Category: NATOSource

US expects closer Russia-NATO ties

By Slobodan Lekic, the AP

From Slobodan Lekic, the AP:   A planned summit between NATO leaders and Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev will significantly boost cooperation on the Afghan war, missile defense and fighting drug trafficking and piracy, a senior U.S. official said Tuesday.

NATO: “No Trainers, No Transition”

By William B. Caldwell, Allied Command Operations

From William B. Caldwell, Allied Command Operations:  In the past ten months there has been measured progress in the Afghan National Security Force (ANSF); in quality as well as quantity.

Petraeus buys Afghan war time. But how much?

By Reuters

From Reuters:  General David Petraeus‘ clout as the U.S. commander credited with turning around the Iraq war is buying time in Congress as he attempts to do the same in Afghanistan, senior lawmakers said on Monday.

Tracking Iran’s nuclear money trail to Turkey

By Louis Charbonneau, Reuters

A NATO Cyber Alliance

By Kevin Coleman, Defense Tech

From Kevin Coleman, Defense Tech: Last week U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense William Lynn III discussed the five-pillar strategy with NATO leaders in Europe in efforts to promote joint cyber security initiatives.  According to a press services report, Lynn held the discussion with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen before delivering a briefing to the alliance’s […]

An Ally in Exile?

By John Barry, Newsweek

From John Barry, Newsweek:  No other NATO ally has the ability—and willingness—to deploy forces like Britain. Which is why the Pentagon is standing by with a sense of foreboding as the U.K. undertakes a formal review of its defense posture.

Secretary General welcomes Afghan parliamentary elections

By NATO

From NATO:  On behalf of the NATO Alliance, I congratulate the Afghan people today on the Parliamentary Elections, despite the violence carried out by those attempting to deny the people’s most basic democratic right. Afghan voters and parliamentary candidates have once again shown their determination to resist intimidation as they choose their own leaders and […]

US, Britain and France deepen cooperation among their Air Forces

By Defense News

From Defense News:  The air forces of Britain, France and the U.S. are looking at ways to work more closely together by cooperating on strategy and doctrine – and future systems – at their most senior levels. "I have a French officer and a British officer in my [strategic studies group], and we have exchanged […]

Portuguese DefMin says new Strategic Concept neglecting South Atlantic

By the Portugal News

From the Portugal News:  Draft recommendations for a new strategic concept for NATO do not pay sufficient attention to the South Atlantic, says Portugal’s defence minister, promising to raise the issue with alliance leaders. The report, drawn up by a group of specialists headed by ex-US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, is “elaborated well”, but […]

New plan for Dutch police mission in Afghanistan

By Radio Netherlands Worldwide

From Radio Netherlands Worldwide:  The incoming Dutch government may consider a new military training mission in Afghanistan, according to sources close to the coalition negotiations. Daily NRC Handelsblad reported on Friday that the two parties, free-market liberal VVD and Christian Democrats, have reached agreement in principle to again send military personnel to Afghanistan. NATO said […]