Category: Blogs

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.

Czech Defence Minister speaks out against protectionism in NATO deals

By the Czech News Agency

From the Czech News Agency: NATO countries should end protectionism in armament purchases to cut prices, Czech Defence Minister Alexandr Vondra said at the opening of the international conference Industry Day 2010 yesterday. If the countries let foreign armament makers in their markets, the prices of military materiel would drop, Vondra said. Stephane Abrial, Commander […]

Canadian pullout could threaten Afghan mission, NATO officer says

By Jonathan Monpetit, the Canadian Press

From Jonathan Monpetit, the Canadian Press:  Canada’s planned withdrawal of troops from Kandahar next year threatens to undermine progress being made in the volatile Afghan province, a senior NATO officer said Wednesday. Coalition and Afghan forces in Kandahar have in recent months launched a multi-pronged offensive against Taliban insurgents. Many see the operation, dubbed Hamkari, […]

Pentagon: The global cyberwar is just beginning

By Anna Mulrine, the Christian Science Monitor

From Anna Mulrine, the Christian Science Monitor:  The Pentagon is rapidly preparing for cyberwar in the face of alarming and growing threats, say senior defense officials, who add that sophisticated attacks have prompted them to take the striking step of investigating the feasibility of expanding NATO’s collective defense tenet to include cyberspace.

The Demilitarization of Europe

By Gary Schmitt, the Wall Street Journal

From Gary Schmitt, the Wall Street Journal:  Now circulating among NATO member countries is a draft "Strategic Concept," a document that describes the alliance’s core roles and missions. It will be submitted for formal approval at the upcoming NATO summit in Lisbon in November.

Pakistan: Is It Over, Over There?

By Harlan Ullman

Just when it seemed that things could not get worse, they do. One would have thought that given the ongoing catastrophic floods, conditions in Pakistan were at a nadir. But last week, several incidents lowered even that bar regarding U.S.-Pakistani ties. NATO forces in Afghanistan made two unauthorized incursions into Pakistan, the second killing three […]

Izetbegovic asks Turkey to continue its role in Balkans

By Zaman