NATO Foreign Ministers, meeting in Brussels on Tuesday 4 and Wednesday 5 December, are expected to discuss "Russia's destabilising behaviour", whether it is its non-compliance with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty or its latest actions in the Azov Sea, Alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced on Monday 3 December.
"We seek dialogue with Russia. And we aspire to improved relations. But to make this possible, Russia must fully comply with its international commitments", the Secretary General explained once again at a press conference.
Diplomatic leaders will therefore return to the INF, which the United States has announced it will leave (see EUROPE 12122). According to Mr Stoltenberg, this treaty “has been put in jeopardy by Russia”. According to him, "the situation is untenable, we cannot continue like this”. “We must be sure that we can continue to keep all allies safe and we will take the necessary decisions to make sure that this is the case in the future”, Mr Stoltenberg warned, without giving any further details.
The Allies will also meet with Ukraine and Georgia. "They both face serious security problems from Russia. And we will continue to give both countries practical and political support”, the Secretary General explained, while the situation in the Sea of Azov will also be discussed. "Russia recently seized Ukrainian ships and sailors near the Kerch Strait. There is no justification for this use of force”, he said. He called for calm and restraint, and urged Russia to release Ukrainian sailors and ships. Russia “must also allow free navigation and unhindered access to Ukrainian ports in the Sea of Azov”, he continued. The Secretary General recalled that the Alliance had strengthened its presence in the Black Sea region and that Allies had, outside NATO, an enhanced naval presence in the Black Sea.
The ministerial meeting will also discuss the security situation in North Africa and the Middle East, including Iraq.
On Wednesday, in the presence of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Allies will return to the Western Balkans, a region that “is of key strategic interest for both NATO and the EU”, according to Mr Stoltenberg.
In particular, the ministers will discuss “taking the next steps in developing NATO’s relationship with Bosnia and Herzegovina”. Mr Stoltenberg announced that he expected ministers "to endorse NATO’s readiness to accept Bosnia’s first Annual National Programme”. “This is an important tool which can help the country implement political, economic and defence reforms", he said, adding that it was now up to Bosnia and Herzegovina to decide whether to accept this offer.
Finally, the ministerial will conclude with a debate on the 'stepped-up support' mission in Afghanistan. "The challenge in Afghanistan is enormous”, Mr Stoltenberg said. “We must continue to ensure that the country never again becomes a safe haven for international terrorists”, he added, arguing that the cost of withdrawal would be higher than the cost of staying in place. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)