The defense ministers of Germany, Poland and Denmark confirmed their plans to expand NATO's Multinational Corps Northeast, based in the Polish city of Szczecin, Ukrainian information agency UNIAN reported.
German Defense Minister Ursula Von der Leyen met with her colleagues from Poland and Denmark — Tomas Semenyaka and Nicolai Wammen, respectively. During the meeting, Von der Leyen assured her colleagues that Germany will put 100 soldiers in Szczecin.
The German minister said NATO plans to station soldiers from over 20 countries in Szczecin before the NATO summit in Warsaw next year.
Semenyaka, the Defense Minister of Poland, pointed out that his country needs as many NATO soldiers as possible. He also added that the military alliance needs to increase its defense capabilities in Eastern Europe, stating that Multinational Corps Northeast should become NATO's main defense body in the region.
NATO has been increasing its presence in eastern European allied countries and near Russia's border over the past year, straining relations between the military alliance and Moscow.
In February, NATO announced it will double its Response Force, stationed close to Russia in Eastern Europe, to comprise 30,000 military personnel.
