NATO: Meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence, Brussels, 10-11 February 2016: NATO boosts its defence and deterrence posture

At a meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in Brussels on the 10-11 February 2016 Defence Ministers took steps to strengthen the Alliance defence and deterrence posture. 'NATO Defence Ministers agreed on an enhanced forward presence in the eastern part of our Alliance', Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reported.

The initiative was aimed to show solidarity and to reassure Eastern European members of NATO against perceived threats from Russia.

The Secretary General welcomed the announcement made by many Allies on how they would contribute and pointed out that further decisions would be taken at the NATO Summit in Warsaw in July 2016.

• Primary Source

NATO: Events: Meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence, Brussels, 10-11 February 2016 http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/events_127660.htm

Deutsche Welle, 10.02.16: NATO agrees on stronger eastern flank against Russia http://dw.com/p/1Hsrz

ESO: Background information: NATO Secretary General welcomes US announcement to strengthen military presence in Europe http://www.europeansources.info/record/nato-secretary-general-welcomes-us-announcement-to-strengthen-military-presence-in-europe/

ESO: Background information: NATO Secretary General discusses Warsaw Summit with Polish President http://www.europeansources.info/record/nato-secretary-general-discusses-warsaw-summit-with-polish-president/

BBC News, 10.02.16: Proposed Nato reinforcement 'will send signal' to Russia http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35541311

Politico, 10.02.16: NATO boots in Central Europe to tackle Russian threat http://www.politico.eu/article/nato-russia-putin-ukraine-migrants-asylum-turkey/

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