“NATO
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says the alliance is going to
increase its activity at its eastern borders, with more air and sea
patrols, amid non-stop exercises. Speaking at a media conference on
Thursday after a meeting of NATO member state foreign ministers in
Turkey's Antalya province, Stoltenberg said it was being done to
'adapt the Alliance to new threats.'”
“The
number of NATO exercises close to the Russian border have doubled
over the past year, exceeding 3,000, according to a March statement
by Russia's envoy to the alliance Aleksandr Grushko. The secretary
general was also asked about the Baltic States’ recent request to
increase Alliance forces stationed in their territory. He said he was
aware of it, but hadn't received the letter and could not comment on
it yet. He promised, however, to 'go carefully through the letter and
assess the proposals.' The heads of the Lithuanian, Latvian and
Estonian militaries earlier sent a letter to NATO's European
commander General Philip Breedlove, asking the Alliance to station
more forces in their territories. They wanted the combined strength
of NATO troops in the Baltics to be brought to brigade level, or two
to three thousand servicemen. Currently, each of the three counties
has about 150 US troops, with forces from other NATO members rotating
in and out for exercises.”
“NATO
military leaders, as well as some high-ranking European and US
politicians, have repeatedly said that the increase in NATO presence
and military drills is a message to Russia, which they accuse of
'aggression' and 'destabilization' over its alleged involvement in
the Ukrainian crisis. The Alliance's secretary general himself has
slung hardline accusations at Russia more than once. However, he
recently said that it is wrong to say NATO and Russia are in a new
Cold War. Moscow, in turn, has repeatedly denied any accusations
against it, saying that no solid proof has been provided of any kind
of Russian presence in Ukraine. Russia has criticized NATO officials
for getting their 'evidence' from dubious sources.”
Comments
Post a Comment