NATO
March 23, 2022

Press conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg previewing the extraordinary Summit of NATO Heads of State and Government

NATO leaders will meet in Brussels tomorrow at a pivotal moment for our security.
And I look forward to welcoming President Zelensky who will address us during the meeting.

There are now hundreds of thousands of Allied troops at heightened readiness across the Alliance.
One hundred thousand US troops in Europe.
And 40,000 forces under direct NATO command, mostly in the eastern part of the alliance.
All backed by major air and naval power.
Including five carrier strike groups in the High North and in the Mediterranean.

I expect leaders will agree to strengthen NATO’s posture in all domains.
With major increases to our forces in the eastern part of the Alliance.
On land, in the air, and at sea.

The first step is the deployment of four new NATO battlegroups.
In Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia.
Along with our existing forces in the Baltic countries and Poland, this means that we will have eight multinational NATO battlegroups all along the eastern flank.
From the Baltic to the Black Sea.

I also expect we will agree to step up tailored support for other partners at risk from Russian pressure.
Including Georgia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

I expect we will also address the role of China in this crisis.

Beijing has joined Moscow in questioning the right of independent nations to choose their own path.

China has provided Russia with political support, including by spreading blatant lies and disinformation.
And Allies are concerned that China could provide material support for the Russian invasion.

We also call on Belarus to end its complicity in Putin’s invasion.