“Hundreds of thousands of NATO troops are on high alert,” Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in a joint statement with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin shortly before the start of the emergency meeting today.
“NATO responded immediately and with unity to the Russian invasion. NATO allies have received severe sanctions against Russia and are providing significant military support to Ukraine, while at the same time we have strengthened the Alliance’s collective defense,” Stoltenberg said. are currently in Europe, 40,000 troops under NATO command, mainly on the east side of the Alliance, with the support of air and naval forces.
Addressing US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Stoltenberg praised the US military presence in Europe, saying it had a “key role” in efforts to strengthen NATO’s defense and was sending a message of “transatlantic unity”.
For his part, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stressed that the current presence of NATO Defense Ministers in Brussels sends the message to the world that “we remain united and support Ukraine.” “We condemn the unprovoked attack by Russia and its unwarranted invasion of Ukraine, a country with a legitimate and sovereign government, and we support its ability to defend itself and we will continue to support it,” he said. He also warned that the Allies’ commitment to Article 5 of the NATO Treaty is strong and will be respected.
Today, NATO Defense Ministers will discuss the “barbaric invasion of Russia by Ukraine”, which, as Stoltenberg said, “will change the security environment in Europe”.
In addition, the immediate and long-term consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the need to adapt NATO forces to the new reality, by further strengthening the deterrent and defense force, will be discussed. “Moscow must not have illusions about our intention to defend and protect our allies,” Stoltenberg said. He added that NATO has a responsibility to ensure that the crisis does not escalate beyond Ukraine, which is why it has increased its presence in the eastern part of the Alliance.
An extraordinary NATO Summit is scheduled for March 24 in Brussels.
Source: Capital
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