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A NATO vs. Russia War Would Be Sheer Horror

NATO vs. Russia War
Image: Creative Commons.

NATO vs. Russia War, A Short Primer: With the shift to Great Power Competition, the Pentagon is looking to focus once more primarily on near-peer threats, such as China and Russia. As a result, organizations and alliances like NATO feel relevant again. So, it is worth exploring the numbers behind NATO and Russia and how a ground war between the North Atlantic alliance and Moscow could play out.  

A NATO vs. Russia War: Old Lessons, New Threats 

In the last twenty years of war in the Middle East, the Pentagon gained valuable and hard-earned experience, learning several lessons and perfecting tactics, techniques, and procedures, especially those related to special operations. But those lessons wouldn’t necessarily translate directly into a potential conflict against Russia or China. 

Moscow and Beijing can field modern near-peer militaries that would require a whole new approach to counter. In essence, the U.S. military would have to take its Cold War playbook, adjust and add the most pertinent chapters from the Global War on Terror, and develop a fresh and modern way to fight. But as is always the case in war, the enemy gets a vote. And while the U.S. had been fixated in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, its competitors were catching up. The Russian military, for example, has been going through a modernization process for the past few years. 

Any conflict between the two would most likely take place either in the Baltics or the Black Sea region. NATO just came out with a new strategy to deal with Russian aggression in Europe and elsewhere. Called the “Concept for Deterrence and Defense in the Euro-Atlantic Area,” the strategy addresses cyber, nuclear, hybrid, and conventional threats from Moscow.

But NATO’s approach to Moscow is still centered on credible deterrence and defense, meaning that the North Atlantic alliance wouldn’t assume any offensive operations—or at least not trigger a war.

They’re Coming 

In the event of a ground war, speed and violence of action will be critical. Russia would have an advantage as it would be the attacking force. Moscow will most likely try to capture the Baltic States (Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia), much like it did with Crimea in 2014—there are, of course, differences between the two cases. 

As a result, the stalling power of NATO in the initial hours and days would be key. If local NATO members, assisted by the U.S. and other NATO forces, can stall or even pause the Russian advance, they will give time for reinforcements to arrive. 

But if the Russian military manages to bend the NATO pickets and push through, the situation would be serious for the Northern Alliance. Following the capture of the Baltic States, Russian forces would try to prevent or defend against a U.S.-led NATO counterattack.

A few years ago, the Human Security Centre, a British think-tank, assessed that in a ground war between NATO and Russia, Moscow could “engage in precision-guided conventional strikes by using cruise and ballistic missiles against militarily, economically and politically sensitive targets in locations across Europe, including the UK” and even try to sink ships bringing troops and tanks from the U.S. The conflict could also escalate in the arctic region, where NATO enjoys a maritime advantage. 

A NATO vs. Russia War: Order of Battle 

The order of battle of the local NATO members and partners in the region is the following. 

On the ground, the Baltic states (Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia) can field about 20,500 active duty and 80,000 reserve troops, 247 infantry fighting vehicles, and approximately 300 artillery pieces of all diameters.

In the sea, the three Baltic countries have a combined strength of 14 vessels, while they don’t have a considerable aircraft fleet and rely on NATO for their air defense.

On the ground, the Scandinavian countries (Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Sweden—which isn’t a NATO member) can field about 72,000 active duty and 380,000 reserve troops, 415 tanks, 783 infantry fighting vehicles, and approximately 1,730 artillery pieces of all diameters.

The Scandinavians can field 55 surface vessels of various sizes and capabilities in the sea and 11 submarines. On the air, the combined force of the Scandinavians is about 250 aircraft, including the JAS 39 Gripen (Sweden), F-16 (Norway and Denmark), F-35 (Norway and Denmark), and F-18 Hornet (Finland). 

Conversely, the Russian military can field on 900,000 active duty and two million reserve troops, 2,800 tanks—with tens of thousands in reserve—4,500 infantry fighting vehicles, and 3,900 artillery pieces. On the air, the Moscow can deploy 1,800 aircraft, while in the sea, 115 surface vessels of all sizes and roles and 60 submarines. 

These numbers aren’t inclusive and don’t account for the NATO task force that is deployed in the region, the Polish armed forces, or any U.S. formations in Germany.

Further, the above scenarios assume that neither NATO nor Moscow would seek to deploy nuclear arms—not even tactical nukes—in a potential conflict, thus ensuring that it remains a local or regional affair and doesn’t escalate to something neither wants. 

1945’s Defense and National Security Columnist, Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist with specialized expertise in special operations, a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ), and a Johns Hopkins University graduate. His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

16 Comments

16 Comments

  1. Alex

    October 28, 2021 at 5:38 pm

    Russia does not start a war. Russia is finishing them.

  2. Quartermaster

    October 30, 2021 at 12:55 pm

    That’s hilarious, Alex. Russia has started many wars in its history.

  3. Alex

    November 1, 2021 at 7:48 pm

    How many wars did Russia start? By comparison, the United States has been involved in over 200 conflicts. Let’s compare?

  4. Abraham

    November 2, 2021 at 2:11 am

    Nuclear arms will be exchanged. You can count on that. This will be the war of all wars.

  5. Joe

    November 2, 2021 at 6:00 am

    Those Russians keep moving their country toward our military bases!

  6. Rabbitnexus

    November 2, 2021 at 8:27 am

    Russians rarely start wars.
    The USA despite a brief history by comparison has rarely ceased making war on others. Only a clown would convince themselves Russia will attack NATO. If NATO starts it, Russia will end you. Their weapons are superior in all important aspects. It will be like clubbing baby seals for them.

  7. Honorious

    November 2, 2021 at 8:22 pm

    Woke Joke US military got run off by a bunch of illiterate goatherders I don’t Russia is losing any sleep worrying about facing those pronoun using cowards.

  8. Toby Hart

    November 3, 2021 at 1:50 am

    Russia will not tolerate being attacked again like WW2 – a retired Russian General said if Russia was attacked most European Cities would be attacked by EMP weapons which would fry all electronic systems within 17 minutes. He said further that Russia has some surprising military technologies up its sleeve.

  9. Ziedonis

    January 9, 2022 at 7:33 am

    Russia attacked in WWII? But Hilter and Stalin were partners in starting the war. Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, dividing up europe? Learn your history.
    Russia is always the aggressor, same as in WWI.
    The Baltics didn’t join NATO to plan war on russia. They joined from a desire for defense against a neighbor who doesn’t understand peace and is always the aggressor.
    Putin should work on pulling his country out of the toilet, and learn to live together peacefully with neighbors.

  10. Danny

    January 14, 2022 at 3:23 pm

    The US should strengthen its own forces in Europe.

  11. Peter Yannas

    January 19, 2022 at 11:07 am

    In your war against Russia you did mention France , that is no willing to go to war against Russia, what about the Germans that without Natural Gas will collage in one week. Italy and Spain what about Turkey. That mean USA is better to look after their mess and get away from Europe. Russia give them and Ultimatum is better to sing next Friday and go home. In Europe we had many wars, we don’t need one more because of the Americans interest.

  12. The Barger

    February 25, 2022 at 7:55 am

    @Rabbitnexus, get over yourself ya prick. NATO can dissolve Russia in a matter of days, but that is something that nobody wants because, in comparison to russia, nato does not want genocide. So f you, your pathetic president Pultin and your families. Reals russians should stand against this b#tch and shot him in his motherf.. sh.thead.

  13. J holtsr

    February 26, 2022 at 12:59 am

    once nukes start flying nobody wins

  14. Artie whitefox

    March 14, 2022 at 7:12 pm

    Satan horrifies god’s image through god’s image. Can’t Putin see that? NATO is not God. Can’t Biden see that?

  15. Sgt. Rock

    March 25, 2022 at 1:59 am

    From the article: “In the event of a ground war, speed and violence of action will be critical. Russia would have an advantage as it would be the attacking force.”
    LMAO!! That article hasn’t aged very well. It should be re-written: “In the event of a ground war, morale and the will to fight will be critical. Russia would have a disadvantage as it’s outdated tactics, arrogance, reliance on conscripts, poor planning, and lack of supplies would result in a stalemate at best. Heavy losses would be inflicted on a cumbersome Russian army, by an outgunned, but highly nimble, and motivated foe…such as Ukraine.” There, I fixed it.

  16. Westwind

    August 25, 2022 at 4:22 pm

    To Ziedonis. Part of the reason Putin is popular with Russians is
    that they are enjoying prosperity-compared to the Yeltzin era. Many
    modern young Russians have a prosperous life style that includes
    Apple products, as well as access to BMWs and Audis. Witness the
    recent night time car parade in Moscow. Overall Russians are thank-
    ful for the level of prosperity they enjoy.

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