Global Operating Environment

Additional criteria that should be consid- strength—defined as the extent to which that force ered include the quality of the local infrastructure, can accomplish missions—also requires examina- the area’s political stability, whether or not a coun- tion of the environments in which the force oper- try is embroiled in any conflicts, and the degree to ates. [...] The new concept docu- in support of alliance deterrence e!orts in eastern ment takes into account the comprehensive chang- Europe, and many have renewed their commitment es in the transatlantic security environment that to NATO spending benchmarks and rebuilding have taken place in the past 12 years and clearly military capabilities that have atrophied over the recognizes the growing threat posed. [...] The member states of the state in April 20235 and is expected to welcome European Union (EU), along with the United States, Sweden eventually as well.6 The alliance is updat- account for approximately half of the global economy, ing regional defense plans, is transitioning to a new and the U. [...] War is costly, both ence in the Mediterranean theater, and e!orts to in preparation and in undertaking, and also gener- destabilize Western cohesion in addition to the ates additional costs (such as support for refugees possibility that Russia might expand the scope and disruption of economic activity) beyond the of its aggression to include the eastern states of straightforward expense of equipme. [...] A heritage.org Iceland; and the Adriatic and Western Balkans Baltic States, deploy[ing] additional aircraft (Slovenia, Albania, Montenegro, and North to Poland, and augment[ing] the national air Macedonia) in addition to “supplement[ing] policing capabilities of the Bulgarian and Ro- the existing NATO Air Policing forces in the manian air forces”;126 The Heritage Foundation | heritage.org/Military.