Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen announced a "Readiness Action Plan" in response to Russia’s aggressive behavior in Ukraine, in a press conference in Brussels on Monday, ahead of a NATO summit meeting in Wales on September 4-5.
"The Readiness Action Plan will ensure that we have the right forces and the right equipment in the right place, at the right time," Rasmussen said.
"That also means a more visible NATO presence in the East for as long as required. And it will make NATO fitter, faster and more flexible to adjust to all kinds of security challenges."
"The Readiness Action Plan responds to Russia’s aggressive behavior - but it equips the Alliance to respond to all security challenges, wherever they may arise," he added referring to the "overt Russian intervention in Ukraine."
He also said that the organization would upgrade its intelligence gathering and sharing, as well as update defense plans and enhance its training schedule.
"Our Summit in Wales this week will address the challenges of a changed world. And so I expect it to be a crucial summit in NATO’s history," Rasmussen added,
- NATO officials will meet with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko at the summit.
1/9/14
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Related:
- Opening Remarks by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen at the Press Conference held at Residence Palace, Brussels
"Good afternoon.
Our Summit in Wales this week will take place in a changed world. It will address the challenges of a changed world. And so I expect it to be a crucial summit in NATO’s history.
This is a time of multiple crises on several fronts. To the east, Russia is intervening overtly in Ukraine. To the south, we see growing instability, with fragile states, the rise of extremism, and sectarian strife.
These crises can erupt with little warning. Move at great speed. And they all affect our security in different ways.
NATO's greatest responsibility remains to protect and defend our populations and our territories. We also need the capacity to manage crises. And to work with partners to help build stability.
So at the Summit, we will ensure that the Alliance remains ready, able and willing to defend all Allies against any attack.
We will agree a Readiness Action Plan to make NATO more agile than ever.
The Readiness Action Plan responds to Russia’s aggressive behavior – but it equips the Alliance to respond to all security challenges, wherever they may arise.
We already have a NATO Response Force. This is a multinational force, which brings together land, air, maritime and special operation forces. It can be deployed anywhere in the world, for collective defence or crisis management.
We will now significantly enhance the responsiveness of our NATO Response Force. We will develop what I would call a spearhead within our Response Force – a very high readiness force able to deploy at very short notice. This spearhead would be provided by Allies in rotation, and could include several thousand troops, ready to respond where needed with air, sea and Special Forces support.
This will require reception facilities on NATO territory and pre-positioned equipment and supplies, command and control and logistics experts. So this force can travel light, but strike hard if needed.
We will also look at possible upgrades to national infrastructure. That could include airfields and ports to support reinforcements, if the need arises.
And we will improve our early warning through an upgrade of our intelligence gathering and sharing. We will update our defence plans; and enhance our training schedule with more exercises, of more types, in more places, more often.
The Readiness Action Plan will ensure that we have the right forces and the right equipment in the right place, at the right time. That
also means more visible NATO presence in the East for as long as
required. And it will make NATO fitter, faster and more flexible to
adjust to all kinds of security challenges.
Not because NATO wants to attack anyone. But because the dangers and the threats are more present and more visible. And we will do what it takes to defend our Allies.
But readiness requires resources.
So in Wales, I expect a commitment to increase defence investments as our economies recover. To spend the right amount of money on the right things – deployable forces, well trained and with modern equipment. So that we share the responsibility of collective defence as we share the benefits.
At the summit, we will meet with President Poroshenko of Ukraine and make clear our support for Ukraine, as it is confronted by Russia’s aggression. We will discuss his reform priorities. And take concrete steps to help Ukraine.
The crises we face reach far beyond our borders. That is why our approach to security reaches beyond our borders too.
We have an unparalleled network of partners around the world. In Afghanistan we built the largest coalition in recent history, with one quarter of the world’s nations. And through our operations, we have become better at working together than ever before.
In Wales, we will further improve the way we train, cooperate and consult with our partners. And strengthen and streamline the way we support countries which seek our help to develop their security institutions. So that we can project stability without always projecting large numbers of troops.
We will also prepare a new chapter in our relationship with Afghanistan, as our combat mission draws to a close.
We have done what we set out to do. We have denied safe haven to international terrorists. We have built up capable Afghan forces of 350,000 troops and police. So our nations are safer, and Afghanistan is stronger.
We have planned a new mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan forces from next year and it will be launched once we have the legal arrangements in place.
So it is vital to see a conclusion to the electoral process in Afghanistan – a conclusion which is accepted by both candidates, and the Afghan people.
So, there is still a lot of work to do.
The security landscape can change rapidly, but I am confident that NATO will go forward from the Wales Summit ready to rise to every challenge.
And with that, I look forward to your questions."
http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_112238.htm
1/9/14
Our Summit in Wales this week will take place in a changed world. It will address the challenges of a changed world. And so I expect it to be a crucial summit in NATO’s history.
This is a time of multiple crises on several fronts. To the east, Russia is intervening overtly in Ukraine. To the south, we see growing instability, with fragile states, the rise of extremism, and sectarian strife.
These crises can erupt with little warning. Move at great speed. And they all affect our security in different ways.
NATO's greatest responsibility remains to protect and defend our populations and our territories. We also need the capacity to manage crises. And to work with partners to help build stability.
So at the Summit, we will ensure that the Alliance remains ready, able and willing to defend all Allies against any attack.
We will agree a Readiness Action Plan to make NATO more agile than ever.
The Readiness Action Plan responds to Russia’s aggressive behavior – but it equips the Alliance to respond to all security challenges, wherever they may arise.
We already have a NATO Response Force. This is a multinational force, which brings together land, air, maritime and special operation forces. It can be deployed anywhere in the world, for collective defence or crisis management.
We will now significantly enhance the responsiveness of our NATO Response Force. We will develop what I would call a spearhead within our Response Force – a very high readiness force able to deploy at very short notice. This spearhead would be provided by Allies in rotation, and could include several thousand troops, ready to respond where needed with air, sea and Special Forces support.
This will require reception facilities on NATO territory and pre-positioned equipment and supplies, command and control and logistics experts. So this force can travel light, but strike hard if needed.
We will also look at possible upgrades to national infrastructure. That could include airfields and ports to support reinforcements, if the need arises.
And we will improve our early warning through an upgrade of our intelligence gathering and sharing. We will update our defence plans; and enhance our training schedule with more exercises, of more types, in more places, more often.
The Readiness Action Plan will ensure that we have the right forces and the right equipment in the right place, at the right time.
Not because NATO wants to attack anyone. But because the dangers and the threats are more present and more visible. And we will do what it takes to defend our Allies.
But readiness requires resources.
So in Wales, I expect a commitment to increase defence investments as our economies recover. To spend the right amount of money on the right things – deployable forces, well trained and with modern equipment. So that we share the responsibility of collective defence as we share the benefits.
At the summit, we will meet with President Poroshenko of Ukraine and make clear our support for Ukraine, as it is confronted by Russia’s aggression. We will discuss his reform priorities. And take concrete steps to help Ukraine.
The crises we face reach far beyond our borders. That is why our approach to security reaches beyond our borders too.
We have an unparalleled network of partners around the world. In Afghanistan we built the largest coalition in recent history, with one quarter of the world’s nations. And through our operations, we have become better at working together than ever before.
In Wales, we will further improve the way we train, cooperate and consult with our partners. And strengthen and streamline the way we support countries which seek our help to develop their security institutions. So that we can project stability without always projecting large numbers of troops.
We will also prepare a new chapter in our relationship with Afghanistan, as our combat mission draws to a close.
We have done what we set out to do. We have denied safe haven to international terrorists. We have built up capable Afghan forces of 350,000 troops and police. So our nations are safer, and Afghanistan is stronger.
We have planned a new mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan forces from next year and it will be launched once we have the legal arrangements in place.
So it is vital to see a conclusion to the electoral process in Afghanistan – a conclusion which is accepted by both candidates, and the Afghan people.
So, there is still a lot of work to do.
The security landscape can change rapidly, but I am confident that NATO will go forward from the Wales Summit ready to rise to every challenge.
And with that, I look forward to your questions."
http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_112238.htm
1/9/14
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NATO summit: Obama, Cameron urge allies to ramp up military spending....
ReplyDeleteBarack Obama and David Cameron will urge NATO members to increase military spending at the alliance’s summit in Wales, amid criticism that some countries are getting a “free ride”, growing geopolitical tensions and Europe-wide austerity.
The NATO summit, which kicks off later this week, will see Obama and Cameron urge European state leaders to protect their continent from amplifying threats by honoring commitments to allocate a minimum of 2 percent of GDP on defense spending. NATO members attending the two-day summit in Newport will also debate how best to deal with the ongoing crises in Iraq and Ukraine.
While the White House has insisted increased military spending is a “top priority”, many diplomats believe the US administration’s plea will be rejected by EU states, which are still suffering from the ravages of a deep recession. At present, only two NATO members have reached the 2 percent target other than the US and Britain.
A group of former military commanders said on Saturday that NATO states must take responsibility for their share of the military cost of sustaining the alliance. A former head of the UK Royal Navy, Lord West, argued people in certain states were getting a “free ride” and are simply not spending, emphasizing that France and Britain were the only EU states who were actually meeting the two percent NATO target.........................http://rt.com/uk/184244-nato-military-spending-increase/
1/9/14