Estonia: All NATO members are aware that the beast wants to take control of the Western Balkans
NATO foreign ministers today sought to reassure Russia's neighbors, who are worried that Moscow could destabilize them with the war in Ukraine, causing energy instability and inflation.
On the second day of the ministerial meeting in Bucharest, the focus today is on the Western Balkans, especially on Bosnia and Herzegovina and the two former Soviet republics of Moldova and Georgia. Both countries have breakaway regions with Russian forces stationed there.
"The message is clear: all NATO members are aware that the beast wants to take control of the Western Balkans and we must practically help those countries to survive," said the Estonian foreign minister. Urmas Reinsalu.
NATO members have promised to help the three countries facing pressure from Moscow, the Secretary General of NATO said. Alliance Jens Stoltenberg and the ministers.
The lesson from Ukraine is that we now have to support them, Stoltenberg said at a press conference.
"Russian influence affects them in different ways, but it is better to support them now than if things start to develop in a completely different direction as we see in Ukraine," he added.
Stoltenberg said that NATO's support for these countries is reflected in the help to build their defense capacities, in the implementation of reforms and strengthening the resilience of the institutions.