NATO

Happy Birthday, NATO

By Peter Westmacott

Not so long ago, many commentators were questioning whether NATO still had a role to play in today’s world.

Report Criticizes Czech Contribution to NATO Defense

By CTK and NATO

From CTK:  According to yesterday’s daily Hospodarske noviny (HN), a highly critical NATO report concludes that the Czech Republic would not be useful for NATO if a real war broke out unless it adds money to the armed forces.

NATO Secretary General: Russian Forces Near Ukraine ‘Ready for Combat’

By Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO

For the first time since countries like the Czech Republic won their freedom, and the Cold War ended, we see one state trying to grab part of another’s territory at gunpoint.

After Russian Invasion of Crimea, Alliance Must Deter Incursions into NATO Members

By Matthew Kaminski, Wall Street Journal

“An aggressive, revanchist power,” in the Estonian leader’s words, makes the unthinkable thinkable. “We were already caught off guard with Crimea,” he [Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves] says.

US Troops May be Sent to Eastern Europe

By John-Thor Dahlburg, AP

NATO’s top military commander in Europe, drafting countermoves to the Russian military threat against Ukraine, said Wednesday they could include deployment of American troops to alliance member states in Eastern Europe now feeling at risk.

Hesitation Within NATO will Encourage Russia to Test Alliance

By Artis Pabriks, atlantic-community.org

Since the end of the Russian-Georgian war in 2008, Russia has been seriously increasing its military budget (up 15-20% annually) and conducting military exercises with more than 100,000 personnel (Zapad 2009, Zapad 2013), targeted towards its western neighbours.

US May Accelerate Deployment of Missile Defense System in Poland

By David Larter, Defense News

The military could speed up deployment of a land-based missile defense shield in Europe to hem in a resurgent Russia, the Navy 3-star in charge of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency said in early April.

Prime Minister: Montenegro Expects Invitation to Join NATO in September

Montenegro’s Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic is optimistic about his country’s chances of receiving an invitation to join NATO in Wales at the September 2014 NATO summit. He praised US support for Montenegro’s ambition during his speech at the Atlantic Council on April 8. Djukanovic said that his country is in an “encouraging place,” and noted […]

Bulgaria Considering Air Policing with Turkey and Romania Due to Increase in Russian Flights Near Borders

By Lithuania Tribune

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev has said Sofia should cooperate with NATO partners Turkey and Romania in the face of increased Russian surveillance flights coming close to Bulgarian airspace.