NATO chief discusses cooperation with EU to address instability in south

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with European Union (EU) defence ministers on Friday to discuss shared security challenges and stronger cooperation between two blocs, according to a NATO a press release.

"I'm looking forward to discuss with them how we are responding to a more demanding and challenging security environment," said Stoltenberg upon his arrival at the informal meeting of the EU defence ministers in Amsterdam.

He welcomed the commitment of European Allies to step up defence spending, noting that "last year the cuts in defence spending in Europe practically stopped."

Highlighting the increased interest for cooperation between the EU and NATO, Stoltenberg said the two organizations should work more closely to address the violent instability in the south.

The NATO chief stated his concerns over Russian military activities in Syria. He noted that Russian military presence in Syria "is also causing increased tensions and violations of Turkish airspace," and called for calm de-escalation and a political solution to the conflict in Syria.

Russia started airstrike mission in Syria since last September at the request of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, with Russian aircraft deployed at Syria's Hmeimim airbase.

Russia has refuted Turkey's allegations claiming Russian aircraft had violated Turkish airspace. Endit