Stoltenberg: NATO will not withdraw troops from the countries that have joined the alliance since 1997

“NATO allies cannot compromise the absolutely key principles of European, national security.

The fact that each country chooses its own path - whether or not it wants to be a member of an alliance like NATO, ”RIA Novosti quotes Stoltenberg. 

According to him, the alliance also cannot agree that NATO should not have soldiers in all countries that have joined the organization since 1997.

Earlier, Stoltenberg said that the North Atlantic Alliance would not compromise on the expansion of the organization and the deployment of troops in the east.

US Permanent Representative to NATO Julianne Smith also said that the North Atlantic Alliance would not return to its configuration until eastward expansion in 1997.

She noted that not a single member of the alliance is ready to abandon the policy of "open doors".