MOSCOW (Sputnik) — NATO is not expending east, it is eastern Europe countries that want to join the block, Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg said Friday.
"It's independent nations that have knocked on the door and wanted membership. It's not NATO in any way moving east — it's the east wanting to join NATO and/or the European Union. And that's the sovereign right of every sovereign nation to decide," Stoltenberg said in an interview with Canada's magazine Maclean's.
Choosing a security arrangement is fundamental right of every country, NATO chief stressed, if Ukraine applies to join the block, we will assess the application.
NATO has been increasing its presence in eastern European allied countries and near Russia's border over the past year amid straining Alliance-Moscow relations.
In February, NATO announced it will double its Response Force, stationed close to Russia in Eastern Europe, to comprise 30,000 military personnel.
The alliance accuses Russia of interfering in eastern Ukraine crises and annexing Crimea. Moscow has repeatedly dismissed all the allegations and stressed that NATO expansion toward the country's borders could further escalate tensions and undermine regional security.
Crimea rejoined Russia in March 2014 after an absolute 96-percent majority of its residents voted for reunification in a referendum.
