AP – NATO is increasing its readiness and air policing following a spike in Russian air force activity in Eastern Europe, the alliance’s new chief said Thursday.
Jens Stoltenberg said that while NATO is not back on Cold War terms with its former arch-enemy, recent Russian behavior has severely undermined the trust built up over decades.
Tensions have been running high between NATO and Russia since Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in March.
Speaking during a visit to Athens, Greece, Stoltenberg said the trans-Atlantic military alliance “remains vigilant and ready to respond” in view of this year’s tripling of Russian military flights along NATO’s eastern borders.
“We need to keep our forces ready, therefore we are investing in high readiness, new capabilities,” Stoltenberg told a press conference. “We are … increasing air policing as an answer to the increased air activities we are seeing from Russia.”
He also urged Russia to remove its forces from Ukraine and warned against plans by pro-Russian separatists to hold local elections in eastern Ukraine. Russia denies having forces in Ukraine.
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