NATO set to increase its high-readiness forces to over 300,000 in massive military buildup

Stoltenberg has said NATO’s updated Strategic Concept will likely refer to Russia as the “most significant and direct threat” to security.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday that the military alliance is about to increase the number of its high-readiness forces to over 300,000.

NATO leaders will meet in Madrid, Spain this week to decide on the strategic concept, the most important document in the alliance.

The text will act as a guide to the group's future political and military development and will be updated roughly every decade.

The alliance intends to recognize Russia as the most significant and direct threat to security in the wake of Putin's actions.

A new strategic concept for a new security reality will be discussed at the NATO summit in Madrid this week, according to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

The number of NATO's high readiness forces will be increased to over 300,000.

NATO has an enhanced response force of around 40,000 troops.

The troops will become familiar with local terrain so that they can respond quickly to any emergencies.

NATO members would need to invest more in the military build up.

It will be the eighth year in a row of increased spending by European allies and Canada according to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

The group will have invested $350 billion more by the end of the year. NATO agreed to spend 2% of GDP on defense within a decade.

The 2% benchmark is now considered a floor.