'We will defend our allies,' asserts new NATO chief

WARSAW, Poland, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reiterated NATO's commitment to defending its allies during a visit to Poland on Monday.

"NATO's most important task is to protect and defend our nations against attack," Stoltenberg underlined following his meetings with Polish President Bronisaw Komorowski and Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz.

"We will defend our Allies, all Allies."

Stoltenberg's trip to Warsaw, his first country visit since beginning his term as secretary general on Oct. 1, comes at a time of heightened concern about Russian aggression and the rise of Islamic extremism in the Middle East.

The NATO head's talks with Polish leaders focused, in part, on Russian actions in Ukraine and related international security challenges.

2014 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

More:
'We will defend our allies,' asserts new NATO chief