Category: NATOSource

Cost drives NATO bid for smaller Afghan army

By David Brunnstrom and Justyna Pawlak, Reuters

From David Brunnstrom and Justyna Pawlak, Reuters:  Afghanistan could end up fighting Taliban insurgents with a national army and police force two-thirds the size envisaged

Republicans question new Obama policy on Afghanistan

By Barbara Starr and Adam Levine, CNN Security Clearance

From Barbara Starr and Adam Levine, CNN Security Clearance:  The United States and NATO want to end their combat mission in Afghanistan next year

German Defense Minister: ‘Europe remains the biggest base for US soldiers abroad’

By Bernd Riegert, Deutsche Welle

From Bernd Riegert, Deutsche Welle:  During the NATO summit in Brussels, US Defense Secrety Leon Panetta once again briefed his partners on Washington’s military plans.

NATO allies complain they were blindsided by Panetta’s remarks on Afghanistan

By David S. Cloud, the Los Angeles Times

US replacing 2 brigades with twice yearly battalion exercises in Europe

By Leon Panetta, the Department of Defense

From Leon Panetta, the Department of Defense:  I also should mention that I again reaffirm that as part of our strategy, one of the pillars in our strategy is to maintain our strong partnership with NATO

Panetta on Afghanistan 2013: ‘We will engage in combat operations as necessary’

By Leon Panetta, the Department of Defense

From Leon Panetta, the Department of Defense:  First, as an alliance, obviously we are fully committed to the Lisbon framework:  in together, out together.

A Leaner NATO Needs a Tighter Focus

By Hans Binnendijk, the International Herald Tribune

From Hans Binnendijk, the International Herald Tribune:  European nations have slashed their defense budgets to record low levels without much regard for NATO’s overall defense requirements.

NATO defence ministers achieve breakthrough on Baltic air patrol mission

By the Ministry of Defense of Lithuania

From the Ministry of Defense of Lithuania:  On February 2, Thursday, Lithuanian Minister of National Defence Rasa Juknevičienė while at the NATO Defence Ministers meeting in Brussels noted that a breakthrough had been achieved in the effort to have a prolonged Baltic Air policing mission

NATO defense ministers ‘consumed by semantics’ over end of combat missions in Afghanistan

By Elisabeth Bumiller, the New York Times

From Elisabeth Bumiller, the New York Times:  Reacting to consternation among NATO allies, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta sought to clarify on Thursday night that American troops would not step back entirely from combat in Afghanistan next year

Turkey prevents French military from using its airspace and territorial waters

By Hürriyet

From Hürriyet:  French state aircraft and warships are no longer using Turkish airspace and territorial waters after permission requests in three different cases were rejected by the Turkish government, France’s top diplomat in Ankara said