NATO is considering deploying a permanent military presence in eastern Europe to repel a possible Russian invasion

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg confessed that the Atlantic Alliance is considering deploying a permanent military presence in eastern Europe to repel a possible Russian invasion.

“Regardless of when, how the war in Ukraine ends, the war has already had long-term consequences for our security. NATO needs to adapt to this new reality. And that is exactly what we are doing,” Stoltenberg explained in an interview with the British newspaper 'The Telegraph'.

The Atlantic Alliance, as its secretary general assured, is “in the midst of a very fundamental transformation” that will make decisions on a permanent deployment at the NATO summit to be held in Madrid in June.

“NATO is the most successful alliance in history for two reasons. One is that we were able to unite Europe and North America. The other is that we have been able to change when the world is changing. Now the world is changing and NATO is changing,” he said.

Since the beginning of the invasion on February 24, NATO has deployed 40,000 soldiers on its eastern flank, which stretches from the Baltic to the Black Sea.

FINLAND'S ENTRY

A coalition partner in the Finnish Government who has traditionally been against accession to NATO signaled Saturday its openness to accession, thus clearing the way for Helsinki to become a member of the Atlantic Alliance.

The Finnish Centre Party held a vote on security policy on Saturday, in which the party council granted the authority to approve an application for NATO membership.

“If the Government believes that the pace and timing are right, then I, as president of the Centre Party, with your support, am prepared to set the course for Finland's accession to the NATO defense alliance,” said party president Annika Saarikko.

Finland has long resisted the option of membership in NATO, but the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine has changed views in a country that shares a long border with Russia. Recent surveys show that most Finns now support membership, according to the agency DPA.

The Prime Minister of Finland, Sanna Marin, has not expressed her opinion, but has made it clear that the decision “must be taken soon”. On Saturday he stated in Yle that, as the security situation could worsen, the decision must be taken this spring, that is, in mid-June.

(With information from Europa Press)

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