NATO members commit resources to collective defense initiative

BRUSSELS, June 3 (UPI) -- NATO defense ministers recommitted to strengthening their collective defense at a gathering in Brussels on Tuesday in response to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis.

"Every single Ally is committing resources to our collective defense," NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said, adding "When we say NATO's defense is 'all for one,' we mean it."

As part of that effort, U.S. President Barack Obama announced during a visit to Poland on Tuesday that America has committed $1 billion to a "European Reassurance Initiative" that will increase U.S. troop presence in Eastern Europe.

Rasmussen also recognized Poland's commitment to increase its defense spending to 2 percent of its GDP, and hailed a collaborative effort by Denmark, Germany, and Poland to increase the readiness level of the Multinational Corps North East in Poland. "This will strengthen our ability to address future threats and challenges in the region. And it is a significant contribution to our collective defense."

The NATO defense ministers also agreed Tuesday to recognize cyber's role in NATO's collective defense initiative to "help enhance information sharing and mutual assistance between Allies, improve NATO's cyber defense training and exercises, an boost cooperation with industry."

NATO will finalize plans in the coming weeks to strengthen Ukraine's security and defense forces.