Category: NATOSource

Japan relaxes arms ban to increase defense cooperation with European partners

By the Voice of Russia

From the Voice of Russia:  On Tuesday, the Japanese government has decided to partially lift a self-imposed 40-year ban on arms exports, which prohibited Japanese arms makers from joint development and export of military technology.

Creating a North Atlantic economic community with Britain in NAFTA

By Iain Murray and James C. Bennett, the Wall Street Journal

New satellites to extend China’s military reach

By David Lague, Reuters

From David Lague, Reuters:  China this week reached a milestone in its drive to master the military use of space with the launch of trials for its Beidou satellite global positioning network, a move that will bring it one step closer to matching U.S. space capabilities.

NATO After Libya: Why the Alliance Is Worth Saving

By Kori Schake, Newsweek

From Kori Schake, Newsweek:  NATO’s membership has more than doubled to 28 countries since its inception in 1949, but its basic principle remains the same

The colder war: U.S., Russia and others are vying for control of Santa’s back yard

By Heather Conley, the Washington Post

From Heather Conley, the Washington Post:  In April, President Obama signed a new command plan that gives NORAD and the U.S. Northern Command greater responsibility in protecting the North Pole and U.S. Arctic territory.

Public support in Finland for membership in NATO has “fallen sharply”

By Helsingin Sanomat

From Helsingin Sanomat:  Support for membership in the NATO military alliance has fallen sharply in the past year and a half. According to a poll commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat and conducted by TNS Gallup, more than two thirds of Finns (68 per cent) are against joining the alliance.

Will Libya be either democratic or pro-western?

By Max Hasting, the Financial Times

NATO celebrates 20 years of outreach to partners

By NATO

From NATO:  NATO created the North Atlantic Cooperation Council as a forum for dialogue with its former Warsaw Pact adversaries on 20 December 1991. This marked the start of the Allies’ policy of cooperative security, now considered one of NATO’s three essential core tasks.