During a meeting in Brussels earlier this week, NATO’s defense ministers specifically agreed on strengthening the defense potential of the alliance and discussed the future of a NATO mission in Afghanistan.

On Thursday, the defense ministers of NATO countries agreed on new goals to strengthen the alliance’s combat potential pertaining to a number of key areas, including heavy equipment, air refueling and an increase in the number of forces ready for rapid deployment.

The meeting was held a month after a NATO summit where participants made new decisions on the growth of the alliance’s defense spending, in line with their previous obligations and US demands.

From Cyber Defense to Nuclear Deterrence

According to NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, the new objectives are also related to training the existing NATO military units and the creation of additional ground, maritime and cyber forces.

US Defense Secretary James Mattis told reporters that these plans pertain to “everything, from cyberspace to nuclear deterrence.”