Security & Defense

Hagel Escalates Obama’s Warning to Allies: US Support for NATO Could Be at Risk

By James G. Neuger and Gopal Ratnam, Bloomberg News

NATO defense ministers struggled to find a response to Russia’s Ukraine incursion, hemmed in by financial constraints, U.S. demands that Europe raise defense spending and a desire not to provoke the Kremlin.

Sikorski Calls for Major US Base in Poland

By Peter Baker, New York Times

Anxious about the threat from Moscow, Polish leaders have been pressing for a more robust deployment, and even creation of a permanent base on their territory.

President Komorowski: Russia has No Right to Block Deployment of NATO Troops and Infratructure in Poland

By Bronislaw Komorowski, White House

I also wish to stress that it is our common concern that, at the Wales summit, of NATO to reconfirm the need for the greater engagement of NATO in the development of infrastructure that would facilitate the reception of the reinforcement forces in case of threat.

Obama Warns NATO Allies to Share Defense Burden: ‘We Can’t Do It Alone’

By Barack Obama, White House

Part of what I discussed with Secretary General of NATO Rasmussen and now with the new Secretary General Stoltenberg is the need to make sure that the collective defense effort is robust, it is ready, it is properly equipped.

Obama Announces Billion Dollar Initiative to Strengthen European Security

By White House

From the White House:  Today, I’m announcing a new initiative to bolster the security of our NATO allies here in Europe.

NATO Parliamentary Assembly Calls for New Compact Between Europe and North America

By NATO Parliamentary Assembly

We must define the terms of a new compact between European and North American Allies. The current perception of an imbalance in the sharing of the burden for our security should be redressed.

Russia Warns of ‘Negative’ Consequences if Sweden and Finland Join NATO

By ITAR-TASS

The accession to NATO by Sweden and Finland will lead to dangerous negative changes in the Baltic Sea Region, the Russian Foreign Ministry says.

German Official Discloses that NATO To Discuss Sending More Troops to Poland

NATO defence ministers will discuss temporarily reinforcing forces in Poland when they meet in Brussels this week

Russia Announces Live Fire Missile Exercise During Obama Visit to Poland

By ITAR-TASS, RIA Novosti. and RT

From ITAR-TASS:  Russian military forces will hold live fire drills of missile systems Iskander-M and will test-launch missiles from bombers within the war games planned in missile formations in the Western Military District

Is the Crisis in Ukraine Pushing Sweden Towards NATO?

The crisis in Ukraine, as well as increased tensions in the Baltic Sea region, has stoked the public debate on security and defense in Sweden. On May 26, the Institute of International Affairs brought Nordic, European, and US perspectives together for a discussion on the future of Swedish defense cooperation and specifically its relationship with […]