NATO General Discusses Ukraine, Hungary Assistance In Budapest

(MTI) – Sir Adrian John Bradshaw, NATO’s Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, on Friday paid a short visit to Hungary to discuss the crisis in Ukraine, NATO’s response and Hungary’s assistance, as well as the situation in Afghanistan and the Balkans.

Speaking at a press roundtable, General Bradshaw said the primary purpose of his visit was to discuss with NATO member Hungary what response the North Atlantic Alliance should give to the situation in Ukraine.

General Bradshaw said that NATO should maintain the deterrent force which is proportionate and appropriate for handling the crisis. He said that several actions had been taken to this effect, including more intensive air control in the airspace of the Baltic countries, enhanced navy presence on the Black Sea and the eastern basin of the Mediterranean Sea and a line-up of land forces.

All of these actions are of defensive nature, but they also underpin the strength NATO represents when fulfilling obligations set in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty on collective defence, he said.

General Bradshaw expressed thanks to Defence Minister Csaba Hende and Army Chief Tibor Benko for the prompt and firm assistance Hungary had offered in response to NATO’s call regarding affirmative actions.

These included field officers, infrastructural and air space control equipment contributed by the Hungarian armed forces.

Photo: reportervirtual.ro

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters