“NATO has to proceed with the deterrence and defence measures and solidarity and unity are the best response to any crisis,” Minister of National Defence Raimundas Karoblis said at the extraordinary NATO Defence Ministers’ meeting on April 15. NATO Ministers of Defence discussed Alliance response to the global pandemic and support to nations facing the crisis via a secure teleconference.
The Ministers reiterated the unchanging NATO deterrence and defence posture, as well as international operations, despite the challenges presented by contributions to the current crisis response.
R. Karbolis welcomed the active NATO role in coordinating military support to civilian institutions, especially the swift moving of protective and medical supplies. He also thanked Germany and Croatia that had sent additional medical equipment and personnel to the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group in Rukla. Lithuania also declared support to Italy and Spain.
NATO Defence Ministers agreed on recommendations for increasing civilian resilience to the COVID-19 crisis at the conference, significant attention was also paid to NATO’s response to disinformation attacks in relation to the global pandemic situation and to concerted EU and NATO action. “We have been monitoring consistent attempts to spread disinformation aimed at undercutting the confidence in the decisions made by countries to manage the spread of the coronavirus. Allied troops fall victims to the corona fake news quite often too, therefore we find it necessary to keep strengthening the NATO-EU cooperation, especially public resilience, military movement facilitation, and strategic cooperation,” R. Karoblis said.
Photo source: nato.int
