Written by Dr. Konstantinos P. Balomenos
The public debate ahead of the NATO Summit in Ankara does not reflect the depth of the strategic changes taking place, as the Alliance moves from a model of collective defense to a framework of constant operational readiness. This new strategy, which highlights the defense industry and the ability to maintain power over time, directly affects the position of member states, including Greece, requiring it to become an active “security producer”.
ARTICLE SUMMARY
The main points of the article
- NATO is moving from a collective defense model to a framework of constant operational readiness, with the concept of the “Ready Alliance” reflecting the new strategic reality. – Deterrence no longer depends only on military power, but also on defense industrial capacity and the resilience of supply chains, as defense evolves into an integrated productive and industrial system. – Greece is called upon to redesign its strategy, transforming itself from a simple “security consumer” into an active “security producer”, strengthening its overall deterrent capacity.
The public debate before the start of the NATO Summit At Anchor, both in Greece and internationally, continues to focus on issues of a communication and political nature, which do not reflect the depth of the strategic changes taking place within the Alliance and which will determine its character in the next decade.
In particular, the ΝΑΤΟ seems to be gradually transitioning from a model of collective defense, in which the primary objectives were deterrence and defense, crisis prevention and management, and cooperative security, to a more complex framework of continuous operational readiness.
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In this new context, deterrence no longer depends solely on military power, but also on the defense industrial capacity which ensures ammunition stocks and their rapid replenishment capabilities, the resilience of supply chains, as well as the ability to provide sustained support to operations in conditions of long-term strategic competition between state and non-state actors.
In particular, the possibility of sustained support operations by NATO is gaining in importance, as the Alliance is no longer required to respond only to the level of initial force deployment, but also to maintain its operational activity over time.
This development also strengthens the Alliance's deterrent capability, as in the old model of collective defense, deterrence was based on the ability of allies to "dispose of power", while in the new model of constant operational readiness, deterrence is based on the ability to "maintain power over time".
In this context, the concept of deterrence It is now acquiring a multidimensional character, as it is transformed into a comprehensive national and allied capability for continuous support of military operations.
The Readiness Alliance reflects the new strategic reality
In this light, the concept of the Alliance of Readiness, reflects the new strategic reality taking shape within NATO and is an indication of a deeper change in its strategic physiognomy.
Although it is not yet aofficial institutional terminology of the Alliance, the term accurately describes the evolving direction resulting from the decisions of the latest Summits.
This transition is not coincidental, but is part of a gradual readjustment NATO towards a model of continuous operational readiness.
In this context, the Preparedness Action Plan (Readiness Action Plan), launched at the Wales Summit in 2014, was a pivotal point in strengthening the Alliance's deterrent and defensive posture.
Accordingly, at the Brussels Summit in 2018, the adoption of the Preparedness Initiative further strengthened NATO's rapid reaction capability, both in support of collective defence and in managing high-intensity crises and responding to threats with a 360-degree approach.
The operational logic of this initiative is reflected in the objective of making significant, highly prepared forces available, capable of being deployed at short notice, enhancing the deterrent credibility of the Alliance in conditions of rapid escalation.
Also, the Communiqué of the Hague Summit (The Hague Summit Declaration, 2025) demonstrates the shift in NATO's focus from the narrow concept of deterrence towards a broader set of factors, such as defense industrial capacity, the resilience of member states, operational readiness, production capabilities and the infrastructure to support protracted operations.
At the same time, in the modern vocabulary of the Alliance, the concept of readiness It is no longer used in a general and abstract way, but is increasingly associated with the concept of warfighting readiness, denoting not simply the availability of forces, but the ability to conduct and support high-intensity operations over time.
In this light, it becomes clear that for the ΝΑΤΟ Readiness is gaining particular importance, as it is no longer seen as a state of instantaneous availability of forces, but as a lasting strategic capability that requires continuous operational, industrial and technological support.
This development explains why the Alliance places so much emphasis on increasing defense spending to 5% of its member states' GDP.
This choice is not simply a budgetary decision, but reflects the need to finance a new deterrence model, which requires sustained production capacity, technological superiority and operational readiness over time.
Parallel, the defense industry emerges as a key pillar of the Alliance's strategic power.
The experience of the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East
The experience of recent wars in Ukraine and the Middle East demonstrated that even the most advanced weapons systems lose their operational value when they cannot be supported by adequate production of ammunition, spare parts and critical equipment.
Therefore, defense is no longer treated exclusively as a military power and is evolving into an integrated productive and industrial system (Defense as Industrial System), in which the ability to produce, support, replenish and maintain military power over time is an integral element of deterrence and a determining factor of strategic power.
In other words, deterrence is no longer judged solely by the possession of advanced weapons systems or the size of armed forces, but primarily by the ability of a state or an alliance to maintain, sustain and replenish their operational effectiveness throughout a protracted conflict.
By extension, deterrence shifts from logic the possession of military power in the logic of maintaining and replenishing power, where the productive and industrial base becomes just as critical as the military capabilities themselves.
In conclusion, true strategic superiority is no longer measured solely by the number or technological superiority of weapons systems possessed by a country or an alliance, but by its ability to maintain their operational effectiveness over time.
This change is not an abstract strategic development, but directly affects the position of member states within the Alliance, including Greece.
Specifically, to date, the country's geopolitical value is linked to its geographical location in the southeastern wing of NATO, its contribution to collective defense, and its participation in its missions. Alliance, as well as its role as a pillar of stability and security in the Eastern Mediterranean.
However, in the new strategic environment This value cannot be limited to geographical and operational terms, but is increasingly linked to a state's ability to contribute to maintaining the Alliance's operational readiness over time.
The new challenge for Greece
Under this prism, Greece It is called upon to emerge, in addition to being a geographical security hub, as a reliable provider of military capabilities, resilient infrastructure and productive support for collective defense.
He/She must to redesign its strategy, with an emphasis on leveraging its institutional capabilities within the Alliance and strengthening its role as a reliable and operationally effective ally through the integration of its defense capabilities, its defense industry and its alliance commitments into a single framework.
Furthermore, in order to upgrade its role within the Alliance, Greece must contribute substantially to the shaping of NATO's new operational capabilities and actively participate in the shaping of its new strategic orientation.
In this context, the strengthening of Greek deterrence capacity cannot be viewed in isolation or exclusively from the narrow perspective of acquiring equipment, but must be part of a broader strategic logic of continuous operational contribution to the Alliance.
Η interoperability of the Armed Forces, Participation in high-intensity and long-term missions, as well as the development of infrastructure to support and host allied forces, constitute critical parameters that strengthen the country's role in this new environment.
At the same time, the upgrading of the domestic defense industry, the ability to co-produce, maintain and support weapons systems is no longer simply an economic, technological or defense option, but is acquiring increased strategic importance, as it is directly linked to Greece's ability to actively participate in the new "security production" model that is taking shape. within NATO.
In particular, Greece has the strategic opportunity to take advantage of the changes taking place in NATO and transform itself from a simple "security consumer" into an active "security producer", enhancing its overall deterrent capacity.
Therefore, the real challenge for Greece It is not simply its participation in this new security architecture, but its active and systematic contribution to its formation and its timely utilization for the benefit of national and allied interests.
Greece has geopolitical advantages, significant defense resources and valuable power factors.
What is required is the formulation of a coherent national strategy, which will combine military power, defense and industrial capacity, technological superiority and diplomatic initiative.
Written by Dr. Konstantinos P. Balomenos, Political Scientist – Internationalist
Source https://www.enikos.gr/arthra/
Photo From Current file: Official emblem of NATO at www.nato.int, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8893088- https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/
