NATO summit underway as Biden says US boosting forces across Europe over Russian threat, Kremlin kicks
The leaders of North Atlantic Treaty Organization member states have begun their talks in Madrid, Spain.
The summit meeting began at around 11 a.m., local time, as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said at the start of the talks that the leaders will make key decisions to keep NATO strong and ready in a more dangerous and competitive world.
The leaders are scheduled to adopt a strategic concept to guide the alliance’s political and military development for the coming decade. The concept is expected to state that Russia poses a threat to NATO security.
It will also refer to China for the first time, describing it as a challenge to NATO’s security, interests, and values.
The leaders are expected to agree to strengthen significantly NATO’s defense posture in eastern Europe and provide long-term military assistance to Ukraine.
They are also likely to agree to launch procedures for Finland and Sweden to join the alliance.
Meanwhile, the United States will boost its military forces across Europe — sending more troops, planes, and ships —because of threats from Moscow following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Joe Biden said as NATO leaders hold their annual summit in Madrid.
The US president said Washington is establishing a permanent headquarters in Poland, sending two additional F-35 fighter jet squadrons to the UK, and will send more “air defence and other capabilities” to Germany and Italy.
The number of destroyers in Spain will be increased to six from four, and the US is also beefing up its military assets in Romania and the Baltic region, he added.
It followed his announcement on Tuesday that the US would base its two additional destroyers at its naval base at Rota in Spain. The United States provides the bulk of NATO’s military power.
The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy while addressing the gathering by video link again called for more weapons, scolded NATO for not doing enough to protect his country, and warned that Russia’s ambitions did not stop at Ukraine.
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and three other leaders from the Asia-Pacific countries will take part in an expanded session of the alliance later in the day. They are expected to pledge their enhanced cooperation with NATO.
Norway also announced on Wednesday that it was sending three MLRS long-range rocket launcher batteries to Ukraine. On Tuesday, the German and Dutch defence ministers announced the delivery of six additional howitzers.
Moscow has responded by saying it is not “intimidated” by Biden’s announcement.
Moscow called NATO’s latest moves “destabilising”, saying they would not increase security.
“Those who propose such decisions have the illusion that Russia can be intimidated, somehow contained: they will not succeed,” said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.
