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US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin arrived in Brussels to hold talks with NATO leaders and allied defense ministers, as tens of thousands of Russian forces have surrounded Ukraine from the north, south and east.
During the meetings on Wednesday and Thursday, Secretary Austin and his counterparts will discuss how to prevent a Russian attack on Ukraine, while increasing the alliance’s defense capabilities on its eastern flank.
“This is a crucial moment for NATO; “We have probably not seen such a moment since the creation of NATO in 1949,” said Bradley Bowman, director of the Center for Military and Political Power at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. “NATO’s leadership role is important here,” he told VOA.
The main message from NATO and the United States will be to protect the rule-based international order, denouncing “revolting efforts to undermine the rule of law” and “safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries.” said a senior defense official.
“We can not allow any opponent to redefine the borders by force and without facing significant consequences,” the official added. Secretary Austin will continue to travel to two NATO member countries, Poland and Lithuania, two of Russia’s neighbors that are following developments around Ukraine with growing concern.
In Poland, Secretary Austin will meet with President Andrzej Duda on Friday, before visiting US forces. The United States will soon have about 9,000 troops in Poland, after President Joe Biden ordered the deployment of about 5,000 additional troops there earlier this month amid concerns over Russia’s latest moves.
In Lithuania, Secretary Austin will meet with President Gitanas Nauseda and hold a joint meeting with the defense ministers of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia./VOA
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