NATO of 2014

NATO nations find themselves again staring down an old and familiar foe.

Yet decades of detente have left NATO ill-prepared to counter Russian aggression, the very threat it was created to face.

In the thawing of the Cold War, members of the military alliance dropped their guard, cut defence budgets and along the way lost their readiness, even their willingness, to confront their one-time nemesis.

In recent months, experts have warned that the NATO of 2014 is poorly prepared to counter Russian military moves and that urgent action is needed.

Over the last five years, Russia has boosted its defence spending by 50 per cent while NATO nations have cut their military budgets by 20 per cent, even up to 40 per cent, according to NATO.

Canada has been part of that trend.

After years of increases, the defence budget was cut between 2011 and 2014 as part of the government's overall belt-tightening. According to a briefing document prepared for Defence Minister Hob Nicholson, those cuts have totalled $3 billion since 2012-13, prompting defence officials to warn of "challenges" trying to balance department priorities with their allotted budget.

-NATO figures show Canada spends 1 per perent of its gross domestic product on defence. That puts Canada near the bottom of the 28 NATO nations and below the 2 per cent benchmark that NATO is encouraging its member states to adopt.

"The most important thing NATO can do is demonstrate that if is serious about defending the security of all of its members and it will do so at all costs.

NATO is likely to opt for the middle ground by reinforcing a regional base in Szczecin, Poland, with additional personnel and equipment to give it an improved ability to respond to threats.

"The focus is on the ability to respond to crises and threats, not the permanent basing of combat troops in eastern Europe," said one military source familiar with the situation.

As well, the alliance will likely agree to hold more regular exercises and make them more ambitious, reversing a trend brought on by shrinking defence budgets.

Canada has joined NATO's "reassurance" mission, announced in April, meant as an interim counter to Russia. Six fighters were deployed to Romania for air patrols and four of those have now moved to Lithuania, The frigate HMCS Toronto is on patrol in the Mediterranean Sea, Canadian soldiers have been on exercise in Poland and two dozen military personnel were dispatched to work out of Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE).

Canada's contribution is in line with the military assets offered up other NATO members. Denmark, France, Poland and the United Kingdom.