ABSTRACT
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a defensive alliance whose primary purpose is to deter and, if necessary, to resist and repel any armed attack upon any of its members. NATO thinking about Soviet strategy, therefore, is and must be concerned primarily about the Soviet military threat, and about the plans and capabilities of the Soviet Union to apply its military power offensively against any part of the NATO territory and any NATO forces. The NATO northern flank in Europe consists of the area under the North European Command, with headquarters at Kolsas and includes Allied Forces North Norway, Allied Forces South Norway, and Allied Forces Baltic Approaches. Defense on the northern flank appears to be based on the general assumption that Soviet military strategy against NATO's northern flank will be aimed at securing the combined offensive and defensive capability of the Soviet Navy and expanding the defensive perimeter for bases and installations.
