Brexit may lead to instability: NATO chief

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has warned that Brexit could lead to instability, saying both the alliance and the EU are stronger with Britain’s continued membership of the EU.

"What really matters for NATO is, I strongly believe, a strong UK in a strong EU. It is good for both the UK and the EU but also for NATO," Stoltenberg told an event in Brussels held by the Politico Europe newspaper on Monday.

Stoltenberg, the former Norwegian premier, said that it was "up to the British people" to decide about the future of their country.

Britain will vote on June 23 on whether or not it should stay in the EU. The decision has far-reaching consequences for both the country and the bloc.

"It is a great advantage to have the UK being strong in the EU, pushing for security cooperation with NATO... It's good to have the UK in NATO pushing for strategic cooperation with the EU," said Stoltenberg who heads the 28-nation military grouping. "We live at a time of many threats and instability, we don't need more instability, we need more cooperation in Europe.

Both the EU and NATO have so far avoided intervening in Britain's referendum debate, in which Prime Minister David Cameron is trying hard to prevent Brexit.

SS