NATO to take further steps at ministerial meeting to reinforce deterrence

Taking steps toward reinforcing the alliance's collective defense and deterrence will be the main topic at this week's meeting of defense ministers, said NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday when briefing media.

NATO is to make decisions to address the changed security environment at the regular ministerial meeting over the next two days.

"We will continue adapting our deterrence and defence to meet threats from any direction," said Stoltenberg, adding he expected ministers "to agree to enhance our forward presence in the eastern part of our alliance."

NATO has already strengthened its military presence in the region by setting up eight small headquarters to support planning, exercises, and reinforcements last year.

Defense ministers will also take decisions to improve NATO's response to hybrid attacks and speed up decision-making processes, according to the NATO chief.

He noted that allies were actively considering the U.S. request to provide NATO AWACS surveillance planes to help in the fight against the Islamic State, and that ministers were expected to address this issue at the meeting.

Stoltenberg stated his concerns over Russian military activities in Syria while stressing that NATO "strongly supports all efforts to end the suffering, reach a ceasefire, and start a political transition in Syria."

On Thursday, defense ministers will also hold a meeting of the NATO-Georgia Commission, where they will discuss Georgia's effort to join NATO. Endit