brussels nato need establish new regional base protect north atlantic increase russian naval strength senior alliance general say monday ally consider next step military build-up reminiscent cold war general petr pavel head nato military committee help put case ally defense minister week new plan strategy base locate choose nato ally focus keep atlantic ship lanes safe enemy submarine would first expansion two decades nato sharply cut back command 2011. look grow capabilities countries like russia china global reach quite obvious maritime line communication protect pavel czech army general tell reuters interview observe increase russian naval activity arctic northern atlantic ... also assess future crisis reinforcement europe free line communication vital european security pavel say approve new north atlantic command would survey vast area event potential conflict russia task make sea lanes safe u.s reinforcements europe strong symbolism decision unlikely revive much large cold war-era atlantic command disband 2002 would broaden nato new deterrent russia despite nato cooperation moscow balkans 1997 pact formalize friendly tie alliance see kremlin incursions georgia eastern ukraine seizure crimea unacceptable breach international law pavel describe russia potential threat west alarm moscow war game september mass tens thousands troop may test electronic warfare tool latvia nato officials say since russia 2014 crimea annexation nato seek reassure baltic ally send troop baltics poland black sea set network nato outposts hold exercise prepare rapid response force include air maritime special operations components unite state also return tank troop europe long drawdown end cold war russia condemn move aggressive strategy frontiers threaten destabilize eastern europe u.s. defense secretary jim mattis join ally defense minister wednesday thursday decide whether approve north atlantic command well logistics command focus move troop quickly across europe renew purpose since russia annexation crimea nato ally broadly favor two command many keen lock u.s. support give president donald trump early doubt alliance say strongly back pavel caution cost likely issue nato governments say short cut deterrence believe realm less simply understand wherever want resource implications pavel say alliance ask trump afghanistan fight islamist militants stop migrants middle east north africa reach europe many european nato nations still struggle meet alliance goal 2024 spend two percent economic output defense every year call modernization call adaptation simply adapt new reality pavel say echo cold war nato mull new north atlantic command