NATO plans quick mobilization of US forces through European 'land corridors' amid Russian threat

NATO reportedly has plans in place to rapidly deploy troops if Vladimir Putin presses Russia into an invasion of a European country

NATO is reportedly developing strategies to deploy US troops swiftly to the front lines in the event of a Russian ground assault on Europe. According to NATO insiders, "land corridors" might enable American forces to reach one of five designated ports via predetermined routes to counteract Russian military advances. Current arrangements involve troops arriving at Dutch ports and then travelling by train through Germany to reach Poland.

Behind closed doors, work is underway to extend these plans, adding alternative port entries. NATO aims to maintain open communication lines, preventing disruption by Russian forces in case of conflict.

During last year's NATO summit in Lithuania, the alliance resolved to have 300,000 troops ready for rapid deployment to protect its members. The head of NATO's Jsec logistics command, Lt Gen Alexander Sollfrank, spoke to The Telegraph about the situation in Ukraine: "Ukraine suffers very much from these Russian long-range missile attacks on the logistic systems," reports the Mirror.

He emphasized the need for "resilience, robustness, reserves, and redundancies" within NATO's planning. Lt Gen Sollfrank outlined contingency measures, stating that if NATO forces entering via the Netherlands face Russian attacks or if key northern European ports are taken out, the alliance would redirect its focus to southern ports in Italy, Greece, and Turkey.

US troops could be transported from Italian ports through Slovenia and Croatia to Hungary, which borders Ukraine. There are also routes planned for troop movements from Turkish and Greek ports via Bulgaria and Romania to NATO's eastern flank.

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Additional strategies include moving forces through Balkan ports and across Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Northern European ports in the Netherlands, Germany, and the Baltic states are deemed at high risk of Russian missile strikes.

Lt Gen Sollfrank noted: "Observing and assessing the Russian war in Ukraine, we have observed Russia has attacked Ukraine's logistics bases. That must lead to the conclusion that it is clear that huge logistics bases, as we know it from Afghanistan and Iraq, are no longer possible because they will be attacked and destroyed very early on in a conflict situation."

He further commented on air defence challenges: "With regards to air defence... It's always scarce. I cannot imagine a situation that you have enough air defence. That is a good example where a military principle applies: 'If you want to be strong everywhere, you are strong nowhere."

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