NATO presence in the Black Sea
Increasing NATOs presence in the Black Sea will lead to a better understanding of the situation in the region and will enhance stability and predictability in this geographical area
Bogdan Matei, 17.02.2017, 13:42
Continuity rather than breakup — this was the main conclusion of the NATO defense ministers’ meeting in Brussels, who decided on Thursday to increase the alliance’s military presence in the Black Sea area. NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, pointed out that the numerous NATO maneuvers scheduled for this year in the area would have a strictly defensive nature, as their role is to prevent conflict, not to provoke it.
“Today we need strategic patience, which has served us well during the cold war”, Stoltenberg pointed out. He added that NATO’s military presence in the East proved the Alliance’s unity and sent a clear message to any potential aggressor. In his turn, Romania’s Defense Minister Gabriel Leş said that the presence of NATO warships in the Black Sea was the expression of solidarity among member states, in the context created after Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
Moscow’s reaction to NATO’s decision to strengthen its presence in the area was, predictably, one of disapproval. Russia’s Ambassador to NATO, Alexander Gruşko, announced that all necessary measures were being taken to protect Russian interests in the region. He also said that the southern border would be strengthened and that the process of re-equipping the Russian troops in Crimea was under way.
According to the media, the new US Defense Secretary, James Marttis, was indisputably the star of the meeting. In spite of the fears voiced by many Europeans that, once Donald Trump takes office at the White House, America will abandon its role as leader of the free world, a role it has been holding for seven decades, Mattis had a very clear message: if Russia wants to resume cooperation with the US and NATO, it needs to comply with international norms.
For the time being, the US official said, Washington was not prepared for military cooperation with Russia, but only for political cooperation. Also, James Mattis reiterated the message of President Donald Trump, for the European NATO allies to invest more in defense or the US might diminish its support.
For the moment, according to Jens Stoltenberg, America’s commitments were backed by facts, as their military presence in Europe has not diminished. On the contrary, it has been enhanced. The European official again called on the member states to comply with their financial commitments, and pointed out that only five countries allotted 2% of their GDP to defence, in keeping with the latest NATO agreement in this respect. Another three countries, Romania included, announced they were very close to reaching that level.
