Der Spiegel reported on possible strengthening of NATO forces in Romania and Bulgaria | News from Germany about Europe | Dw

According to the German weekly Der Spiegel, NATO is discussing strengthening forces on the eastern flank of the alliance in response to Russia’s actions by pulling troops to the border with Ukraine. NATO Supreme Commander in Europe Tod Walters, during a recent videoconference with the heads of the defense ministries of the Allied countries, proposed to expand the presence in Romania and Bulgaria, the newspaper writes on Saturday, December 18, citing diplomatic sources in NATO.

The North Atlantic alliance should deploy in both countries contingents of more than 1,500 people, as was previously done in the Baltic states and Poland as part of the Enhanced Forward Presence mission, the American general suggested. NATO troops will train local armies and reinforce them in case of an emergency, he said.

The decision can be made at the NATO summit

Walters stressed that the expansion of the presence in Bulgaria and Romania would not constitute a provocation, but would ensure the security of the allied countries. The proposal will be discussed at the next meeting of the defense ministers of the alliance states. If approved, the final decision will be made at the Madrid summit at the end of June, it is indicated below. There was no official confirmation of this information from NATO.

Der Spiegel recalls that the NATO mission in the Baltic states has been operating since 2017. Thus, the alliance reacted to the annexation of Crimea by Russia. According to NATO, this is the largest contingent increase since the end of the Cold War.

Conflict between Moscow and the West

The West accuses Moscow of escalating the conflict with Ukraine and the threat of a military invasion of this country. According to NATO, the Russian Federation at the moment could pull up to 100 thousand soldiers and officers to the border with Ukraine. Moscow denies such intentions and, in turn, accuses the West of arming Ukraine and conducting maneuvers near Russian borders.

On December 17, the Russian Foreign Ministry published a package of requirements for security guarantees, which, inter alia, would include NATO’s refusal to further expand to the East and admit Ukraine to its membership, to conduct military activities in Eastern Europe, Transcaucasia and Central Asia, as well as to refuse placement of medium and short-range missiles at positions from which they can strike the territory of other parties to the agreement.

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