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UK PM, NATO chief, SACE to discuss containment strategy

One of the main subjects of discussion will be the preparation of an organized conceptual response of the Alliance to new security challenges associated with Russia's actions in Ukraine

BRUSSELS, August 04, 6:29 /ITAR-TASS/. UK Prime Minister David Cameron would meet with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Philip M. Breedlove, NATO's Supreme Allied Commandrr in Europe, on Monday to discuss preparation for a routine summit of the North Atlantic Alliance in Wales early in September, the press service of the Alliance announced Sunday. The press service staff declined to specify details of the forthcoming discussion.

At the same time, it became known to an Itar-Tass correspondent from diplomatic sources that one of the main subjects of discussion will be the preparation of an organized conceptual response of the Alliance to new security challenges associated with Russia's actions in Ukraine".

A source said, "At the summit in Wales, it will be suggested that NATO countries take long-term measures of response to new security threats. Specifically to achieve an increase in the military expenditure of all countries of the Alliance with a view to gaining additional defence possibilities".

"The member-states of the Alliance will also be required to guarantee the safety of NATO's Eastern European countries through building up the presence of the troops of the Alliance in Eastern Europe or a high level of preparedness for a rapid deployment of reinforcements there. Those present (at the summit) will also discuss an increase in the strength of NATO Rapid Deployment Force (rotational Permanent Readiness contingent at a strength of 25,000, which is at the disposal of the Alliance's Command)," the source added.

"Besides, it is supposed to reconsider the time-table of the Alliance's strategic military exercises which are designed to enhance the preparedness of the NATO military to repel any military threats," the source pointed out.

"Those present at the summit will, certainly, also consider a revision of further relations with Russia in the long term," he added.

So, this actually refers to the Alliance's preparing a strategy of military containment of the Russian Federation. NATO's turning to its traditional objectives would make it possible to give new sense to the Organization, for the Alliance finalizes its campaign in Afghanistan on January 1, 2015, the campaign which over the past decade has been sense-making to the Alliance in the light of NATO's lack of a distinct outside foe.

For the Alliance finally to start to follow this road, it will be yet needed to win the backing of the continental states of Western Europe by the time the summit in Wales is held. However, those states as part of NATO rarely dispute American decisions.