Category: NATOSource

Congressional disappointment with European allies fueling pressure to withdraw U.S. troops

By John Vandiver, Stars and Stripes

From John Vandiver, Stars and Stripes:  Of all the places U.S. troops are stationed around the world, no place seems to cause as much consternation as the military’s robust presence in wealthy western Europe.

Four steps to improve missile defense cooperation btween the U.S. and Poland

By Ian Brzezinski, New Atlanticist

From Ian Brzezinski, New Atlanticist:  For Poland, accepting US missile defense deployments has never been driven by fear of Iran; it is rooted in the desire for an American military presence that reinforces the credibility of NATO’s Article V security guarantee.

China replaces Britain as fifth largest global arms exporter, report

By RIA Novosti

From RIA Novosti:  China has become the world’s fifth largest exporter of major conventional arms, replacing the United Kingdom, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said in a report Monday.

Stavridis: More direct engagement by US could turn tide in Syria

By John Vandiver, Stars and Stripes

From John Vandiver, Stars and Stripes:  Adm. James Stavridis, NATO’s top military commander and head of U.S. European Command, told lawmakers Monday that a more aggressive posture by the U.S. and its allies could help break a stalemate in war-torn Syria.

Commander: Some NATO members examining military contingency plans for Syria

By Donna Cassata and Richard Lardner, AP

Despite U.S. change, Russia sticks to missile-shield demand

By Steve Gutterman, Reuters

Rules of cyberwar: Don’t target nuclear plants or hospitals, says NATO manual

By Owen Bowcott, Guardian

From Owen Bowcott, Guardian:  State-sponsored cyber-attacks must avoid sensitive civilian targets such as hospitals, dams, dykes and nuclear power stations, according to an advisory manual on cyber-warfare written for Nato

Pentagon shrinking U.S. Army in Europe, but keeps expanding its mission set

By Paul McLeary, Defense News

From Paul McLeary, Defense News:  Even as the U.S. Army’s contingent in Europe continues to shrink — losing 10,000 more soldiers to reach a postwar low of 30,000 by 2015 — service leaders say they actually plan to expand the force’s mission set.

Admiral Stavridis: NATO allies provide ‘burden-sharing unparalleled in any other region of the world’

By James Stavridis, House Armed Services Committee

From James Stavridis, House Armed Services Committee:  Today, thanks to decades of sustained leadership, tireless devotion, and ironclad commitment on both sides of the Atlantic, the United States and our historic allies enjoy an unprecedented degree of freedom, interconnectedness, economic opportunity and prosperity