NATO is set to launch a new multinational force in Romania on Monday to counter Russia along its eastern flank and to check a growing Russian presence in the Black Sea following the Kremlin’s 2014 seizure of Crimea.
Representatives from the participating ten countries said that the land, air and sea deployment was not to pause a threat to Russia but to open dialogue from a strong position of defense and discouragement with the end product being peace. The decision was reached at the 63rd NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Bucharest, Romania.
The NATO force aims to develop its allied presence in the Black Sea region, rich in oil and gas, without escalating tensions, as it seeks to counter Russia’s plans to create what military analysts say is a “buffer zone.”
The deployment is expected to offer the countries and especially Romania protection as well as reaffirm the position of NATO regarding Russia’s seizure of Crimea as well as possible attacks or aggression. Under NATO’s founding treaty, an attack on one ally is an attack on all, meaning all 28 NATO nations would be required to respond in the case of any potential Russian aggression
