Original Coverage & Source Attribution: www.chinadailyasia.com
TALLINN/BUCHAREST – NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Wednesday that the alliance sees no imminent threat of a Russian attack on its territory, adding that it would respond if it detected a Russian military buildup indicating preparations for an attack.
Rutte made the remarks at a joint press conference with Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal in Tallinn.
Meanwhile, the NATO chief called on allies to increase military assistance to Ukraine, particularly air defense support, as winter approaches.
For his part, Michal said Estonia considers continued support for Ukraine an important element of its own security.
During his visit to Estonia, Rutte is also scheduled to meet senior Estonian officials, visit the Amari Air Base and deliver a speech at Tallinn University of Technology.
Tanker reportedly hit by drone off Romania
In another development, a Comoros-flagged commercial tanker was reportedly struck by a drone on Wednesday evening in Romanian territorial waters in the Black Sea, causing a fire on board that was later brought under control.
According to local media, no injuries were reported among the crew members, said Adrian Mihalcioiu, chairman of Romania’s Free Seafarers’ Union.
The vessel, identified as the YARA J, was reportedly hit about 8 to 10 nautical miles southeast of the port of Sulina. It has a 17-member crew consisting of nationals from Syria, India and Iran.
Romania’s Minister of National Defense Radu Miruta said checks are being carried out to determine whether the ship was indeed struck by a drone.
The Romanian Agency for Saving Human Life at Sea dispatched a rescue vessel to the area after the ship requested assistance. According to Romanian public broadcaster TVR, the vessel had departed from Turkiye and was en route to the Ukrainian port of Izmail to pick up cargo.
