NATO opens even more tions Eastern Europe. A confidential paper provides military exercises with countries such as Moldova or Armenia. At the end of the candidate could even stand to the defense alliance – a clear signal to Moscow.

The new Ice Age between the West and Russia have given them an unexpected significance thrust of NATO. Now, the Alliance seeks to increase its presence in Eastern Europe. Specifically, it is about Armenia, Azerbaijan and Moldova. In the past week, the so-called Partnership Committee adopted a catalog of “practical measures to promote relations” with these countries.

We need to explore ways in which the partners in the region could be better supported, it says in the seven-page confidential document (“NATO Restricted”). The short-term goal is to further, “in Eastern Europe to promote stability in the current context,” said the paper.

Among other things, the countries should be encouraged to allow the Alliance to increase the interoperability of their armies. So the ability to work together. These include joint exercises and training.

The three Eastern European countries should be encouraged to participate in so-called smart Defence projects of NATO. This involves the procurement of arms and the pooling and specialization of military capabilities with the aim to use them efficiently. An example of successful Smart Defence is jointly organized by the NATO countries monitoring the Baltic airspace.
For each of the three countries, individual assistance are planned. In Moldova, the visibility of NATO should be strengthened. For this purpose , according to the paper also includes the deployment of a NATO Liaison Officer in the capital Chisinau . The participation of the Republic of Moldova to the rapid reaction of the alliance, the so-called NATO Response Force , is up for debate .

With Azerbaijan especially enhanced cooperation in the area of ​​cyber and energy security is being considered , in Armenia is the training of the army in the foreground.

NATO Eastern Europe:Signal in the direction of Moscow is clearly

The message to Russia is clear: NATO will not accept it when Moscow put the territory of another country in question of the Ukraine. The Allies were, according to the paper, “the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Moldova committed”.

These steps consensus. Differ widely, however, the opinions on the question of whether the Alliance should take other Eastern European states – in response to Russia’s annexation of the Crimea.

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen spoke indirectly for a new enlargement of the Alliance. He called the recent accession of Eastern European countries from the Baltics to Poland to Romania and Bulgaria in the “Welt am Sonntag”, “one of the great success stories of our time.”

Any European State which is in a position to further the principles of the Alliance and contribute to the security of the NATO area, “can apply for membership,” Rasmussen added.

The Federal Government sees it quite differently. “That is not for us currently on the list of things that are now really necessary,” government spokesman Steffen Seibert said in Berlin on Monday.

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