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WORLD NEWS Thursday 17 February 2022
Doubting Russian exit, NATO looks to bolster its defenses

By LORNE COOK turning some troops and
BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO weapons to bases, but
member countries on Stoltenberg said the allies
Wednesday examined saw no concrete sign of a
new ways to bolster the drawdown and concern
defenses of nations on the that that Russia might in-
organization’s eastern flank vade Ukraine persists.
as Russia’s military buildup “They have always moved
around Ukraine fuels one forces back and forth, so
of Europe’s biggest security just that we see movement
crises in decades. of forces, that doesn’t
Over two days at NATO confirm a real withdraw-
headquarters in Brussels, al,” Stoltenberg said. “The
defense ministers were to trend of the last weeks and
discuss how and when to months has been a steady
rapidly dispatch troops increase in the Russian ca-
and equipment to coun- pabilities close to Ukraine’s
tries closest to Russia and borders.”
the Black Sea region should He said the ministers agreed
Moscow order an invasion for military commanders to
of Ukraine. come up with new options
U.S. Defense Secretary for strengthening NATO’s
Lloyd Austin and his coun- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg bangs a gavel to signify the start of a round table defenses in southeast Eu-
terparts also plan to weigh meeting of the North Atlantic Council at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, Feb. 16, rope near Romania.
the possibility of station- 2022. Associated Press “Moscow has made it clear
ing troops longer-term in that it is prepared to contest
southeast Europe, possibly to repeat its 2014 invasion dian Defense Minister Anita tions, which are not part of the fundamental principles
starting later this year. The of Ukraine, but on a grand- Anand said. NATO’s remit. The alliance that have underpinned our
troops would mirror the er scale. q But the “massive costs” has offered Russia a series security for decades, and
presence of some 5,000 promised to Putin should of security talks, including to do so by using force. I
servicemembers that have he order an invasion would on arms control. regret to say that this is the
been stationed in allies Es- Russian President Vladi- be economic and political, Over the last two days, Rus- new normal in Europe,”
tonia, Latvia, Lithuania and mir Putin wants NATO, the mostly in the form of sanc- sia has said that it was re- Stoltenberg said.q
Poland on a rotating basis world’s biggest security
in recent years. organization, to stop ex-
The U.S. has started to de- panding. He demands that
ploy 5,000 troops to Po- the U.S.-led alliance pull its
land and Romania. Britain troops and equipment out
is sending hundreds of sol- of countries that joined af-
diers to Poland and offering ter 1997 – almost half of
more warships and planes. NATO’s 30-strong ranks.
Germany, the Netherlands NATO cannot accept his
and Norway are sending terms. It’s founding trea-
additional troops to Lithu- ty commits to an “Open
ania. Door” policy for European
Denmark and Spain are countries that want to join,
providing jets for air polic- and a mutual defense
ing. clause guarantees that all
“The fact that we have de- members will come to the
ployed more NATO troops defense of an ally under

on the ground, more na- threat.
val assets, more aircraft, all Ukraine, though, is not a
of that sends a very clear member and NATO, as an
message,” NATO Secretary organization, is not willing
General Jens Stoltenberg to come to its defense.
said. “I think there is no “We have to understand
room for any miscalcula- that Ukraine is a partner.
tion in Moscow about our We support Ukraine. But for
commitment to defending all NATO allies, we provide
allies.” 100% security guarantees,”
The deployment has come Stoltenberg told reporters
in response to a formidable ahead of Wednesday’s
challenge. meeting.
Over the last four months, That said, some mem-
Russia is estimated to have ber countries are helping
amassed around 60% of Ukraine more directly, such
its entire land forces and as the U.S., Britain and Can-
a significant portion of its ada.
air force to the north and “We will be providing both
east of Ukraine, as well as in lethal and non-lethal aid to
neighboring Belarus. Mos- Ukraine. This is a very signifi-
cow has appeared ready cant issue for us all,” Cana-