We are working on measures to strengthen security in the air and at sea.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced the appointment at the level of ambassadors of the Alliance and Russia. He stated this at a press conference in the headquarters of NATO in Brussels after a meeting of defense Ministers of the Alliance countries.
“We discussed the recent military activity near NATO borders, including the exercises “Caucasus-2016”, as well as the deployment of Russian missile complexes “Iskander” in Kaliningrad. We are concerned about Russia’s behavior. But the dialogue is especially important when tensions are high. NATO is ready to hold a meeting at the level of ambassadors of NATO and Russia in the nearest future”, – said Stoltenberg.
Stoltenberg also said the Alliance is ready to deploy 4 battalions in early 2017 in Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland.
“Our forces will be truly multinational that sends a clear message: NATO all together. An attack on any of our members will be regarded as an attack on all of us,” he said.
According to Stoltenberg, Albania, Italy, Poland and Slovenia will constitute a battalion, under the chairmanship of Canada in Latvia. Belgium, Croatia, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Norway will join the battalion, under German presidency in Lithuania. Denmark and France will form the battalion under the UK presidency in Estonia. Romania and the UK to join the battalion under the presidency of the USA in Poland.
“It’s transatlantic demonstration of the invincibility of the support of all our members,” said Stoltenberg.
He also said that they discussed the issue of strengthening NATO presence in the black sea region.
“We are working on measures to strengthen security in the air and at sea. And I am pleased to confirm that several countries have expressed their intentions to help our presence in the black sea region, on land, at sea and in the air. It’s Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Turkey and the United States. Other allies are also ready to join,” – said Stoltenberg.
