NATO upped military presence in response to escalation against Ukraine

The Alliance is sending additional warships and fighter jets

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is reinforcing its presence in the Eastern European countries, members of the Alliance. These measures are aimed at strengthening defense against the troops of the Russian Federation near the Ukrainian border. 

This is reported by UA with reference to NATO website.

The current and upcoming deployments include:

• Denmark is sending a frigate to the Baltic Sea and is set to deploy four F-16 fighter jets to Lithuania
• Spain is sending ships to join NATO naval forces and is considering sending fighter jets to Bulgaria
•  France has expressed its readiness to send troops to Romania under NATO command
• The Netherlands is sending two F-35 fighter aircraft to Bulgaria from April to support NATO’s air-policing activities in the region, and is putting a ship and land-based units on standby for NATO’s Response Force
• The United States has also made clear that it is considering increasing its military presence in the eastern part of the Alliance

“NATO will continue to take all necessary measures to protect and defend all Allies, including by reinforcing the eastern part of the Alliance. We will always respond to any deterioration of our security environment, including through strengthening our collective defense,” Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, assured.

Earlier today, the US State Department authorized the voluntary departure of its diplomats and the eligible family members from Embassy Kyiv due to the threat of Russian military action. The US Embassy in Kyiv would continue operating though. Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called this decision an excessive caution.

The European Union has assured that the families of EU diplomats continue to stay in Ukraine. As reported by Bild, the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs is elaborating a plan on withdrawal of the families of employees of the German embassy, while the UK has already started withdrawing staff from its embassy in Ukraine, BBC informed.

According to the US State Department, Russia has concentrated around 100,000 servicemen at the Ukrainian borders, in addition, the attempt to destabilize the situation in Ukraine could be witnessed. During his recent visit to Kyiv, US Secretary of State Secretary Antony Blinken assumed that the increase of Russian troops presence means that Moscow could attack at short notice.

January 19, President Zelensky made an official statement: “Does Ukraine want a war? No. Is it ready for it? Yes. Will Ukraine stop fighting for peace through diplomacy? Never. Will Ukraine defend itself in case of the necessity? Always.”