Stoltenberg: We have increased the readiness of NATO forces

The NATO will continue to strengthen its eastern wing amid a reinforcement of Russian troops on the border with Ukrainebut will also consider a longer-term presence in the Black Sea region, the Alliance’s secretary general said on Friday. Jens Stoltenberg.

Speaking next to the Romanian president at a military air base in eastern Romania – where additional US troops are being deployed – Stoltenberg said the presence of US troops in the country underscores the commitment of the USA in the security of Europe.

According to international news networks, the Stryker squadron of 1,000 US troops is being transferred from Wilsek, Germany, to Romania and will be added to the 900 troops already stationed at a base in the Balkan country. Italian, German and Polish troops are also in the country.

«There is an ongoing strengthening of NATO’s presence in the eastern part of the alliance“, Said Stoltenberg. «We have also increased the readiness of NATO’s reaction force. These troops are at the bases of their countries, but can be deployed quickly anywhere in the alliance if needed“, He noted, while adding:

«In addition, we are considering more long-term adjustments to our stance, including the creation of battle teams in the southeastern part of the alliance, which means in Romania and in other countries around the Black Sea region.».

“I have repeatedly called for a more stable presence of NATO, the United States and other allies in the Black Sea region,” he said. Klaus Johannes.

At the same time, Stoltenberg also reiterated today his concern about the possibility of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, as broadcast by APE BPE.

«There is a risk of a full-scale invasion, but there is also a risk of other forms of aggression, including attempts to overthrow the Kiev government, hybrid cyber-attacks and many other types of Russian aggression.“, he said.

Strengthening of the eastern front

Meanwhile, according to the German News Agency (dpa), citing sources close to the Western military alliance, NATO plans to strengthen its presence in its east wing located near Ukraine.

The 30 members of the alliance completed a relevant one proposal this week, dpa was informed today, after weeks of discussions.

It is noted that after the annexation by Moscow in 2014 of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, NATO deployed four battle groups consisting of multinational forces in Estoniaτη Lithuaniaτη Latvia and Poland.

With more than 100,000 Russian troops now stationed near the border with Ukraine and amid growing fears that an invasion is imminentplans to deploy more NATO troops nearby to countries such as Romania are under way, according to the same source.

It is recalled that the Russian president Vladimir Putin calls on NATO to stop its eastward expansion, inter alia, so that the above developments could fuel the already high tensions in the region.

The Ukrainian government, which has been fighting Russian-backed separatist forces in the eastern Donbass region since 2014, has called on its Western allies. to help to prevent a Russian invasion.

Source: News Beast

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