NATO told its military commanders to draw up plans for new battlegroups in central, eastern, and southeastern Europe, as it accused Russia of sending more troops near its border with Ukraine.
On Wednesday, NATO Defence Ministers met to address Russia’s continued military build-up in and around Ukraine.
“Ministers decided to develop options for further strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defence.
Including to consider establishing new NATO battlegroups in central and eastern, south-eastern Europe,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in a press conference after the meeting.
“Our military commanders will now work on the details and report back within weeks,” he added.
He called Russia’s military actions and demands to NATO not to expand to the east “the new normal”, which demonstrates Moscow’s willingness “to contest the fundamental principles of our security”.
Stoltenberg also challenged Russia’s announcements on Tuesday and Wednesday that it was returning some of its troops to the bases.
“So far, we do not see any signs of de-escalation on the ground. No withdrawals of troops or equipment,” the NATO secretary-general said.
In his words, NATO implemented “the biggest reinforcement of our collective defence by establishing the battlegroups in the Baltic countries” after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.
In 2017, NATO deployed four multinational battalions with some 5,000 troops in total in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, led by the United States, Germany, Canada, and Britain.
Diplomats say four new battlegroups, comprising a total of around 4,000 troops could be based in Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Slovakia.
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