BERLIN: A top NATO general has suggested the coalition should establish a military presence in Bulgaria and Romania after Russia builds forces near the border with Ukraine, German newspaper Spiegel reported on Saturday.
It said the proposal, made by NATO’s supreme ally Commander Europe Todd Wolters, would expand the coalition’s “Enhanced Forward Presence” mission, under which it deployed military forces in the Baltic states and eastern Poland.
Der Spiegel did not quote Wolters directly. It said it had “information” that Wolters had called for reinforcements of troops on NATO’s eastern border during a video link with military chiefs of “partner countries”.
It said the plan would effectively “expand NATO’s presence (to Romania and Bulgaria) through the Enhanced Forward Presence (EFP) mission.”
NATO declined to comment on Der Spiegel’s report. Both countries have called for expanding NATO’s presence in Bulgaria and Romania.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday that NATO will “continuously assess our position in the southeast, our presence needs to be further adjusted, as we need to ensure that we always protect and defend allies against any Can defend. Threat.”
Russia’s military build-up near Ukraine has increased tensions between Moscow and NATO and the coalition has urged Russia not to invade the former Soviet republic.
Russia denied the invasion plan. It said it was responding to what it sees as a threat to its security by Ukraine’s close ties with NATO and its aspirations to join the alliance.
Moscow said on Friday it wanted a legally binding guarantee from NATO that it would cease any military activity in Eastern Europe and Ukraine.
Russia has strongly demanded a security deal with the NATONATO chief, rejecting Russia’s demand to block Ukraine’s entry.