N A T O  -   SUPER SOLDIER & CYBER WARFARE PROGRAMMES

The cure for cancer is the Holy Grail of medical achievement, a Crusade that is within our grasp.

In this fictional John Storm adventure, NATO is acutely aware of socialist-communists threats to world stabilization, and the growing number of cyber attacks. NATO is in search of solutions that in part align with the EU's cancer research programmes, in the development of superhuman soldiers. Enhanced men and women who can perform special military operations, giving the edge to their elite forces, in the event of military actions that threaten world peace. Including commercial activities designed to undermine the economies of allied nations, some of which rely on cyber warfare; digital attacks on, and theft of sensitive data, corporate hacking, and virus implantation.

In this regard, NATO has made $billions of dollars of funding available to their allies, sparking proposals, and underpinning academics conducting research in this area. The aim being to counter aggressive economic agendas, aimed at world expansion and asset domination, purchases of raw materials, control of ocean transport and ports, etc. Combined with military attacks that threaten the physical borders of Organization members.

It is a Cold War of sorts. Presently experiencing a rise in temperature to Luke-Warm, tending to Simmer, as socialist/communist regimes, seek to assert their policies and politics in a way that gives them effective control of international trade. Another way of waging war, without firing bullets and missiles, but equally enslaving of the target populations.

The Russo-Ukraine war, exemplified the need for asset endurance, both physical and mental, in the face of attempts to make geographical gains, control of ports and grain. Intelligence gathering and infrastructure attacks, also became a priority. As the source of malicious cyber infiltrations were identified as being Russian and Chinese in origin.

NATO INNOVATION FUND

The NATO Innovation Fund is the world's first multi-sovereign venture capital fund and will invest in start-ups developing cutting-edge technological solutions, leveraging the potential for commercial innovation to address critical defence and security challenges. The Fund’s Limited Partners include 23 NATO Allies at the highest levels of government, venture capital, innovation and defence. The Fund will make direct investments into start-ups located in any of the 23 participating Allied nations, as well as indirect investments into deep tech funds with a trans-Atlantic impact. It will provide patient capital to meet the needs and timelines of deep tech innovators and to secure an enduring future for the Alliance’s 1 billion citizens.

NATO SECURITY INVESTMENT PROGRAMME

The NSIP contributes directly to deterrence, defence and security, by supporting capability development and delivery, particularly on air, land and naval facilities, bulk fuel pipeline systems and storage, reinforcement, sustainment and enablement capabilities, core communications, information technology networks, satellite communications and readiness initiatives.

The RPPB recommends a NSIP ceiling of EUR 1,324.4 million in 2024, noting the planning figure of EUR 1,710.6 million for 2025 and that submitted requirements rise to EUR 3,565.3 million in 2028 and are projected to reach EUR 5,786.4 million in 2030.

MILITARY BUDGET

The Military Budget contributes, inter alia, to strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defence posture, provide core military capabilities, fulfil responsibilities assumed by NATO in Alliance Operations and Missions, and to foster interoperability of Alliance forces. NATO Military Authorities’ projections are predicated on the development of the Concept for Deterrence and Defence of the Euro-Atlantic Area (DDA) and the NATO Warfighting Capstone Concept (NWCC).

In light of the radically changed security environment, Allies have accelerated strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defence and given the 2022 Madrid Summit commitment on common funding as well as the need to deliver on NATO 2030 requirements, the RPPB recommends a total Military Budget ceiling of EUR 2,128.3 million for 2024, noting that planning figures rise to EUR 3,097.6 million in 2028 and are projected to reach EUR 4,390.6 million in 2030.

ABOUT NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (French: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, OTAN), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 31 member states – 29 European and two North American. Established in the aftermath of World War II, the organization implemented the North Atlantic Treaty, signed in Washington, D.C., on 4 April 1949. NATO is a collective security system: its independent member states agree to defend each other against attacks by third parties. During the Cold War, NATO operated as a check on the threat posed by the Soviet Union. The alliance remained in place after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact, and has been involved in military operations in the Balkans, the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa. The organization's motto is animus in consulendo liber (Latin for "a mind unfettered in deliberation").

NATO's main headquarters are located in Brussels, Belgium, while NATO's military headquarters are near Mons, Belgium. The alliance has increased its NATO Response Force deployments in Eastern Europe and the combined militaries of all NATO members include around 3.5 million soldiers and personnel. Their combined military spending as of 2022 constituted around 55 percent of the global nominal total. Moreover, members have agreed to reach or maintain the target defence spending of at least two percent of their GDP by 2024.

NATO formed with twelve founding members and has added new members nine times, most recently when Finland joined the alliance on 4 April 2023, exactly 74 years after NATO's formation. Following the acceptance of its application for membership in June 2022, Sweden is anticipated to become the 32nd member, with its Accession Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty now in the process of being ratified by the existing members. In addition, NATO currently recognizes Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, and Ukraine as aspiring members. Enlargement has led to tensions with non-member Russia, one of the twenty additional countries participating in NATO's Partnership for Peace programme. Another nineteen countries are involved in institutionalized dialogue programmes with NATO.

AFGHANISTAN

The September 11 attacks in the United States caused NATO to invoke Article 5 of the NATO Charter for the first time in the organization's history. The Article states that an attack on any member shall be considered to be an attack on all. The invocation was confirmed on 4 October 2001 when NATO determined that the attacks were indeed eligible under the terms of the North Atlantic Treaty. The eight official actions taken by NATO in response to the attacks included Operation Eagle Assist and Operation Active Endeavour, a naval operation in the Mediterranean Sea designed to prevent the movement of terrorists or weapons of mass destruction, and to enhance the security of shipping in general, which began on 4 October 2001.

The alliance showed unity: on 16 April 2003, NATO agreed to take command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which included troops from 42 countries. The decision came at the request of Germany and the Netherlands, the two countries leading ISAF at the time of the agreement, and all nineteen NATO ambassadors approved it unanimously. The handover of control to NATO took place on 11 August, and marked the first time in NATO's history that it took charge of a mission outside the north Atlantic area.

ISAF was initially charged with securing Kabul and surrounding areas from the Taliban, al Qaeda and factional warlords, so as to allow for the establishment of the Afghan Transitional Administration headed by Hamid Karzai. In October 2003, the UN Security Council authorized the expansion of the ISAF mission throughout Afghanistan, and ISAF subsequently expanded the mission in four main stages over the whole of the country.

On 31 July 2006, the ISAF additionally took over military operations in the south of Afghanistan from a US-led anti-terrorism coalition. Due to the intensity of the fighting in the south, in 2011 France allowed a squadron of Mirage 2000 fighter/attack aircraft to be moved into the area, to Kandahar, in order to reinforce the alliance's efforts. During its 2012 Chicago Summit, NATO endorsed a plan to end the Afghanistan war and to remove the NATO-led ISAF Forces by the end of December 2014. ISAF was disestablished in December 2014 and replaced by the follow-on training Resolute Support Mission.

On 14 April 2021, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance had agreed to start withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan by May 1. Soon after the withdrawal of NATO troops started, the Taliban launched an offensive against the Afghan government, quickly advancing in front of collapsing Afghan Armed Forces. By 15 August 2021, Taliban militants controlled the vast majority of Afghanistan and had encircled the capital city of Kabul. Some politicians in NATO member states have described the chaotic withdrawal of Western troops from Afghanistan and the collapse of the Afghan government as the greatest debacle that NATO has suffered since its founding.

Proving, that there is no room for complacency. In nature, it is kill - or be killed. On the world stage, it is demonstrate strength, or suffer the consequences.

BUDGET

The increase in the number of NATO members over the years has not been sustained by an increase in the defense expenditures. A target of 2% GDP was formulated as a trial balloon at the 2006 NATO Riga summit by then-NATO Ambassador Victoria Nuland. Almost a decade later the Nuland target had been scorned by most, for example Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands. Only three alliance members did so in 2014. US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel was instrumental in formulating the 2014 NATO Wales summit declaration, in which the Allies agreed to increase (over a period of ten years) their defence expenditures to the Nuland target. In 2021, eight out of 30 member states achieved 2% GDP contribution to defense spending. Of the rest, 12 spent under 1.5% GDP in 2022, falling well short of the Nuland target. Former UK Secretary of Defense Michael Fallon suggested in May 2023 that the Nuland target should be raised to 2.5% GDP and the defense budget should be augmented by a corresponding reduction in expenditure on energy subsidies and refugee subsidies, amongst other categories.

SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES

NATO Special Operations Forces (SOF) are elite military units designed to undertake complex and dynamic security missions within the evolving strategic environment. They complement NATO land, air, maritime, cyber and space capabilities and are essential components of multi-domain operations – particularly in situations requiring clandestine (and potentially high-risk) operations. Special Operations Forces support the Alliance’s three core tasks of deterrence and defence, crisis prevention and management, and cooperative security.

SOF KEY FEATURES

The successful conduct of special operations relies on individual and small-unit proficiency. These highly trained forces use specialised operational skills, applied with adaptability, improvisation, innovation and self-reliance. The small size, unique capabilities and self-sufficiency (for limited periods) of SOF units provide the Alliance with additional options for a military response that may not entail the risk of escalation normally associated with the employment of inherently larger or more visible conventional forces.

NATO SOF are an asset employed to help achieve tactical, operational and strategic objectives. They are organised so that they are able to operate seamlessly alongside land, air, maritime, cyber and space units. This allows Allied and partner forces to act together coherently and efficiently during NATO operations and exercises.

ALLIED SPECIAL OPS FORCES COMMAND (SOFCOM)

SOFCOM is co-located with Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium. It falls under the operational command of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). Twenty-seven NATO member countries and three partners (Austria, Ireland and NATO Invitee Sweden) are represented among the 200-plus headquarters staff.

CYBER WARS

Cyber threats to the security of the Alliance are complex, destructive and coercive, and are becoming ever more frequent. Cyberspace is contested at all times and malicious cyber events occur every day, from low-level to technologically sophisticated attacks. NATO and Allies are responding by strengthening the Alliance’s ability to detect, prevent and respond to malicious cyber activities. NATO and its Allies rely on strong and resilient cyber defences to fulfil the Alliance’s three core tasks of deterrence and defence, crisis prevention and management, and cooperative security. The Alliance needs to be prepared to defend its networks and operations against the growing sophistication of the cyber threats it faces.

NATO'S APPROACH TO CYBER DEFENCE

Cyberspace is contested at all times as malign actors increasingly seek to destabilise the Alliance by employing malicious cyber activities and campaigns. Potential adversaries seek to degrade our critical infrastructure, interfere with our government services, extract intelligence, steal intellectual property and impede our military activities. Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has highlighted the extent to which cyber activities are a feature of modern conflict. Russia has also intensified its hybrid actions against NATO Allies and partners, including through malicious cyber activities. China's stated ambitions and coercive policies challenge NATO's interests, security and values. China's malign hybrid and cyber operations, and confrontational rhetoric and disinformation, target Allies and harm NATO's security. Allies are actively countering the growing number of substantial and persistent cyber threats – including to their democratic systems and critical infrastructures – including where this activity forms part of hybrid campaigns.

COOPERATING WITH INDUSTRY

The private sector is a key player in cyberspace, and technological innovations and expertise from the private sector are crucial to enable NATO and Allies to respond effectively to cyber threats.
 

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https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/official_texts_217756.htm

https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_217864.htm

https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_78170.htm

https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/official_texts_217756.htm

https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_217864.htm

https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_78170.htm

  NATO IS FUNDING RESEARCH INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUPERHUMAN SOLDIERS AND MEANS TO COMBAT THE RISING INCIDENCES OF CYBER ATTACKS

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