Stoltenberg: Russia is attempting to divide NATO
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour that Russia is attempting to divide the alliance using various means.
“What we have seen over long time is a more assertive Russia, using many different means to try to intimidate its neighbors and to try to also divide the NATO alliance,” Stoltenberg stated.
The Secretary General went on to explain that NATO is responding to the threat using several strategies.
“We are responding in a very unified way, adapting our military posture, increasing our military presence in the eastern part of the alliance and increasing the readiness of our forces. Moreover, the European Union is also responding with economic sanctions and the international community is also responding, with the United States and many other countries being part of the economic sanctions imposed against Russia,” the head of NATO told Amanpour.
Stoltenberg went on to say that not only have Russia’s efforts to divide NATO been ineffective, they have actually strengthened the alliance.
“So Russia has not succeeded in the efforts to divide the NATO alliance. Actually, we are more united and we are responding in a very firm way to the behavior of Russia, both in the east but also now in the south,” the Secretary General concluded.