NATO welcomes Obama's $1bn security plan for Europe

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen Tuesday "strongly welcomed" US President Barack Obama's announcement today of plans for USD one billion fund to increase US military deployment to Europe.
"This is a timely and important contribution that reinforces the steps NATO has already taken. It is a clear sign of America's commitment to Europe, and it's a clear sign of the strength of the transatlantic bond," he told a press conference at the end of the first day of a two-day meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels.
Rasmussen said they had "a series of good meetings to prepare for our Wales Summit in three months' time. And we have taken a number of decisions to make NATO fitter, faster and more flexible.
"Today, we made clear that NATO looks forward to working with the new president of Ukraine and is committed to supporting reforms in Ukraine's security and defence sector," he stressed.
"In the weeks to come we will finalise a comprehensive package of long-term measures to make Ukraine's reforms more effective, and its armed forces stronger," added the NATO chief.
NATO defence ministers tomorrow will discuss the situation in Afghanistan.