The head of the Portuguese Ministry of Defence informed the decision. This is Portugal's consequence to last week's events erstwhile Russian drones repeatedly breached Polish airspace.
Portugal has made a declaration
Defence Minister Luiz Montenegro assured that the Portuguese army was ready to increase its operational capacity and to have military presence in the east NATO flank. He stressed that Lisbon would fulfil its commitments to EU and NATO allies "in the name of the principles of freedom and peace."
Minister Nuno Melo besides pointed out that he advocated halting armed conflicts, not escalation.
NATO is ready to defend its territory. However, we should not fuel what is clearly unreasonable and dangerous (...), actions that can lead to escalation, which nobody wants to", he informed in a conversation with the media.
Operation East defender NATO
Operation "East Guard" was announced Friday in connection with the launch by Poland of Article 4. NATO.
– NATO launches its focus on the east flank in Europe. In the coming days, we will launch an initiative ("Eastern defender - ed.) and engage resources from Denmark, France, Germany and another countries," said Mark Rutte at a press conference.
Recall that German abroad Minister Johann Wadephul called on the United States to yet approve severe sanctions for Russia in connection with the breach of Russian airspace drones on the east flank of NATO, including Poland.
The head of the European Commission informed about a telephone conversation with Donald Trump on sanctions against Russia. Ursula Von Der Leyen announced that she would shortly present the 19th package of sanctions against cryptocurrency, banks and the energy sector of Russia.
"Russian war economy, maintained from fossil fuel income, finances bloodshed in Ukraine. To put an end to this, the Commission will propose to velocity up the withdrawal of Russian imports of fossil fuels", she wrote.
Let's add that the Kremlin's words are shocking. spokesperson Dimitij Pieskov said: "NATO is at war with Russia. It's obvious, and it doesn't require evidence. The Alliance provides direct and indirect support to the government in Kiev.
