NATO to exclude Russia from its strategic partners

The new NATO Strategic Concept, expected to be adopted at Madrid Summit in June, will no longer name Russia as the bloc's strategic partner, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday.

"The Strategic Concept is NATO's most important document, after our founding treaty, the Washington Treaty. The previous Strategic Concept was adopted in 2010. The world has changed radically since. This should be reflected in the new Strategic Concept. For example, we call Russia a strategic partner in the actual Strategic Concept," Stoltenberg told the Greek news portal Capital.gr.

NATO chief noted that the Strategic Concept will focus on "a more aggressive Russia;" however, it will also reflect other threats, including terrorism, issues in areas of cyberspace, climate change, and technologies.

"We must adapt since NATO's success depends on its ability to change in the changing world," Stoltenberg added.