NATO DMs to discuss further support to Global Coalition against IS

BRUSSELS, June 14 (KUNA) -- NATO defence ministers today's meeting will pave the way for decisions to be adopted at the NATO summit in Warsaw in July to strengthen deterrence and defence across the Alliance against threats from any direction, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the 2-day meeting, he announced that ministers will agree on the NATO deployment by rotation of four robust multinational battalions to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland.
They will also take decisions on a tailored presence for the south-east region, with a multinational brigade in Romania.
"We will also adopt a framework for NATO's further adaptation to the challenges from the South. And consider what more NATO can and should do to project stability. For instance in Iraq. In providing further direct support to the Global Coalition fighting ISIL," he said.
Stoltenberg, however, stressed that NATO does not seek confrontation with Russia. "We don't want a new cold war with Russia. We will try to strive for a more constructive and cooperative relationship with Russia and also keep the door open for political dialogue and military to military contacts," he added.
The NATO chief added that the Alliance "will continue to have a credible, safe and secure nuclear deterrent." (end) nk.nfm