Category: Blogs

Italian perspective on NATO’s new Strategic Concept discussed in Rome

By NATO

From NATO: On 23 November, Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Italian Atlantic Committee hosted an event to develop recommendations for NATO’s new Strategic Concept, especially in terms of transatlantic relations… “The debate over the definition of the new Strategic Concept will allow the possibility to preserve and consolidate the transatlantic link, confirming the […]

U.S. Seeks 10,000 Troops From Its Allies in Afghanistan

By the New York Times

From the New York Times: The United States is scrambling to coax NATO allies to send 10,000 additional troops to Afghanistan as part of President Obama’s strategy for the region. Those countries appear willing to provide fewer than half that number, American and allied officials said Wednesday… Washington has not yet made formal troop requests […]

Georgian FM urges Western security guarantees

By the AP

From the AP: Georgia is very worried about the possible sale of French warships to Russia and intends to press the issue of security guarantees in France, the country’s foreign minister said Thursday. “Georgia needs security guarantees” for the long-term, Grigol Vashadze told The Associated Press on the sidelines of a speech Thursday at the […]

Russian Strategic Bombers Followed by NATO Fighters

By Interfax

From Interfax: Two Russian Tupolev Tu-95MS strategic bombers on November 24 and 25 flew air patrolling missions, assistant to Air Force commander-in-chief Col. Vladimir Drik told Interfax-AVN on Wednesday. “The flight route was above the neutral waters of the Arctic ocean to the Atlantic. The crews of the Tu-95Ms bombers were followed by NATO F-15 […]

UK: NATO to offer 5,000 troops for Afghanistan

By the AP

From the AP: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says 10 NATO nations are ready to offer about 5,000 more troops for the war in Afghanistan. Brown’s spokesman Simon Lewis said Wednesday the British leader was optimistic over the pledges of additional personnel following talks with about 10 NATO nations in recent weeks. Lewis said Brown […]

How Obama’s Afghan strategy is shaping up

By Reuters

From Reuters: Several of Obama’s top national security and military advisers, including Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have coalesced around two final options — deploying 30,000 to nearly 40,000 additional troops to Afghanistan, officials say. If bolstered by trainers from NATO allies, these two options […]

France shows off cutting-edge navy ship in Russia

By the AP

From the AP: French officers on Tuesday showed off a cutting-edge warship to a potential buyer – the Russian navy, whose pursuit of an amphibious assault capacity is frightening some neighboring countries… Russian officials have said they were planning to make their first arms deal with a NATO country by buying a French ship like […]

Strategic Concept Leaders Brief Secretary General

Madeleine Albright (Chair, Group of Experts for NATO’s New Strategic Concept) and Jeroen Van der Veer (Vice-Chair) briefed NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, on progress in the development of the alliance’s response to changes in the international security environment. (photo: NATO)

Is Pakistan Serious about the U.S.?

By Harlan Ullman

Convened for the first time by the Canadian Ministry of National Defense and the German Marshall Fund – a think tank established by the German government in honor of Gen. George Marshall and the plan for European recovery that bore his name – the Halifax International Security Forum met over the weekend.