NATO Threatens to Raise Hell in Eastern Europe

The secretary general of NATO, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, announced today the “immediate” reinforcement of the collective defense of Alliance members with the deployment of resources by “land, sea and air ” in the countries of Eastern Europe, due to the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, he said.

“There will be more planes in the air, more boats on the water and more vehicles on land,” Rasmussen told a news conference after a meeting of the North Atlantic Council, where he stated that “a political solution is the only solution” to this crisis.

The North Atlantic Council, consisting of the ambassadors of the 28 allies, agreed to implement a package of measures to show “solidarity” between them and strengthen their collective defense, based on the recommendations prepared by the supreme commander of NATO Europe, U.S. General Philip Breedlove.

Rasmussen explained that such military measures include more outlets allied air patrols over the Baltic countries and the deployment of ships in the Baltic Sea and the eastern Mediterranean and elsewhere if necessary.

He also noted that military personnel of allied nations “will be deployed to strengthen our disposal, training and exercises,” and that the defense plans of the Alliance will be “reviewed and reinforced.”

” We will begin to implement these measures immediately,” Rasmussen said, adding that “if necessary, they will be reinforced in the coming weeks and months” he said.

The Danish politician said that these decisions are in favor of “defense, deterrence and reducing stress” in the region.

He considered that the movement of military forces is “completely in line with our international commitments” and sends a “clear message” that NATO “will protect and defend each ally against any threat to our basic security.”

Rasmussen said that the deployment would begin in a matter of “days”, based on practical considerations, but refused to “get into operational details” about the number of troops.

“What I can say is that we will deploy sufficient military power to reinforce our available and sufficient numbers to prepare for more if needed,” he said.

Asked about the possibility of establishing bases in the Baltic countries, Rasmussen said that “today we have not made decisions on such facilities.”

About using aircraft from Holland to strengthen collective defense, he said “some allies will come with specific contributions” and added that he was convinced that “more will follow.”

Rasmussen insisted that although “military steps” taken are “necessary to ensure effective collective defense and deterrence”, NATO hopes the meeting in Geneva tomorrow between the foreign ministers of Russia, Ukraine, USA and the EU” will pave the way for a peaceful and political solution to the crisis.”

“We call on Russia to be part of the solution, by stopping the destabilization of Ukraine, withdraw its troops from the border and make it clear it does not support the violent actions of well armed separatist pro-Russian militias,” he said.

On 1 April, the foreign ministers of NATO “urgently” requested the development of further measures to strengthen their collective defense, before the intervention of Russia in Ukraine and the fact that Moscow maintains a high concentration of troops on the border with that country, which has raised concerns especially among allies in Eastern Europe.

As things stand today, we can now say that Russia, America and the EU already agree on something: The militarization of the continent is the first step before any conversations are held. The starting point for any negotiations is having each others weapons pointed at their faces, in an attempt to reach an agreement. The only difference is that Russia is increasing its military power in order to keep NATO and the United States off its borders, while the Americans, which by far lead NATO’s actions, seek to further encircled Russia by placing military equipment and based all over the border.

As the United States and NATO have us all accustomed to, they want everyone else to do as they say, not as they do.