NATO Responds To Belarus’ Concern About Military Drills Near Its Border
BelarusFeed
30 October 2019, 10:18
Belarus shouldn’t worry about Defender Europe 2020 military exercise near its border, Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg said in Brussels, on 28 October.
Responding to a question about American troops in Lithuania and upcoming exercises that create tension in the region and Belarus’ readiness to take counter-measures, Stoltenberg noted that NATO is a defensive Alliance.
He also stressed that “all nations have the right to exercise their troops, and that’s also the case for NATO Allies. And we exercise together. That’s exactly what NATO has done for 70 years, since we were founded in 1949.” Secretary General explained that the scale of the Defender 2020 is a response to “a more unpredictable, more challenging, more difficult security environment.”
“The important thing is that when we see increased military activity along our borders, then it is important that we have predictability, transparency, and that’s exactly what NATO always ensures, that we are transparent, we are predictable when it comes to our military exercises. And also NATO Allies are predictable and transparent in the way they conduct exercises.
So, a defensive Alliance exercising their forces should not be any concern for any neighbour.”
Recall that the Defender 2020 in Europe is set to be the third-largest military exercise on the continent since the Cold War. About 40,000 military personnel from 18 NATO member states will take part in it.
American Abrams tanks and Bradley infantry fighting vehicles have already arrived at the Pabrade training ground, which is located about 15 kilometres from the border with Belarus. Also in October, a battalion of over 500 U.S. soldiers will arrive in Lithuania. The troops are being dispatched as part of the U.S. Army Europe Operation Atlantic Resolve to deter Russias aggression.
Last week Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko ordered the relevant ministries to respond to the deployment of the U.S. military. The state border will be strengthened, the number of land forces in the Lithuanian direction will be increased. The defence ministry also reported that a number of informational and diplomatic measures are also being undertaken.
30 October 2019, 10:18
Doorstep statement by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg; Photo: NATo press service
Responding to a question about American troops in Lithuania and upcoming exercises that create tension in the region and Belarus’ readiness to take counter-measures, Stoltenberg noted that NATO is a defensive Alliance.
He also stressed that “all nations have the right to exercise their troops, and that’s also the case for NATO Allies. And we exercise together. That’s exactly what NATO has done for 70 years, since we were founded in 1949.” Secretary General explained that the scale of the Defender 2020 is a response to “a more unpredictable, more challenging, more difficult security environment.”
“The important thing is that when we see increased military activity along our borders, then it is important that we have predictability, transparency, and that’s exactly what NATO always ensures, that we are transparent, we are predictable when it comes to our military exercises. And also NATO Allies are predictable and transparent in the way they conduct exercises.
So, a defensive Alliance exercising their forces should not be any concern for any neighbour.”
Recall that the Defender 2020 in Europe is set to be the third-largest military exercise on the continent since the Cold War. About 40,000 military personnel from 18 NATO member states will take part in it.
American Abrams tanks and Bradley infantry fighting vehicles have already arrived at the Pabrade training ground, which is located about 15 kilometres from the border with Belarus. Also in October, a battalion of over 500 U.S. soldiers will arrive in Lithuania. The troops are being dispatched as part of the U.S. Army Europe Operation Atlantic Resolve to deter Russias aggression.
Last week Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko ordered the relevant ministries to respond to the deployment of the U.S. military. The state border will be strengthened, the number of land forces in the Lithuanian direction will be increased. The defence ministry also reported that a number of informational and diplomatic measures are also being undertaken.
