Hundreds of foreign NATO soldiers are coming to Hungary

The move is a response to the military threat posed by Russia, which NATO is strengthening its eastern flank to counter.

Draghi also said that it is possible that they will help Romania de-mining the Black Sea in the future and will also carry out air defence missions in Slovakia.

Earlier, Reuters reported that Italy will reinforce Latvia's defence.

Russia has been waging a war, or what it still calls 'special military operation', against Ukraine since 24 February. Finland and Sweden have recently announced their application to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which Russian President Vladimir Putin has taken more lightly than previously expected, but Moscow's belligerent tone in relation to NATO's expansion has not really changed.

Turkey has also threatened to block the accession of the two new members, but Politico reports that despite tough talk from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Ankara is likely to ultimately greenlight their NATO membership for Finland and Sweden. The military alliance will just have to pay a price first.

Current and former officials and diplomats say Turkey’s motivations likely go beyond simply wanting Stockholm and Helsinki to change their policies. Erdoğan is in the middle of protracted negotiations with the U.S. over the purchase of fighter jets. He also likely sees a chance to score political points domestically with his international pugilism over “terrorism.”

Now, in a flurry of activity, diplomats are racing to figure out what will get Erdoğan to budge, not wanting Finland and Sweden’s bids to linger, which would give Russia longer to meddle before the countries have fully joined the alliance.

The price is unknown at the moment, but that there will be a price is clear,

said Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, a former head of NATO. 

Cover photo: Italian soldiers at a NATO event. Photo by Francesco Prandoni/Getty Images