NATO defence ministers are expected to approve plans to bolster the alliance along its eastern flank, says Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, a move aimed at countering the perceived threat from Russia, dpa reported. "I expect the defence ministers to agree to enhance our forward presence in the eastern part of our alliance," Stoltenberg said ahead of their two-day talks in Brussels. The aim is to create a multinational force presence that will send a strong signal of NATO's unity to any potential aggressor, Stoltenberg says. This will be backed up by quickly deployable reinforcements.