Rasmussen Urges Russia to Be Open With NATO About Baltic Drills

Tags

, , , , , ,

English: A map of the Baltic region, showing t...

A map of the Baltic region, showing the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Bryan Bradley, Bloomberg, Feb. 1, 2013

Russia should share more information with NATO about military exercises the country conducts in the Baltic region, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said.

“We don’t have detailed information about upcoming Russian military exercises,” Rasmussen told reporters today in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, when asked about the West 2013 exercise that Russia and Belarus plan in September. “It’s of utmost importance to demonstrate openness and full transparency when it comes to military exercises.” … (more)

Estonia backs Georgian integration with EU and NATO

Tags

, , , , ,

 

English: Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves.

Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Kyiv Post, Jan. 31, 2013

Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves has reiterated his country’s support for Georgia’s plans of integration into the European Union and NATO.

Estonia previously supported and continues to support democratic Georgia and your state’s plans to integrate into the European Union and NATO,” he said at a meeting with Georgian Foreign Minister Maja Panjikidze in Tallinn on Thursday… (more)

Azerbaijan to withdraw peacekeepers from Afghanistan

Tags

, , ,

 

Map showing locations of Azerbaijani speakers.

Map showing locations of Azerbaijani speakers. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Mubariz Aslanov, APA, Jan. 31, 2013

Baku: Azerbaijani peacekeepers will also be withdrawn, after NATO officially ends its mission in Afghanistan by the end of this year.

Government sources told APA that higher echelons have already held discussions on it and it was not considered expedient to keep Azerbaijani servicemen in Afghanistan after NATO forces are withdrawn… (more)

 

NATO’s Rasmussen Warns Defense Cuts Could Endanger Alliance Power

Tags

, , ,

English: President Barack Obama meets with NAT...

President Barack Obama meets with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen in the Oval Office, May 13, 2011 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Jan. 31, 2013

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has warned that defense cuts amid global economic troubles could undermine the military alliance‘s power.

Presenting NATO‘s annual report at a press conference on January 31 in Brussels, Rasmussen said that “security threats won’t go away” while alliance members try to fix their economies… (more)

 

Report Labels Bundeswehr Overstretched, Insecure

Tags

, , , ,

English: Hellmut Königshaus, MP Deutsch: Hellm...

Hellmut Königshaus, parliamentary commissioner for the German armed forces (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By ALBRECHT MÜLLER, Defense News, Jan. 29, 2013

BONN — Disappointment over the results of recent military transformation efforts have left German soldiers insecure about their future and dissatisfied with leadership, according to an annual report by Hellmut Königshaus, parliamentary commissioner for the Armed Forces… (more)

 

Georgian Defence Minister on official visit to Great Britain

Tags

, , , ,

 

Democratic Republic of Georgia map

Democratic Republic of Georgia map (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By N.Kirtskhalia, Trend, Jan. 28, 2013

Tbilisi, Georgia, Jan. 28:  Georgian Defence Minister Irakli Alasania is on an official visit to Great Britain. He is accompanied by the deputy chief of the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces, Colonel Vladimir Chachibaya.

As the ministry told Trend on Monday, during a three-day visit, the Georgian delegation will meet with representatives of the British government, parliament, Defence Ministry and armed forces… (more)

 

Europe’s army?

Tags

, , , ,

AMX 56 Leclerc Tank of Armée de terre

AMX 56 Leclerc Tank of Armée de terre (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Despite defense cuts, few European countries come close to France for military power.

By Paul Ames, Global Post, Jan. 27, 2013

BRUSSELS, Belgium — French military prowess isn’t always fully appreciated in the United States.

But there are few troops anywhere in the world better prepared for their task than the marines, foreign legionaries, and other elite French units rolling north to confront the Jihadist militants controlling much of Mali… (more)

The Future of American Landpower: Does Forward Presence Still Matter? The Case of the Army in Europe

Tags

, , , , , , ,

Saber Junction 2012 [Image 3 of 9]

Saber Junction 2012 [Image 3 of 9] (Photo credit: DVIDSHUB)

By Dr. John R. Deni, Strategic Studies Institute

In fact, the primary purpose of U.S. forces in Eu­rope today is to build interoperability and military capability within and among America’s most capable and most likely future coalition partners through se­curity cooperation activities like exercises and train­ing events. This shift in purpose means that U.S. force presence in Europe is no longer—if indeed it ever was—a useful tool in extracting a greater commitment to increased defense spending on the part of America’s European allies.http://t.co/o8qClsXf

19 NATO and partner nations enhance interoperability at US Army Europe training event Saber Junction 2012

Tags

, , , ,

Atlantic-Community.org: 19 NATO and partner nations enhanced their interoperability at the US Army Europe’s training event “Sabre Junction 2012” in Grafenwoehr, Germany. 6,000 personnel and hundreds of military aircraft and vehicles participated in the month-long exercise. It was the largest of its kind in Germanysince the end of the Cold War. http://t.co/SggU2KgH

 

Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey Hold Pipeline-Security Exercises

Tags

, , , , , , ,

 

English: Turkish soldiers during the Destined ...

Turkish soldiers during the Destined Glory “Loyal Midas” 2005 military exercise, October 7, 2005. Photo by PH1 Timm Duckworth, USN. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

 

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, September 24, 2012

 

Azerbaijani, Georgian and Turkish troops have begun an exercise aimed at improving security for energy pipelines.  The exercises near Ankara will last until September 28… (more) ow.ly/2slxkr