NATO does not consider the Black Sea to be Russian territory and will remain in the region to defend its allies, NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the South Caucasus and Central Asia James Appathurai said in an interview on the Georgian Public Broadcaster’s First Channel on Thursday.
NATO’s spokesperson also mentioned that the organization is beefing up its presence in the Black Sea. On the Black Sea, NATO is even more well-represented, he noted adding that the alliance is also talking about our naval forces units, which NATO is relocating to the region. Individual NATO members also engage in similar behavior, but it is coordinated. British soldiers, French planes, and U.S. ships arriving can be seen on a daily basis.
Appathurai said that even though Moscow is against it, NATO will not reduce its presence.
The previous day, Appathurai landed in Tbilisi. He will have talks with the republic’s senior officials, including President Salome Zurabishvili. This is his final trip as the Special Representative of the NATO Secretary General for the South Caucasus and Central Asia. He will resign from his position in the near future.
