Claim: NATO's enhanced forward presence violates the NATO-Russia

Founding Act?

Fact: Moscow accuses NATO of violating an important part of the 1997 NATO-Russia
Founding Act related to new permanent stationing of forces. It's called the "Substantial Combat
Forces" pledge. That pledge stated that in the "current and foreseeable security environment"
NATO would "carry out its collective defence…by ensuring the necessary interoperability,
integration, and capability for reinforcement rather than by additional permanent stationing of
substantial combat forces."

NATO has fully abided by this pledge. The four multinational battlegroups deploying to the
eastern part of our Alliance are rotational, defensive and well below any reasonable definition of
"substantial combat forces." There has been no permanent stationing of substantial combat forces
on the territory of eastern allies; and total force levels across the Alliance have, in fact, been
substantially reduced since the end of the Cold War.

Russia, which pledged to exercise "similar restraint" has increased the numbers of its troops
along Allied borders, and breached agreements which allow for verification and military
transparency, in particular on military exercises.

By signing the NATO-Russia Founding Act, Russia also pledged not to threaten or use force
against NATO Allies and any other state. It has broken this commitment, with the illegal and
illegitimate annexation of Crimea, the territory of a sovereign state. Russia also continues to
support militants in eastern Ukraine.

UKRANIAN INVASION
In 2014, Russia made several military incursions into Ukrainian territory. After Euromaidan protests and
the fall of Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych, Russian soldiers without insignias took control of
strategic positions and infrastructure within the Ukrainian territory of Crimea. Russia then annexed
Crimea after an unconstitutional referendum in which Crimeans voted to join the Russian Federation,
according to official results. Subsequently, demonstrations by pro-Russian groups in the Donbass area of
Ukraine escalated into an armed conflict between the Ukrainian government and the Russia-backed
separatist forces of the self-declared Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics. In August, Russian
military vehicles crossed the border in several locations of Donetsk Oblas. The incursion by the Russian
military was seen as responsible for the defeat of Ukrainian forces in early September.

By suspending practical cooperation with Russia, NATO undermines security

Fact: In 2014, NATO suspended all practical cooperation with Russia, in response to its aggressive
actions in Ukraine. This cooperation included projects in Afghanistan, on counter-terrorism and scientific
cooperation. These projects did deliver results over time, but their suspension has not undermined the
security of the Alliance or our ability to counter challenges such as terrorism.
We have made it clear that we continue to seek a constructive relationship with Russia. But an
improvement in the Alliance's relations with Russia will be contingent on a clear and constructive change
in Russia's actions – one that demonstrates compliance with international law and Russia's international
commitments.

NATO did not respond to Russia's proposal on transponders?

Fact: At the NATO-Russia Council on 13 July 2016, Russia presented several proposals, including on the
use of transponders over the Baltic Sea. In response, Allies invited Russia to provide more details, while
underlining that aviation safety is about more than the use of transponders – it's about responsible
airmanship and how aircraft fly.

To encourage a comprehensive discussion on air safety, NATO invited representatives of the former
Baltic Sea Project Team (BSPT), and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to brief the
NATO-Russia Council on 19 December 2016. Their work has made an important contribution towards
improving air safety over the Baltic Sea.

To take this work forward, a Finnish-led Expert Group on Baltic Sea Air Safety was established. Their
work so far is promising and the NATO Secretary General has welcomed this initiative:

NATO remains committed to work in this framework, to reduce air safety risks to civil and military
flights. We look forward to further meeting of the Expert Group.

At the same time, we continue to call on Russia to implement existing rules and procedures for air safety
and to engage in safe and responsible airmanship.

Claim: STANDEX Project scrapped by NATO

Fact: Initiated in 2009, the Stand-off Detection of Explosives (STANDEX) project was never frozen or
suspended. It was completed according to schedule at the end of 2013.

STANDEX was a NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS) project run by a consortium of laboratories
and research institutes. Participants included France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Russia. The
project brought together various techniques and technologies to allow for the detection, recognition,
localisation and tracking of would-be suicide bombers in mass transportation.
STANDEX was a technology development project. As with all such developments, the eventual goal is a
deployed system. NATO encouraged project participants to seek commercialisation of their
technologies, and some are now commercially available.