NATO leaders agree to bolster collective defence

NATO's 28 leaders decided Friday to bolster the Alliance's deterrence and defence by sending more forces to the eastern part of the Alliance, and recognised cyberspace as an operational domain.

"We have just taken decisions to deliver twenty-first century deterrence and defence in the face of twenty-first century challenges," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told a press conference after the first-day of a two-day NATO summit.

The leaders agreed to enhance NATO's military presence in the east, with four battalions in Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on a rotational basis, he said.
They also decided today to declare Initial Operational Capability of the NATO ballistic missile defence system.

"This means that the US ships based in Spain, the radar in Turkey, and the interceptor site in Romania are now able to work together under NATO command and NATO control," explained the NATO chief. Further, the NATO summit recognised cyberspace as a new operational domain, joining land, air and sea.

"This means better protection of our networks and our missions and operations, with more focus on cyber training and cyber planning," said Stoltenberg. He stressed that NATO seeks a constructive dialogue with Russia, adding that Moscow cannot and should not be isolated.

NATO leaders tomorrow will discuss how to project stability in the region of the Middle East and North Africa and also how to help Afghanistan to bring back security and stability in the country

Source: KUNA