“We have been watching Russia intensively investing in its armed forces for quite some time now,” Stoltenberg said, adding that NATO was only responding to this and strengthening its defense, while trying to “avoid escalations” and promoting an open dialogue.
The NATO chief emphasized that the alliance saw no direct threat to its members.
“This is not the strategic partnership we tried to build after the end of the Cold War. It’s not a confrontation either, we don’t want a new Cold War,” Jens Stoltenberg noted.
Commenting on NATO’s desire to strengthen its eastern flank, he said that “we are sending a clear signal that NATO will defend its allies against any threats.”
“This is the main message from NATO and its biggest strength.”
He added that decisions on NATO’s presence on its eastern flank would be taken during the upcoming summit in Warsaw in July.
