Category: NATOSource

Energy conflicts could bring military clashes, Russian security strategy warns

By the Guardian

Medvedev signs new National Security Strategy which identifies NATO and conflicts over energy sources as threats to Russia. From the Guardian: “The document, which will form Russia’s national security strategy until 2020, also warns of the threat posed to Russia by Nato. The paper says Moscow wants a ‘fully fledged strategic partnership’ with Washington but […]

“Isolationism is passé – Sweden needs to join NATO”

By the Local

Birgitta Ohlsson, foreign policy spokesperson for Sweden’s Liberal Party argues for Sweden to join NATO. From the Local: “The EU is not a military alliance and is therefore not an alternative to NATO. The reintegration of the French military into NATO is a clear sign that even the French have given up on the idea […]

A new NATO for a new world

By the Boston Globe

U.S. Senator Jeane Shaheen, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs, draws attention to the need for hard choices within the alliance. From the Boston Globe: “NATO will simply not be able to meet every challenge that threatens its members. On some issues, NATO will take the lead. But on others, NATO […]

NATO-Ukraine format meeting held in Warsaw

By defpro.com

A small step forward in NATO/Ukraine relations. From defpro.com: “Within the framework of NATO-Ukraine cooperation the meeting of Joint Working Group on Defence Reform (JWGDR) and planning conference on the program of development of civilian staff employed in the defence sector is being held on 13th-15th May 09, as reported by Poland’s Ministry of National […]

Craddock: NATO Political Leadership AWOL

By the New Atlanticist

Speaking at the Atlantic Council, NATO’s military commander addresses continuing weakness within the alliance. From the New Atlanticist: “Supreme Allied Commander John Bantz Craddock told the Atlantic Council that ‘political leadership in NATO is AWOL’ and that fixing the ‘imbalance’ between an enormous strategic ambition and modest political will is vital for success in Afghanistan […]

Defence Minister Not Keen On Finnish Air Patrols Over Iceland | News | YLE Uutiset | yle.fi

<a “Defence Ministers of the Nordic countries will be meeting in Helsinki this coming Tuesday and Wednesday for talks on tighter defence cooperation. Earlier this year, a report drawn up by a group headed by former Norwegian Foreign Minister Thorvald Stoltenberg proposed that the the Nordic countries jointly take responsibility for Icelandic airspace once the […]

Asia to spend $60B on navies in 5 years

“SINGAPORE–Asian states led by China, Japan and South Korea are expected to spend some $60 billion to beef up their navies in the next five years, an industry analyst said Monday.That is bigger than what NATO countries — excluding the United States — are forecast to spend for new naval construction in the same period, […]

Georgian NATO exercises in full swing / MosNews.com

Today, 02:02 PM “In spite of Russia objections and opposition activities, NATO war games, called Cooperative Longbow 09/Cooperative Lancer 09, began their active phase in Georgia today. Nineteen countries with 1300 servicemen were invited to participate. Six countries, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Estonia, Moldova, Serbia and Armenia, later pulled out of the games, however.Cooperative Longbow 09 is […]

Finland to join cyber-defence effort of NATO

“>Helsingin Sanomat – International Edition – Foreign: “Alliance experts to train Finns against online attacks. There are plans for cooperation with a NATO unit set up in the Estonian capital Tallinn. The unit is specialised in defending data networks against cyber-attacks…” “A considerable impetus leading to the establishment of NATO’s cyber defence centre came in […]

Uzbek President Announces Air Transit For NATO’s Afghan Operations

“Uzbekistan has begun shipping non-military supplies for North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces in Afghanistan through its central cargo airport in the city of Navoi, President Islam Karimov said Monday.”