Western Europe

NATO Defense Ministers Approve Initiative on Multinational Forces and a New Cyber Policy

By NATO

Ministers approved Germany’s initiative on “Framework Nations”, which will help boost multinational cooperation to develop the forces and capabilities needed to meet NATO’s requirements and cope with new security challenges.

Obama Honors D-Day Sacrifice: Normandy is ‘Democracy’s Beachhead’

By Barack Obama, Washington Post

Just last week, I received a letter from a French citizen. “Dear Mr. President and the American people,” he wrote, “we are honored to welcome you to thank you again for all the pain and efforts of the American people and others in our common struggle for freedom.”

Britain Offers Tanks and 1,000 Troops for NATO Show of Strength Against Putin

By Ben Farmer, Telegraph

Britain has offered Nato an armoured battle group including up to 25 tanks to join exercises in Poland as a show of force against Vladimir Putin.

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.

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

France Might Withhold 2nd Mistral Ship From Russia

By Pierre Tran, Defense News

French defense officials are exploring ideas to avoid delivering a second helicopter carrier to Russia, including looking for an alternative client for the Sevastopol, analysts and an industry executive said.

Congressional Leaders Urge NATO to Purchase French Warships Intended for Russia

By Eliot L. Engel, Michael Turner, and William R. Keating

Text of letter to NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen from US lawmakers.