Category: Blogs

NATO reform key issue at upcoming meeting

By James Appathurai, NATO

From James Appathurai, NATO:  One element, reform of the command structure. There are quite well developed discussions now on reforming the command structure to make it more flexible, more cost effective, without diminishing the level of ambition or the capability.

German militants training in Pakistani border area

By David Rising, the AP

From David Rising, the AP:  Between 15 and 40 Germans and a smaller contingent of other Europeans are believed to be getting militant training in Pakistan’s lawless border region, intending to join the Taliban’s fight against NATO forces in neighboring Afghanistan or return to Europe and strike at the soft underbelly of those countries.

Hague: British defense budget will fall below NATO minimum

By James Kirkup, the Telegraph

From James Kirkup, the Telegraph:  Britain’s defence budget is likely to fall below the Nato minimum as a result of spending cuts, budget will fall below Nato minimum has admitted. It could be less than 2 per cent of gross domestic product, the minimum that alliance members are asked to spend on their militaries, the […]

The Case Against the Case Against NATO

By James Joyner, the New Atlanticist

From James Joyner, the New Atlanticist:  I share [Daniel] Larison’s skepticism of the value of many of the post-Cold War military adventures in which the United States has engaged.

Why a Terrorist Strike on Europe Risks Geopolitical Meltdown

By Tony Karon, Time

The Case Against the Case Against NATO

By James Joyner

 Daniel Larison‘s "The Case Against NATO"  makes compelling reading.  Here’s why it’s wrong. Larison charges: In the end, the main argument for perpetuating the NATO relic is that it provides the support structure for projecting power into remote parts of the globe where American interests are even less clearly defined. In other words, what once was […]

Pakistan in NATO?

By Derek Reveron, Nikolas Gvosdev and Hayat Alvi, the New Atlanticist

Repairing NATO-Pakistan Relations

By Derek Reveron Nikolas Gvosdev and Hayat Alvi

Recent attacks on NATO supply lines in Pakistan and Pakistan’s official suspension of access through the Khyber Pass really underscore the challenges facing NATO in Afghanistan. Shuja Nawaz recently explained This situation could easily careen out of control. The Obama administration, which is unhappy with what it perceives as Pakistan’s lack of action against anti-American […]

New questions about Turkey’s secret military exercise with China

By Lale Kemal, Zaman

From Lale Kemal, Zaman: China and Turkey secretly held joint aerial exercises at Turkey’s training range in the Central Anatolian town of Konya during the second half of last month, where Anatolian Eagle exercises are taking place between NATO allies and friendly countries.

NATO allies help fill key niche for U.S. forces

By Jennifer Svan, Stars and Stripes

From Jennifer Svan, Stars and Stripes:  Faced with a critical shortage of joint terminal attack controllers, the Air Force has ramped up efforts to train more from allied nations, many of whom could deploy to Afghanistan to call in NATO airstrikes.