Tallinn. December 10th. INTERFAX - Estonian President Alar Karis said that during a telephone conversation with the heads of state of the eastern wing of NATO on Thursday, the US president promised to transfer additional troops to the alliance countries if necessary.
"Biden stressed that from his telephone conversation (with Russian President Vladimir Putin - IF) it was difficult to understand what Russia's plans really were. It was important to show that every step is followed by a reciprocal step. Biden also stressed that there are economic, financial, and, if necessary, military levers. If necessary, additional troops will be deployed to NATO countries, and where to deploy them is the decision of the NATO countries," Karis told the ERR broadcasting portal on Friday about Biden's telephone conversation with the heads of Eastern European NATO member states.
Answering the question whether it is possible to assume that additional troops will be transferred to the eastern flank of NATO, Karis noted: "I understood from today's conversation that when the need arises, it will be done. But today, tomorrow or in a month's time, of course, this was not mentioned in the telephone conversation."
"Biden's message to the eastern countries (NATO) was clear: all security decisions are made together, and there is no such thing as an eastern wing, a western wing, a southern wing and a northern wing, decisions are made by the whole of NATO, this also applies to Ukraine," Karis added.
"Biden stressed that his sacred duty is the fifth article (of the charter) NATO. He repeated it several times," the Estonian president said.
