NATO planning to extend military presence in Mediterranean region
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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (L) and the alliance’s new top commander General Curtis Scaparrotti give a joint press conference in the Belgian town of Mons, May 4, 2016. (Photo by AFP)
The secretary general of NATO says the Western military alliance is planning to extend its military presence in the Mediterranean region, in a plan certain to deepen Russian concerns.
According to Press TV, Jens Stoltenberg made the announcement Wednesday during a joint news conference with NATO’s new Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) US Army General Curtis Scaparrotti in the Belgian town of Mons.
“We are working on establishing a broader security presence...which can make sure that we are able to have freedom of navigation, which can have many different kinds of surveillance, monitoring, many different kinds of tasks,” he said.
NATO warships have been patrolling the Aegean Sea since February to allegedly help Turkey and Greece suppress criminal networks trafficking refugees into Europe.
The alliance says its vessels have also been involved in the monitoring of the Turkey-Syria border for people smugglers.
Scaparrotti, who succeeded US Air Force General Philip Breedlove as NATO’s top military commander, said he would adopt a tough line on Russia, similar to his predecessor.
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