Leader: More NATO troops needed

BUCHAREST, ROMANIA — Romania’s president told U.S. counterpart Joe Biden on Monday that more NATO troops are needed on the alliance’s eastern flank given Russia actions that are perceived as threatening by many in the region.

The appeal by President Klaus Iohannis came during a conference of regional leaders which Biden joined by video.

The Polish and Romanian leaders hailed Biden’s appearance as a sign of U.S. support for their security.

“The United States is the greatest guarantor of peace in the world,” Polish President Andrzej Duda said at a news conference in Bucharest after the meeting. “The presence of Joe Biden at the summit is a very important signal for me. It shows that the Euro-Atlantic bond is still alive.”

Duda and Iohannis gathered in person as the co-hosts of the meeting held in hybrid format. Other presidents, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and Biden joined by video.

In Washington, Biden’s press secretary, Jen Psaki, said the president “underscored his commitment to rebuilding alliances” and stressed his desire to cooperate with the nine allies on a range of issues, including global health security, climate change and energy security.

She said “he also expressed his support for enhancing NATO’s deterrence and defense posture, as well as the importance of allies increasing their resilience against harmful economic and political actions by our strategic competitors.”