- NATO leaders previously agreed to ready 300,000 troops for rapid deploymentÂ
NATO is drawing up plans to send American troops to the frontlines of Europe in the event of an all-out conflict with Russia, it has been revealed.
New ‘land corridors’ are being carved out to quickly funnel soldiers through central Europe without local bureaucratic impediments, allowing NATO forces to pounce in an instant should Putin‘s devastating war in Ukraine move further west.
The plans are said to include contingencies in case of Russian bombardment, letting troops sweep into the Balkans via corridors in Italy, Greece and Turkey, or towards Russia’s northern border via Scandinavia, officials told The Telegraph.
Tensions have ratcheted up in recent weeks, with Russian President Vladimir Putin openly acknowledging the ‘possibility’ of ‘a full-scale Third World War’ as he threatens ‘fatal consequences‘ for western allies allowing Ukraine use of their weapons on Russian soil.
Ukraine’s challenge in repelling the Russian invasion has moved European leaders to take a harder stance on Moscow as the war rages on into its third year, some now threatening to send troops east and making record investments into defence.
According to the plans American soldiers would land at one of five ports across Europe, four allowing access to the western Ukrainian border and a fifth reaching the Russian border via Finland.
NATO already had plans in place for US troops to deploy in the Netherlands before moving towards Poland by train in the event of war.
But amid warnings from Norway’s top general that Europe only has two to three years to prepare before Russia could realistically attack the bloc, NATO is said to be exploring possible countermeasures.
The expanded corridors are hoped to offer a failsafe in case logistical or communication lines are severed, shoring up routes to quickly move across Europe should Russia target a member state.
In the event the route through central Europe becomes compromised, allied troops would be able to move through Italy into Slovenia and the Balkans, bypassing the Alps and Switzerland.
By JAMES REYNOLD
