MOSCOW (Reuters) – NATO will not withdraw from Romania or Bulgaria, the Atlantic Alliance said on Friday in response to a request made earlier today by Russia as part of the security guarantees demanded by Moscow to appease the tensions around Ukraine.
“NATO will not give up its ability to protect and defend each other, including through the presence of troops on the eastern flank of the alliance,” said Oana Lungescu, spokesperson for the organization, in a press release. .
NATO was reacting to statements by the Russian Foreign Ministry, Sergei Lavrov, who indicated that the security guarantees requested by Russia from Western powers included provisions requiring that NATO forces leave Romania and Bulgaria. .
Moscow is asking the Atlantic Alliance for legally binding guarantees on a halt to NATO expansion and a return to its 1997 borders.
Asked what this meant for Romania and Bulgaria, which joined NATO after 1997, the Russian ministry replied that Moscow wanted all foreign troops, weapons and other military equipment removed from those countries.
“We reject any idea of spheres of influence in Europe. We will always respond to any deterioration in our security environment, including by strengthening our collective defense,” said Oana Lungescu.
Bulgaria will decide alone on its defense plans in coordination with its NATO allies, replied Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, who called on Russia to engage in a constructive dialogue with the West on the de-escalation of tensions in the subject of Ukraine.
“Bulgaria is a sovereign country, which made its choice a long time ago by becoming a member of NATO. As such, we alone decide to organize the defense of our country in coordination with our partners”, thus declared the Bulgarian Prime Minister in front of the Parliament.
(Tsvetelia Tsolova report; written by Olzhas Auyezov; Blandine Hénault and Dina Kartit for the French version, edited by Tangi Salaün and Sophie Louet)
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