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Germany cautious of stronger NATO presence in Black Sea

Merkel refrains from extending support to Romania’s call for stronger NATO presence in its country, amid Ukrainian crisis.

26.02.2015 - Update : 26.02.2015
Germany cautious of stronger NATO presence in Black Sea

BERLIN

Germany responded cautiously Thursday to Romania’s call for stronger NATO presence in its country amid growing concerns over Russia's foreign policy in the region.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel told visiting Romanian President Klaus Iohannis that NATO allies should first focus on implementing the decisions made in the Wales Summit in September 2014, which included measures to address new security challenges.

Merkel refrained from extending support to Iohannis’ proposal of deploying a NATO commando division to Romania.

“We have together agreed on significant steps in the Wales summit," Merkel said at a joint press conference with Iohannis, after their meeting in Berlin. "We must first focus on implementing these steps. Then we should also talk about further requests by Romania.” 

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis had called for a stronger NATO presence in his country during an interview with German public television ARD ahead of his talks in Berlin. 

“Romania does not feel threatened militarily and we do not expect the conflict to spill over to Romania," Iohannis said during the interview. "But we want to be prepared for any development. That means the support of NATO." 

Russia’s annexation of Crimea last year and its support for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine has led to grave concerns among Baltic countries, Poland and Romania.

Merkel's priority is diplomacy

Merkel has assumed a leading diplomatic role in the Ukrainian crisis and has, so far, objected to military steps or harsher economic sanctions against Russia.

During her press conference with the Romanian president in Berlin, she was asked about the risk of Moldova being the next Crimea.

“We hope that would not happen,” Merkel said.

She added that the focus of all sides should be on implementing the Minsk agreement in order to achieve a sustainable cease-fire in eastern Ukraine, where tensions have remained high in Debaltseve and Mariupol.

More than 5,600 people have been killed and 12,200 others injured in eastern Ukraine since April 2014 in the ongoing conflict, according to the UN.

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