Category: NATOSource

Denmark accelerates withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan

By Christian Wenande, Copenhagen Post

From Christian Wenande, Copenhagen Post:  Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt (Socialdemokraterne) has revealed that the last Danish infantry soldier will leave Afghanistan by late summer this year, and not by the end of 2014 as was planned.

NATO Chief: ‘Europeans will see no difference in their missile defense’

By Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO

German official seeks to ban large exercises by US Army after damage

By Steven Beardsley and Marcus Kloeckner, Stars and Stripes

From Steven Beardsley and Marcus Kloeckner, Stars and Stripes:  One of U.S. Army Europe’s largest maneuver exercises since the end of the Cold War caused extensive damage to fields, fences and bridges, according to local officials who are awaiting compensation and lobbying for a ban on future exercises conducted outside designated training areas.

U.S. cancels part of missile defense that Russia opposed

By David M. Herszenhorn and Michael R. Gordon, New York Times

From David M. Herszenhorn and Michael R. Gordon, New York Times:  The United States has effectively canceled the final phase of a Europe-based missile defense system that was fiercely opposed by Russia and cited repeatedly by the Kremlin as a major obstacle to cooperation on nuclear arms reductions and other issues.

U.S. puts phase IV of NATO missile defense system on hold

By Chuck Hagel, Department of Defense

From Chuck Hagel, Department of Defense:  [W]e are restructuring the SM-3 IIB program.  As many of you know, we had planned to deploy the SM-3 IIB as part of the European Phased Adaptive Approach.

U.S. beefing up West Coast missile defenses in response to threat from North Korea

By Anne Gearan, Washington Post

From Anne Gearan, Washington Post:  The Pentagon is beefing up West Coast missile defenses in response to escalating threats of attack from nuclear-equipped North Korea, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced Friday.

Livre blanc leaks: France soon to announce massive defense cuts

By Olivier de France, European Council on Foreign Relations

From Olivier de France, European Council on Foreign Relations:  Initial budget projections for France’s defence effort started leaking yesterday.

Karzai speech ‘put NATO forces at risk’, commander warns

By Alissa J. Rubin and Rod Nordland, New York Times

From Alissa J. Rubin and Rod Nordland, New York Times:  The American commander in Afghanistan quietly told his forces to intensify security measures on Wednesday, issuing a strongly worded warning that a string of anti-American statements by President Hamid Karzai had put Western troops at greater risk of attack both from rogue Afghan security forces […]