Potential Russian influence in US elections ‘unacceptable’

Brussels, Jan 12 (IANS) The NATO on Thursday said that any alleged attempt by Russia to influence the US presidential elections was unacceptable.

In response to a question about the alleged Russian interference in the November 8 elections, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said he was worried about cybersecurity as they had seen many reports of cyberattacks against NATO allies, Efe news reported.

However, cybersecurity was currently at the top of NATO's agenda and had featured heavily in in the summit held last July, he said.

Though he did not see any immediate security threat, cyber or otherwise, against any NATO ally, he highlighted that Russia has recently invested significantly into its armed forces and military capacities and has shown itself willing to use them against its neighbours, such as Georgia and Crimea.

Stoltenberg said this was why the organisation had responded and carried out the largest reinforcement on the border with Russia since the Cold War, which according to him would not provoke a conflict but prevent it.

US President-elect Donald Trump acknowledged on Wednesday that he believed Russia could have been behind the cyberattacks that interfered with the election.

Stoltenberg said he spoke to Trump a few days after the elections and was absolutely convinced the new President and his Administration would continue to be involved with NATO.