NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday the alliance is ready to contribute to security building in Libya once conditions allow.
The NATO chief said he welcomed a Libyan cease-fire while speaking at a news conference.
鈥淲e have seen the presence of fighter jets and mercenaries financed by Russia and all the Russian military capabilities,鈥� he said in response to a question about Russia鈥檚 military build-up in the region. 鈥淔or NATO, it just highlights the importance of supporting the UN-led efforts to find a negotiated solution to the Libyan crisis.鈥�
Russia鈥檚 heavy investment in new military equipment and increased military presence along the military alliance鈥檚 borders falls into a pattern, according to Stoltenberg.
It is not only present in Libya, 鈥渂ut in other parts of Africa, the Middle East, Syria, the Baltic region, and high north鈥� he said.
The developments have caused 鈥済reat concern鈥� for NATO, but the alliance 鈥渇ollows and monitors very closely鈥� and it invested in new capabilities 鈥渋n response to a more assertive Russia,鈥� he added.
By Agnes Szucs in Brussels
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr