NATO Deputy Secretary General discusses European security at Bucharest Forum
Addressing a high-level conference in Romania (16 October), Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow spoke about the future of European security and NATO's work to meet new security challenges. The Bucharest Forum conference brings together decision-makers, diplomats and analysts on security issues from the region between the Adriatic, the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.
"The world has become a far less stable and secure place remarkably quickly. But NATO has responded remarkably quickly too. We will continue to adapt our Alliance so that it can ensure our collective defence and bolster the stability of our region for the long haul," Ambassador Vershbow explained. He outlined NATO's adaptation measures and the work the Alliance is doing to help partner countries defend themselves. "We must help our neighbours in the East who are the targets of Russian interference and intimidation – so that they can stand their ground and preserve their sovereignty. And we must help our partners in the South to combat extremism, to fight ISIL and to bring some degree of calm to the explosive atmosphere of the Middle East and North Africa," he said.
While in Romania, Ambassador Vershbow also met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Bogdan Aurescu and with Deputy Prime Minister Gabriel Oprea. Later in the day, the Deputy Secretary General was joining Minister of Defence Mircea Dusa and other distinguished visitors at the Romanian-US military exercise "Dacian Viber".