Amid administration debate over the way forward in Afghanistan, His Excellency Anders Fogh Rasmussen delivered his first major speech in the U.S. as NATO Secretary General at the Atlantic Council.
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Rasmussen addressed the future of the Afghanistan mission at a time of internal U.S. deliberation and when many European allies are wavering in their commitment to ISAF. Additionally, he will discuss the new Strategic Concept for NATO as the alliance thinks about its future, the impact of the administration’s decision on missile defense in Europe and potential areas of NATO-Russia cooperation.
National Security Advisor General James L. Jones introduced the Secretary General, and Atlantic Council President and CEO Frederick Kempe moderated the event. Rasmussen’s address follows a speech about Congress’ perspective on the future of NATO by Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, at the Atlantic Council earlier in the day.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen became the 12th Secretary General of the NATO Alliance in August. Prior to his selection as Secretary General at the April 2009 Strasbourg-Kehl NATO summit, Mr. Rasmussen served as the Prime Minister of Denmark. In May, the Atlantic Council hosted Mr. Rasmussen for an all-day transition seminar that consisted of a series of strategy sessions with a small number of top former officials and experts to help prepare the then-incoming Secretary General to assume leadership of the Alliance on August 1.
New Atlanticist Analysis:
- Rasmussen: “Things Are Going to Have to Change” in Afghanistan
- Rasmussen: Afghanistan Proves NATO Solidarity, Not Weakness
Newswires:
- NATO chief to U.S.: Not running from Afghan fight – Reuters, Phil Stewart
- NATO official: More Afghan training needed for war – AP, Lara Jakes and Matthew Lee
- NATO: Obama’s Afghan approach OK – AP
- NATO chief endorses US commander’s Afghan report – AFP, Dan De Luce
Media Coverage:
- White House Starts Review of Afghan Strategy – Wall Street Journal, Peter Spiegel and Jonathan Weisman
- Change of Tactics Needed in Afghanistan War, Chief of NATO Say – Bloomberg, Viola Gienger
- Obama Says NATO ‘Critical’ to Afghanistan Campaign – Bloomberg, Roger Runningen
- Nato chief calls for US support – BBC News
- Obama, Top Officials Meeting To Debate Afghan Strategy – RFE/RL, Heather Maher
- NATO chief says more troops needed in Afghanistan – Los Angeles Times, Julian Barnes
- Nato chief tells US to stop attacking European allies – Telegraph, Alex Spillius
- Nato urges new Afghan strategy – Al Jazeera English
- Afghan bus bombing kills dozens – BBC News
- Afghanistan: NATO Secretary General Reaffirms Europe’s Commitment to Atlantic Alliance – EurasiaNet
- NATO chief on Afghanistan: We’re not running from the fight – Christian Science Monitor, Ben Hancock
- NATO Secretary General to visit the United States – NATO
- Capitol Comment: U.S. & NATO Must Act Swiftly, Decisively for Afghanistan Success – Southeast Texas Record, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
Blog Responses:
- Putting Afghanistan in the driving seat – BBC News, Mark Mardell’s America
- Jim Jones to keynote J Street confab – Politico, Laura Rozen on Foreign Policy
- Politics Today: A Public Option Showdown – CBS News, Political Hotsheet, Steve Chaggaris
- Major Garrett to Interview NATO Secretary General After Obama Meeting – Fox News, White House View, Major Garrett
- Sec. Gen. Rasmussen Highlights Alliance Unity and Calls for Change In Afghanistan Policy – NATOSource
- WIRE WATCH: Much Ado about Afghanistan, Zoellick on World Bank, Heritage on Homeland Security – Wall Street Journal, Washington Wire, Susan Davis
- Diplomatic traffic – Washington Times, Embassy Row, James Morrison
The NATO Forum is generously supported by BAE Systems.
