Category: NATOSource

Secretary General warns KFOR reductions “too big”

By Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO

From Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO:  As regards Kosovo, first of all, I have taken the opportunity today to express my strong appreciation of the Czech contribution to the KFOR mission. I’ve also been informed about Czech considerations to reduce the contribution to KFOR. Let me stress that all partners within KFOR are right now considering […]

Ukraine turns convicted FSB colonel over to Russia

By Interfax

From Interfax:  A Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) colonel convicted in Ukraine this summer on a spying charge was handed over to Russia under an agreement, a source said on Friday. Vladimir Noskov was turned over to Russia in the summer, the source told Interfax. Earlier, Ukrainian newspaper Mirror Weekly, citing its own sources, said […]

Russian DefMin tells Gates sale of missiles to Syria moving forward

By RIA Novosti

From RIA Novosti:  Russia will honor the contract to sell the P-800 Yakhont supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles to Syria, Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said. "It is the 2007 contract. The issue of selling the missiles to Syria was raised during the talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates… Undoubtedly, it [the contract] would be […]

NATO’s position on Georgia and relations with Russia

By Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO

The Obama-Petraeus Alliance

By Helene Cooper, David E. Sanger and Thom Shanker, the New York Times

From Helene Cooper, David E. Sanger and Thom Shanker, the New York Times:  When President Obama descended into the White House Situation Room on Monday for his monthly update on Afghanistan and Pakistan, the new top American military commander, Gen. David H. Petraeus, ticked off signs of progress.

Russia, Canada in rivalry over Arctic resources

By Nataliya Vasilyeva, the AP

From Nataliya Vasilyeva, the AP:  The foreign ministers of Russia and Canada both said Thursday they expect the United Nations to rule in favor of their nations’ respective rival claims to Arctic resources. Russia, the U.S., Canada, Denmark and Norway have all been trying to assert jurisdiction over parts of the Arctic, which is believed […]

Missile defense key to boosting Russia ties: NATO

By David Brunnstrom and Charles Dick, Reuters

From David Brunnstrom and Charles Dick, Reuters:  Russian participation in a planned missile defense shield in Europe could open the door to progress in other areas such as reducing nuclear and conventional weapons, the head of NATO will say on Friday. But in a speech he will make in Rome, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen […]

US urges NATO to build “cyber shield”

By AFP

From AFP:  NATO must build a "cyber shield" to protect the transatlantic alliance from any Internet threats to its military and economic infrastructures, a top US defence official said Wednesday. Cyber security is a "critical element" for the 28-nation alliance to embrace at its summit of leaders in Lisbon on November 19-20, US Deputy Defence […]

Senate Committee Approves Arms Treaty With Russia

By Peter Baker, the New York Times

From Peter Baker, the New York Times:  President Obama’s arms control treaty with Russia advanced to the Senate floor on Thursday with bipartisan support, giving it a major boost toward ratification despite the election-year polarization that has divided the parties over so many other issues. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 14 to 4 to […]

Kerry and DeMint spar over missile defense

By Josh Rogin, the Cable

From Josh Rogin, the Cable:  At today’s Senate Foreign Relations committee business meeting on New START, chairman John Kerry (D-MA) and Republican Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) got into an open argument about whether the United States should build a giant missile defense system