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Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves told secretary general of NATO Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday that a strong NATO is a guarantee for the freedom of the 28 member states.
Estonian president: Strong NATO is guarantee for freedom of all allies
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«You assumed the office during troubled times and Estonia will do everything in its powers to be of help with preserving the strength of the alliance,» the president said when welcoming the NATO chief.
According to Ilves, after the annexation of Crimea by Russia and Russia's actions in Ukraine our security environment has become unpredictable and international treaties which assured our security so far have expired, spokespeople said.
«Therefore, we have to continue strengthening NATO which would guarantee the necessary capability to cope with different security threats. A strong NATO is the guarantee for our freedom and existence -- not only for Estonia but for all 28 allies,» Ilves said and added that the NATO summit in Wales was successful for us and confirmed the solidarity and determination of the alliance, but now this success has to be routinely ensured.
He recalled the NATO Readiness Action Plan approved at the Wales summit which offers all allies a strong framework to support building up a more capable NATO. Among other things it includes the presence of allied forces at the eastern border.
«A forceful and visible presence of allied forces is the best way to deter all these who are thinking of undermining Europe's present security architecture,» Ilves said.