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NATO to Expand Military Presence in Europe to Deter Russians NATO to Expand Military Presence in Europe to Deter Russians
(about 3 hours later)
BRUSSELS — The defense ministers from all 28 NATO countries approved a plan on Wednesday to enhance the alliance’s military presence in Central and Eastern Europe, part of its expanding efforts to deter Russian aggression, according to NATO’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg. BRUSSELS — The defense ministers from all 28 NATO countries approved a plan on Wednesday to enhance the alliance’s military presence in Central and Eastern Europe, part of its expanding efforts to deter Russian aggression, according to NATO’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg.
The forces will rotate through the countries to conduct exercises, and NATO will also enlarge its infrastructure in the region so it can quickly respond to threats, Mr. Stoltenberg said. In the spring, the alliance’s military planners will recommend how large the presence should be, he said.The forces will rotate through the countries to conduct exercises, and NATO will also enlarge its infrastructure in the region so it can quickly respond to threats, Mr. Stoltenberg said. In the spring, the alliance’s military planners will recommend how large the presence should be, he said.
“This 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,” Mr. Stoltenberg said at a news conference at NATO headquarters here shortly after the agreement was reached.“This 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,” Mr. Stoltenberg said at a news conference at NATO headquarters here shortly after the agreement was reached.
The decision came a week after the Obama administration announced that it would more than quadruple its spending to enhance its footprint in Eastern Europe. As part of its budget proposal for the 2017 fiscal year, the administration has asked for $3.4 billion — compared with $789 million for the current budget — for “more pre-positioned war-fighting gear” in the countries, and additional training and exercises. A week earlier, the Obama administration announced that it would more than quadruple its spending to expand its footprint in Eastern Europe. As part of its budget proposal for the 2017 fiscal year, the administration asked for $3.4 billion — compared with $789 million in the current budget — for “more pre-positioned war-fighting gear” in the countries, and more training and exercises.
Among the countries that NATO and the United States are looking to protect are Hungary, Romania, Ukraine and the Baltic States, according to administration officials.Among the countries that NATO and the United States are looking to protect are Hungary, Romania, Ukraine and the Baltic States, according to administration officials.
The size of the American contribution surprised some analysts, who saw it as one of the most aggressive moves the United States has made in the region since the fall of the Soviet Union. Administration officials have said they hope that their commitment to protecting these countries sends a message to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia that his aggression in the region will no longer be tolerated.The size of the American contribution surprised some analysts, who saw it as one of the most aggressive moves the United States has made in the region since the fall of the Soviet Union. Administration officials have said they hope that their commitment to protecting these countries sends a message to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia that his aggression in the region will no longer be tolerated.
In recent months, Russia has ratcheted back its military efforts in eastern Ukraine, but troops remain there, and many other countries in the region fear what Mr. Putin may do next. At the same time, Mr. Putin has thrust the Russian military into the Syrian conflict, as his forces on the ground and in the air fight alongside forces backing the President Bashar al-Assad. In recent months, Russia has scaled back its military efforts in eastern Ukraine, but troops remain there, and many other countries in the region fear what Mr. Putin may do next. At the same time, Mr. Putin has thrust the Russian military into the Syrian conflict, as his forces on the ground and in the air fight alongside forces backing President Bashar al-Assad of Syria.
While NATO officials move ahead with beefing up their posture toward Russia, they are also discussing how to expand their role in the American-led coalition to defeat the Islamic State, according to a senior Pentagon official. NATO officials are considering how they can send trainers to Iraq to help rebuild the crumbling military, the official said. It is not clear how close the officials are to approving the plan. While NATO officials move ahead with toughening their posture toward Russia, they are also discussing how to expand their role in the American-led coalition to defeat the Islamic State, according to a senior Pentagon official. NATO officials are considering how they can send trainers to Iraq to help rebuild the crumbling military, the official said. It is not clear how close the officials are to approving the plan.
On Thursday, Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter will convene a meeting with the defense ministers from two dozen countries to discuss how they can contribute more to the campaign to defeat the Islamic State.On Thursday, Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter will convene a meeting with the defense ministers from two dozen countries to discuss how they can contribute more to the campaign to defeat the Islamic State.
At the news conference on Wednesday, Mr. Stoltenberg said NATO “faces the most challenging security environment in a generation,” with threats from cyberattacks as well as from states and nonaligned forces.At the news conference on Wednesday, Mr. Stoltenberg said NATO “faces the most challenging security environment in a generation,” with threats from cyberattacks as well as from states and nonaligned forces.
He acknowledged the recent request from Turkey, a NATO member, for additional help to stem the flow of migrants from Syria, Iraq and Africa. But he declined to say what Turkey had specifically asked for.He acknowledged the recent request from Turkey, a NATO member, for additional help to stem the flow of migrants from Syria, Iraq and Africa. But he declined to say what Turkey had specifically asked for.
Dimitris Avramopoulos, the European Union’s commissioner for migration, bemoaned the lack of a navy under the command of the union to save migrants’ lives by patrolling the sea near Turkey and Greece.Dimitris Avramopoulos, the European Union’s commissioner for migration, bemoaned the lack of a navy under the command of the union to save migrants’ lives by patrolling the sea near Turkey and Greece.
But Mr. Avramopoulos, a former defense minister for Greece and mayor of Athens, said at a separate news conference in Brussels that it was too early to comment on whether NATO forces should be used in such a role, and he appeared lukewarm to the idea. But Mr. Avramopoulos, a former defense minister of Greece and mayor of Athens, said at a separate news conference in Brussels that it was too early to comment on whether NATO forces should be used in such a role, and he appeared lukewarm to the idea.
“For the moment this issue is not officially open for discussion,” he said, referring to news reports that Germany and Turkey had requested NATO’s assistance. “For the moment, this issue is not officially open for discussion,” he said, referring to news reports that Germany and Turkey had requested NATO’s assistance.
Pushed to say whether the alliance could eventually play a role in rescuing migrants, Mr. Avramopoulos responded that there was no “element of threat” ordinarily required to prompt a NATO response. Mr. Avramopoulos also stressed that Italy and Greece already “had very capable defense systems” and could deploy them if needed. Pushed to say whether the alliance could eventually play a role in rescuing migrants, Mr. Avramopoulos responded that there was no “element of threat” ordinarily required to prompt a NATO response. Mr. Avramopoulos also emphasized that Italy and Greece already “had very capable defense systems” and could deploy them if needed.
The crisis has threatened to tear the bloc apart as member countries re-establish border controls and struggle to mount a unified response. More than one million migrants and refugees arrived in the European Union last year, and even more could arrive this year.The crisis has threatened to tear the bloc apart as member countries re-establish border controls and struggle to mount a unified response. More than one million migrants and refugees arrived in the European Union last year, and even more could arrive this year.