The EU and NATO want to strengthen their cooperation in the face of “hybrid” threats

EU and NATO leaders pledged on Sunday to greater cooperation in the face of “hybrid” threats, during a visit to Lithuania mainly focused on the migrant crisis in Belarus and the strengthening of Russia’s military presence near Ukraine. The Secretary General of the Atlantic Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, in this regard once again called on Moscow to “de-escalate” near the Ukrainian border and warn against “the costs and consequences” of an appeal on its part. to force.

This visit to Lithuania by Jens Stoltenberg and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, takes place shortly before a meeting Tuesday and Wednesday in neighboring Latvia of the foreign ministers of NATO countries, in which will participate in particular US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, to raise concerns about the situation near the Russian-Ukrainian border. Jens Stoltenberg and Ursula von der Leyen have both accused Belarus of orchestrating the migrant crisis and thereby posing a so-called hybrid threat to the European Union, which Minsk denies.

Lithuania wants to act

Thousands of migrants, mostly from the Middle East, have crossed or attempted to cross the Belarusian border in recent months to reach the eastern EU and Atlantic Alliance countries of Latvia. , Lithuania and Poland. “To respond to such events, it is important that the European Union and NATO work hand in hand”, hammered the President of the European Commission during a joint press conference with Jens Stoltenberg and the leaders. Lithuanians.

“We discussed how we could intensify the joint work of NATO and the EU, including through a new joint declaration, because we are stronger and safer when we work together”, for his part explained the Secretary General of the Atlantic Alliance. “If the security situation worsens further, we do not rule out the possibility of consultations under NATO Article 4,” warned Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, alluding to the situation on the border between his country and Belarus.

Russia’s “very worrying” military exercises

Under the founding treaty of the Atlantic Alliance, each of its members can call for a meeting of this organization for consultations when it considers that its security or independence is threatened. Poland also warned that it could invoke this article. For Jens Stoltenberg, the “unusual” increase in the presence of tanks, artillery, drones and thousands of combat-ready soldiers is “of great concern for many reasons”, in particular “because it is not provoked and not explained ”.

“The message to Russia is that it must de-escalate, reduce tensions and be transparent,” he continued, adding that “if it decides to use force, of course there will be consequences “.