Italy will provide NATO with an additional 1.4 thousand troops
Photo: Andreea Alexandru / AP
The Italian government has decided to provide NATO with an additional 1.4 thousand troops. This is reported by TASS with reference to the country's Prime Minister Mario Draghi.
According to the politician, another 2,000 soldiers can also be added to this contingent. “We are ready to provide [NATO] with about 1,400 troops, navy and air force, and another 2,000 more. These forces will be engaged in NATO areas of responsibility,” Draghi said.
Earlier, the German authorities thought about sending additional military and equipment to the Eastern European states to strengthen the eastern flank of NATO. We are talking about the possibility of sending Boxer armored personnel carriers and about 150 German military personnel to the eastern borders of the North Atlantic Alliance. In addition, the option of transferring Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) to the Baltic countries is being considered.
Earlier, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that NATO would continue to increase its presence on the eastern flank. He explained that such measures will be taken so that Moscow “does not have room for misunderstandings or miscalculations” and “to prevent an attack on NATO territory.”
On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he had decided to conduct a special military operation to protect Donbass. The head of state also turned to external forces that might try to pose a threat to Russia – according to him, the answer will be immediate.
