MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The report will be released at 10:00 a.m. (09:00GMT) in Brussels, Belgium. This will be the NATO chief’s first monthly press conference in 2016.
The focus is largely expected to remain on the ongoing hostilities in Ukraine’s southeast, NATO’s expansion eastward, including the invitation issued to Montenegro, as well as further steps to strengthen the bond between Europe and North America in light of the continuing standoff with Russia.
Last December marked a year since the end of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, the largest operation in the bloc’s history. After the Taliban briefly captured territories across three provinces in the country’s north last summer, allies are expected to discuss the NATO-led Resolute Support mission to train and assist local security forces.
