a minute agoNATO rejects Russia's bid to withdraw forces from Romania, Bulgaria
Periskopi(4 years ago)
(4 years ago)NATO on Friday rejected Russian demands to withdraw its forces from Romania and Bulgaria as diplomatic efforts continued to prevent a war in Europe in conditions where Russia has gathered about 100,000 troops near Ukraine's borders. “NATO will not give up the right to protect each other, [...]
“NATO will not give up the right to defend each other, including the presence of troops in the eastern part of the” coalition, NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said in a statement.
Moscow has requested legally binding guarantees by NATO that it will stop enlargement and return to the borders of 1997, Reuters broadcast.
Earlier Friday, the Russian foreign ministry said security guarantees requiring Moscow from the West include provisions requiring NATO forces to leave Romania and Bulgaria.
Responding to a question of what this meant for Bulgaria and Romania, which joined NATO after 1997, the ministry said Russia wanted all foreign troops, weapons and other military equipment to withdraw from those countries.
NATO rejected these demands, saying that such a thing would create NATO's first and second-hand allies, which the alliance could not accept.
We reject any idea of the sphere of influence in Europe. We will always respond to any deterioration of our security environment, even with the strengthening of our collective defence”, NATO spokeswoman said.
“NATO is vigilant and continues to assess the need to reinforce the eastern part of our Alliance”.
