BRUSSELS — NATO has reinforced its defenses against Russia from the Baltic to the Black Sea, delivering what the alliance’s chief called a clear message to Moscow that “if any of our allies is attacked the whole alliance will respond as one.”
Jens Stoltenberg, the alliance’s secretary-general, told a news conference Tuesday that NATO defense ministers agreed to deploy four multinational battalions on a rotational basis to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.
He said the ministers also agreed on “tailored measures” to enhance “defense and deterrence” in the Black Sea region.
He said: “NATO is an alliance that delivers.”
Earlier, as the defense ministers began the first of two days of meetings at NATO headquarters, he called “Defending our territory and protecting our people” NATO’s primary task.”
In a written statement, NATO deputy spokeswoman Carmen Romero said, “We will decide to establish a framework ‘brigade’ with a Romanian HQ and a Romanian and Bulgarian battalion — as a framework for training and exercises with other Allies’ units.” The brigade’s strength is expected to be roughly 3,000 to 5,000.
The U.S., Britain and Germany have already committed to spearheading the development of three of the four battalions that would go to Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. A senior U.S. official said Canadian leaders are currently meeting to discuss the possibility that they would coordinate the development of the fourth battalion.
U.S. officials said it’s not yet clear whether the Pentagon will use troops currently in Europe to form the battalion or bring in others.
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter told reporters Monday that the U.S. may well contribute most or all of the 800 to 1,000 troops needed for that battalion.
