Category: NATOSource

Major Milestone: NATO Transfers Full Responsibility for Security to Afghan Forces

By Tim Craig, Washington Post

From Tim Craig, Washington Post:  The U.S.-led international coalition and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai announced Tuesday that Afghan troops are now taking the lead on security in every province of the country, a milestone that was quickly marred by a new fatal attack in the capital.

Assad Says Europe Will ‘Pay Price’ if It Arms Rebels: Newspaper

By Reuters

From Reuters:  Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has warned Europe in a German newspaper interview that it will "pay the price" if it follows Washington’s lead and delivers arms to rebel forces, saying such a move would spread terrorism to the continent.

Report: Russian Weapons Systems Competitive with NATO Counterparts, Also Cheaper

By Charles Clover, Financial Times

From Charles Clover, Financial Times:  “Ever since Soviet days we have been lagging behind the US in military aviation,” says Mr [director of the Moscow-based Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies Ruslan] Pukhov.

Norway Aims to Double the Number of Women in its Armed Forces

By Ellen Emmerentze Jervell, Wall Street Journal

German Defense Minister Says Euro Hawk Termination Partly Due to US Export Constraints

By Chris Pocock, AINonline

From Chris Pocock, AINonline:  In a report to parliament last week, German Defense Minister Thomas De Maziere called for NATO and Europe to achieve clarity on the certification and operation of UAVs.

Norway Becomes First NATO Country to Draft Women into Military

By Reuters

Time to Say Yes to US-Russian Missile Defense Cooperation

By Ellen Tauscher and Igor Ivanov, Foreign Policy

From Ellen Tauscher and Igor Ivanov, Foreign Policy:  After a series of setbacks and disappointments during President Barack Obama’s first term, U.S.-Russian political dialogue is finally gaining momentum.

Survey: Majority of Finns Oppose NATO Membership

By Yle

From Yle:  The Yle survey conducted by pollster Taloustutkimus found that most Finns oppose Finland’s membership in NATO – some 52 percent of a sample of about 1,000 respondents.

NATO Open to Closer Ties with Moldova (Video)

By NATO

From NATO:  NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told Moldova’s Prime Minister that the Alliance stood ready to develop closer ties during talks at NATO headquarters on Friday (14 June 2013).

NATO Chief: Syria’s Use of Chemical Weapons Violates International Law

By Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO

From Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO:  This is, indeed, a matter of great concern. The international community has made clear that any use of chemical weapons is completely unacceptable and a clear breach of international law.