Following Russia’s attack on Ukraine, NATO is no longer bound by past commitments to refrain from deploying its forces in Eastern Europe.
Source: NATO Deputy Secretary-General Mircea Geoana
According to him, Moscow itself has “voided of any content” of the NATO-Russia Founding Act, by attacking Ukraine and halting dialogue with the alliance.
Under the 1997 Founding Act, intended to reset the relationship between Russia and the Alliance, both sides agreed to work to “prevent any potentially threatening build-up of conventional forces in agreed regions of Europe, to include Central and Eastern Europe”.
“They took decisions, they made obligations not to attack neighbours, which they are doing, and to have regular consultations with NATO which they don’t. So I think that this Founding Act is not functioning because of Russia.”
“Now we have no restrictions to have robust posture in the eastern flank and to ensure that every square inch of NATO’s territory is protected by Article 5 and our allies.”
Geoana did not give details of the new planned deployment, but said he expected a “reliable, flexible and sustainable presence”.
See also: Ukraine is invited to a meeting of NATO defense ministers
