Union, the development of relations between the EU and NATO. These bodies are still temporary, since they are not provided for by the treaties constituting constitutional basis European Union. That is why the intergovernmental conference of the participating countries should develop appropriate amendments to these documents in 2000. L According to Javier Solana, Secretary General of the Council of the EU, the creation of the new bodies was “an important milestone in the formation of a common foreign and security policy for the EU. This is the first step towards the formation of a single center in Brussels, which should provide political leadership and strategic planning for a common EU foreign policy.” According to X. Solana, “Our goal is for the European Union to be able to effectively respond to international crises using all the levers it has: diplomatic, economic, humanitarian and, finally, military force. We must be ready to take on more responsibility for regional security, especially in areas bordering the countries of the Union, where we are talking about the immediate interests of the EU. We must be prepared to use legal means to protect security beyond our borders."

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NATO, or the Organization of the countries of the North Atlantic bloc - military-political union, created in 1949 as a counterbalance to the growing danger posed by the Soviet Union, which pursued a policy of supporting communist movements in Europe. At first, the organization included 12 states - ten European, as well as the USA and Canada. Now NATO is the largest alliance, consisting of 28 countries.

Alliance Formation

A few years after the end of the war, at the end of the 1940s, there was a danger of new international conflicts- there was a coup in Czechoslovakia, undemocratic regimes were established in the countries of Eastern Europe. The governments of the Western European countries were concerned about the growing military power of the Land of Soviets and direct threats from it against Norway, Greece, and other states. In 1948 five countries of Western Europe signed a Treaty of Intention to Establish unified system to protect their sovereignty, which later became the basis for the formation of the North Atlantic Alliance.

The main goal of the organization was to ensure the security of its members and the political integration of European countries. Over the years of its existence, NATO has received new members several times. At the end of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st century, after the collapse of the USSR and the Organization of Warsaw Pact countries, the North Atlantic bloc took in several Eastern European countries and former republics USSR, which increased the number of troops of NATO countries.

"Containment" strategy

The duration of the treaty between NATO member countries at the time of its signing was set at twenty years, but it was also provided for its automatic extension. The text of the treaty emphasized the obligation not to carry out actions contrary to the UN Charter and to promote international security. A strategy of "containment" was proclaimed, which was based on the concept of "shield and sword". The basis of the policy of "containment" was supposed to be military power union. One of the ideologists of this strategy emphasized that of the five regions in the world with the possibility of creating military power - these are the USA, Great Britain, the USSR, Japan and Germany - one is controlled by the communists. Therefore, the main goal of the "containment" policy was to prevent the spread of the ideas of communism to other regions.

The concept of "shield and sword"

The declared concept was based on the superiority of the United States in the possession of nuclear weapons. The response to aggression was possible application nuclear weapons of low destructive power. The "shield" meant the ground forces of Europe with strong support from the air force and the navy, and the "sword" meant US strategic bombers with atomic weapons on board. According to this understanding, the following tasks were considered:

1. The US was supposed to carry out strategic bombing.

2. The main maritime operations were carried out by the American and allied navies.

3. The number of NATO troops was provided by mobilization in Europe.

4. The main short-range and air defense was also provided by European countries, led by Great Britain and France.

5. The remaining countries that are members of NATO were to assist in solving special tasks.

Formation of the armed forces of the alliance

However, in 1950 there was an attack North Korea to the South. This military conflict showed the insufficiency and limitations of the "deterrence" strategy. It was necessary to develop a new strategy that would be a continuation of the concept. It was the "forward defense" strategy, according to which it was decided to create the United Armed Forces of the bloc - coalition forces of NATO member states stationed in Europe under a single command. The development of the united forces of the bloc can be conditionally divided into four periods.

The NATO Council has developed a "short" plan, designed for four years. It was based on the possibility of using the military resources that at that time were at the disposal of NATO: the number of troops was 12 divisions, about 400 aircraft, a certain number of ships. The plan provided for the likelihood of conflict in the near future and the withdrawal of troops to the borders of Western Europe and to the ports of the Atlantic. At the same time, the development of "medium" and "long-term" plans was carried out. The first of them provided for the maintenance of the armed forces in a state of combat readiness, and in the event of a military conflict, the containment of enemy forces up to the Rhine River. The second was designed to prepare for the probable " big war”, which provided for the conduct of the main military operations already east of the Rhine.

The strategy of "massive retaliation"

As a result of these decisions, NATO's troop strength rose from four million in 1950 to 6.8 million in three years. The number of regular US armed forces has also increased - from one and a half million people in two years it has grown by 2.5 times. This period is characterized by the transition to the strategy of "massive retaliation". The United States no longer had a monopoly on nuclear weapons, but it did have a superiority in delivery vehicles as well as in numbers, which gave it some advantage in a possible war. This strategy involved waging a total nuclear war against the Soviet country. Therefore, the United States saw its task in strengthening strategic aviation to inflict nuclear strikes deep behind enemy lines.

Doctrine of limited war

The beginning of the second period in the history of the development of the bloc's armed forces can be considered the signing Paris Agreements 1954. According to the doctrine of limited warfare, it was decided to provide the countries of Europe with short- and long-range missiles. The role of the combined ground forces of the allies as one of the constituent parts of the NATO system was growing. The creation of missile bases on the territory of European countries was envisaged.

The total number of NATO troops was more than 90 divisions, more than three thousand delivery vehicles atomic weapons. In 1955, the OVR was created - a few months later, the first summit meeting dedicated to the problems of detente took place. During these years, there was a certain warming of relations between the USA and the USSR, nevertheless, the arms race continued.

In 1960 NATO had more than five million troops. If we add reserve units, territorial formations and the national guard to them, then the total number of NATO troops amounted to over 9.5 million people, about five hundred operational-tactical missile launchers and more than 25 thousand tanks, about 8 thousand aircraft, of which 25% - carriers of atomic weapons on board and two thousand warships.

Arms race

The third period was characterized by a new strategy of "flexible response" and the rearmament of the combined forces. In the 1960s, the international situation worsened again. Berlin and Caribbean crises, then there were the events of the Prague Spring. A five-year plan for the development of the armed forces was adopted, providing for the creation of a single fund for communication systems and other measures.

In the 70s of the 20th century, the fourth period of development of the combined forces of the coalition began and another concept of the “decapitation strike” was adopted, which made it a priority to destroy the enemy’s communication centers so that he would not have time to decide on a retaliatory strike. On the basis of this concept, the production of the latest generation of cruise missiles was launched, with high striking accuracy of given targets. NATO troops in Europe, the number of which increased every year, could not but disturb the Soviet Union. Therefore, he also set about modernizing the means of delivering atomic weapons. And then a new aggravation of relations began. However, with the new leadership coming to power in the Soviet Union, a radical turn took place in the country's international politics, and in the late 1990s, the Cold War was put to an end.

NATO arms reduction

As part of the reorganization of NATO forces, by 2006 it was planned to create a NATO Response Force, the number of troops of which would be 21,000 people representing the ground forces, air force and navy. These troops had to have all the necessary means to conduct operations of any intensity. As part of the Rapid Reaction Forces there will be units of the national armies, replacing each other every six months. The main part of the military force was to be provided by Spain, France and Germany, as well as the United States. It was also necessary to improve the command structure by type of armed forces, reducing the number of command and control bodies by 30%. If we look at the number of NATO troops in Europe over the years and compare these figures, we can see a significant reduction in the number of weapons that the alliance kept in Europe. The United States began to withdraw its troops from Europe, some of them were transferred home, and some - to other regions.

NATO expansion

In the 1990s, NATO began consultations with partners on the Partnership for Peace programs - both Russia and the Mediterranean Dialogue took part in it. As part of these programs, the organization decided to admit new members to the organization - former Eastern European states. In 1999, Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary joined NATO, as a result of which the bloc received 360 thousand troops, more than 500 military aircraft and helicopters, fifty warships, about 7.5 thousand tanks and other equipment.

The second wave of expansion added seven countries to the bloc - four Eastern European countries, as well as the former Baltic republics of the Soviet Union. As a result, the number of NATO troops in Eastern Europe increased by another 142,000 people, 344 aircraft, over 1,500 tanks and several dozen warships.

Relations between NATO and Russia

These events were negatively perceived in Russia, but the terrorist attack of 2001 and the emergence of international terrorism again brought the positions of Russia and NATO closer. The Russian Federation provided its airspace to the block's aircraft for bombing in Afghanistan. At the same time, Russia opposed the expansion of NATO to the east and the inclusion of the former republics of the USSR into it. Particularly strong contradictions arose between them in connection with Ukraine and Georgia. The prospects for relations between NATO and Russia are of concern to many today, and different points of view are expressed on this issue. The number of NATO and Russian troops is practically comparable. No one seriously imagines a military confrontation between these forces, and in the future it is necessary to look for options for dialogue and the adoption of compromise solutions.

NATO involvement in local conflicts

Since the 1990s, NATO has been involved in several local conflicts. The first of these was Operation Desert Storm. When the armed forces of Iraq entered Kuwait in August 1990, a decision was made to deploy multinational forces there and a powerful group was created. The number of NATO troops in the operation "Desert Storm" amounted to more than two thousand aircraft with a stock of materiel, 20 strategic bombers, over 1,700 tactical aircraft and about 500 carrier-based aircraft. The entire aviation group was placed under the command of the 9th air army US Air Force. After a long bombardment, the coalition ground forces defeated Iraq.

NATO peacekeeping operations

The North Atlantic bloc also participated in peacekeeping operations in areas of the former Yugoslavia. With the sanction of the UN Security Council in December 1995, the ground forces of the alliance were introduced into Bosnia and Herzegovina to prevent military clashes between the communities. After the implementation of the air operation, codenamed "Deliberate Force", the war was ended by the Dayton Agreement. In 1998-1999 During the armed conflict in the southern province of Kosovo and Metohija, a peacekeeping contingent was introduced under the command of NATO, the number of troops amounted to 49.5 thousand people. In 2001, in the armed conflict in Macedonia, the active actions of the European Union and the North Atlantic bloc forced the parties to sign the Ohrid Agreement. NATO's major operations are also Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Libya.

New concept of NATO

At the beginning of 2010, NATO adopted a new strategic concept, according to which the North Atlantic bloc should continue to solve three main tasks. This:

Today, the number of NATO troops in the world is, according to data for 2015, 1.5 million soldiers, of which 990 thousand are American troops. The joint rapid reaction units are 30 thousand people, they are supplemented by airborne and other special units. These can arrive at their destination in a short time - within 3-10 days.

Russia and the member states of the alliance are engaged in a constant political dialogue on the most important security issues. The Russia-NATO Council has set up working groups for cooperation in various fields. Despite differences, both sides are aware of the need to find common priorities in international security.