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Stoltenberg: NATO Multinational Division Southeast Headquarters will be a hub for regional cooperation
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday in Bucharest that NATO asked Romania to make NATO Multinational Division Southeast Headquarters fully deployable by 2012, but Romania can do it ahead of schedule, by 2018.
"This headquarters is an important part of that effort. It will be a hub for regional cooperation and for exercises, such as "Dacian Lynx", which is running this week (...) This is yet another demonstration of Romania's unwavering commitment to boosting the strength of our Alliance," Stoltenberg said in remarks at the NATO Multinational Division Southeast Headquarters.
He explained that it gives NATO military commanders a valuable option for commanding NATO forces across South Eastern Europe.
"When Allies first called upon Romania to provide this headquarters, we asked for it to be fully deployable by 2022. Instead, it will meet that goal by 2018, fully four years ahead of schedule. This is yet another demonstration of Romania's unwavering commitment to boosting the strength of our Alliance."
Stoltenberg said the NATO Multinational Division Southeast Headquarters is NATO's response to security challenges and dangers.
"Europe's security environment is more challenging than it has been for decades. With violence and instability across North Africa and the Middle East, and an assertive Russia, responsible for aggressive actions in Ukraine."
He said that NATO is responding.
"We have implemented the largest increase in our collective defense since the Cold War. And we will continue to do what it takes to keep our people safe," said Stoltenberg.