NATO is preparing to strengthen its presence in Romania
NATO intends to strengthen its military presence in Romania. The Alliance’s Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, said this on the 14th of June while at a meeting in Brussels, which was attended by defense ministers of member countries. He stated that the Romanian Brigade will be strengthened by soldiers from other countries.
According to Stoltenberg, the proposal to form this international team came from Romania. Its goal is to facilitate the activities of NATO “in connection with exercises and precautionary measures”.
He outlined the plans as “narrowly focused solutions” in the south-eastern regions of NATO as a reaction to the foreign policy of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Stoltenberg added that the details of the troops’ accommodation will become clearer later on. According to NATO, the strengthened force will initially consist of Romanian and Bulgarian soldiers. However, troops from other allied countries may join these soldiers at the time of the exercise.
NATO also expects a positive reaction from the Ministries of Defense of bloc member countries on the issue of placing four battalions in Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland. According to the Pentagon, each military unit will consist of between 800 and 1,000 personnel, who will be rotated every six months.
According to the DPA news agency, the plans to deploy these troops is part of a complex strategy of NATO in countering the Russian threat. This issue will be discussed at a meeting of the allies to be held on the 8th and 9th of July in Warsaw.
Poland and the Baltic countries have asked NATO to place troops in their countries. They believe that due to the annexation of the Crimea and the ongoing war in eastern Ukraine, Russia has become a threat to their safety.