NATO Boosts E. Europe Force, Drills, Ignores Russian Calls
Local Editor
NATO ministers meeting in Brussels agreed to form an "enhanced" rotational force in Eastern Europe and step up military exercises there. The move comes despite multiple Russian appeals to the alliance to avoid provocative steps.
Relatively, the organization's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg pointed out at the meeting of ministers on Wednesday that the enhanced presence will be "multinational, to make clear that an attack against one Ally is an attack against all Allies, and that the Alliance as a whole will respond."
The NATO head further stated that the block must enhance its cyber defense capabilities, and be ready to respond to "hybrid warfare," which includes resilience and civil preparedness.
"We have increased NATO's presence in the eastern part of the Alliance, with enhanced air policing, maritime patrols and robust exercises," Stoltenberg said, adding that the alliance had provided Turkey with Patriot batteries, Airborne Warning and Control System [AWACS] planes, enhanced maritime presence in the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea, and tripled the size of the NATO Response Force to more than 40,000 troops.
For its part, Russia criticized the alliance's purported justification for its latest expansion, saying it has been taking place "under the false pretext of alleged "aggressive behavior" by our country." Critics noted that the bellicose rhetoric coming from NATO command over a perceived "Russian threat" coincides with lobbying for more military spending in member countries.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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