Accessibility links

Breaking News

NATO Ministers Approve New Force For Eastern Flank


NATO defense ministers have approved plans to bolster the alliance along its eastern flank.

Speaking on February 10 ahead of the ministers' two-day talks in Brussels, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said a new multinational force will beef up NATO's presence in Poland and other allies close to Russia "will send a clear signal."

Stoltenberg said the multinational composition of the new force will make it clear that "an attack on one ally will be an attack on the whole alliance."

He added that the new unit will rotate in and out of Eastern European member states but will not be based there.

NATO was considering other measures including stockpiling military equipment and building new infrastructure.

It was not immediately clear what was decided on those issues.

The new force deployment is part of plans drawn up by NATO largely in response to the Ukraine crisis and Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula.

With reporting by AP, AFP, and dpa
  • 16x9 Image

    RFE/RL

    RFE/RL journalists report the news in 27 languages in 23 countries where a free press is banned by the government or not fully established. We provide what many people cannot get locally: uncensored news, responsible discussion, and open debate.

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG