NATO countries have agreed to expand the force to respond to Europe’s east – RBC

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Photo: Global Look Press

NATO countries agreed to increase the reaction force in Eastern Europe. Such a statement after the meeting in Brussels was made by the secretary general of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg. According to him, we can talk about tripling NATO

Force

At a press conference in the capital of Belgium, Stoltenberg said that NATO is ready to ensure a presence in Eastern Europe, which will be necessary. “We tripled the composition of reaction force of up to 40 thousand people”, – said Stoltenberg

«Today we have decided on the principle of increasing the military presence, then our planners think how to do it well”, -. Stoltenberg explained. According to him, further decisions will be made in June, and then at the July summit in Warsaw.

Explaining the position of the Alliance, Stoltenberg pointed to Russia’s actions, “using the armed forces for the redrawing of borders in Europe and intimidation of its neighbors.”

According to the secretary general of NATO, establishment of a multinational rapid reaction force, which will operate in conjunction with conventional compounds, it is a “strong signal” demonstrating the unity of the Alliance. Stoltenberg reminded point of the NATO charter, providing a common response in the event of an attack on one member of the organization.

Additional points for the protection of Alliance measures Stoltenberg called the gain presence in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, as well as the placement of air defense systems Patriot and intelligence AWACS aircraft in Turkey.

Stoltenberg stressed that “NATO did not stop the political dialogue with Russia and reserves that possibility including in difficult times. He also talked about the willingness to meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov at a meeting on security in Munich.

As previously reported by the Telegraph, the NATO plan is to place NATO battalion in the Baltic countries, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria. Engage the rapid reaction force Alliance offers US troops, Germany and the UK. On arms of war will be missiles “ground-to-air” aircraft and helicopter gunships.