NATO to Step Up Military Presence in Nordics

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, November 9, 2015Former Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg made the comments while visiting Stockholm for the first time since becoming Nato’s new Secretary General last year, taking over from fellow Scandinavian, Denmark’s Anders Fogh Rasmussen….

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday morning, he said that Nato was stepping up its presence in the Nordic region as a result of growing Russian military activity in the area and in response to watching the country “use force to change the borders of Ukraine.”

“Nato does not seek confrontation with Russia. We are looking for cooperation and dialogue, but that cooperation must be based on predictability and strength,” he said.

Stoltenberg’s trip coincides with a regular two-day meeting of the Nordic defence cooperation group, Nordefco, attended by representatives from Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Finland and Denmark as well as partners from the Baltic states. Polish and UK officials have also been invited to the talks.

Image: Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, November 9, 2015 (photo: NATO)