Category Archives: NATO

Nikki Haley, US Ambassador to the United Nations, speaks at a Security Council meeting on February 21, 2017 at the UN Headquarters in New York City (AFP Photo/KENA BETANCUR)

United Nations (United States) (AFP) - US Ambassador Nikki Haley on Tuesday said the United States is ready to improve ties with Russia but will not compromise on its support for NATO and the European Union.

Haley told a Security Council debate on conflicts in Europe that "Russia's attempts to destabilize Ukraine" were among the most serious challenges facing the continent.

"The United States thinks it's possible to have a better relationship with Russia - after all, we confront many of the same threats," Haley said.

"But greater cooperation with Russia cannot come at the expense of the security of our European friends and allies."

The remarks came as European governments are seeking reassurance after US President Donald Trump applauded Britain's decision to leave the European Union, criticized NATO members over burden-sharing and praised Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Haley said the United States was committed to "the institutions that keep Europe safe" and that it "will not waver" in its support for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

The United States wants to deepen cooperation within NATO while "keeping the door open to new allies," she said.

Enlarging NATO has been a major bone of contention with Russia, which sees any expansion of the military alliance in eastern Europe as a policy of containment directed against Moscow.

Haley described US ties with the European Union as "deep and enduring" and said differences with European governments should not be seen as a shift in US support.

"No one should misinterpret occasional policy differences and debates as a signal of anything less than total commitment to our alliances in Europe. That commitment is strong," she said.

The ambassador stressed that the US and the EU were united in the view that sanctions against Russia would remain in place until Russia returns Crimea to Ukrainian rule.

A recent flareup of fighting in east Ukraine "show the consequences of Russia's ongoing interference in Ukraine," said the US ambassador.

Haley said Russia's decision to recognize passports issued by separatists in Ukraine's Lugansk and Donetsk regions was "another direct challenge in the efforts to bring peace to eastern Ukraine."

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Trump's envoy at UN warns Russia US stands firm on NATO, EU - Yahoo News

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis says the NATO military alliance is central to ties between America and Europe and remains of importance to the United States. (Reuters)

BRUSSELS Defense Secretary Jim Mattis issued an ultimatum Wednesday to allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, warning that if they do not boost their defense spending to goals set by the alliance, the United States may alter its relationship with them.

I owe it to you all to give you clarity on the political reality in the United States and to state the fair demand from my countrys people in concrete terms, Mattis said. America will meet its responsibilities, but if your nations do not want to see America moderate its commitment to the alliance, each of your capitals needs to show its support for our common defense.

The statements came during a closed-doors meeting with defense ministers from other NATO countries and were provided to reporters traveling with the defense secretary to Brussels. It marks an escalation in Washingtons long-running frustration that many NATO countries do not spend at least 2 percent of their gross domestic product as they have pledged. President Trump often made that point during his upstart run for the White House, at various times calling the alliance obsolete while grousing that its 28 members need to pay their fair share.

[Trumps calls for Europe to increase defense spending could force other upheaval]

Mattis, a retired Marine general, recalled Wednesday that when he was NATOs supreme allied commander of transformation from November 2007 to September 2009, he watched as then-Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned NATO nations that Congress and the American people would lose their patience for carrying a disproportionate burden of the defense of allies.

That impatience, Mattis said, is now a governmental reality.

No longer can the American taxpayer carry a disproportionate share of the defense of Western values, Mattis said. Americans cannot care more for your childrens security than you do. Disregard for military readiness demonstrates a lack of respect for ourselves, for the alliance and for the freedoms we inherited, which are now clearly threatened.

Currently, just five of NATOs 28 countries spend at least 2 percent on defense: the United Kingdom, Estonia, Poland, Greece and the United States. Major members of the alliance that do not include France (1.78 percent), Turkey (1.56), Germany (1.19), Italy (1.11) and Canada (.99), according to NATO figures. Others have pledged to do so but not until 2024.

[Flynn departure erupts into a full-blown crisis for the Trump White House]

Mattis said Washington needs the help of other nations already spending 2 percent to urge the others to do so. Those already with a plan to boost spending must accelerate it, and countries without one must establish one soon, he said.

The remarks come as NATO nations confront how to handle Russia following its 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula and U.S. intelligence assessments that Russia hacked Democratic Party officials during the presidential campaign last year. Retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, resigned under pressure Monday night as Trumps national security adviser after revelations that he misled Vice President Pence about secret communications with Sergey Kislyak, the Russian ambassador to the United States, regarding sanctions imposed by the Obama administration in response to the alleged hacking.

[In first under Trump, Russian jets buzzed a U.S. destroyer at close range]

Fellow ministers, when the Cold War ended, we all had hopes, Mattis said. The year 2014 awakened us to a new reality: Russia used force to alter the borders of one of its sovereign neighbors, and on Turkeys border [the Islamic State] emerged and introduced a ruthless breed of terror, intent on seizing territory and establishing a caliphate. While these events have unfolded before our eyes, some in this alliance have looked away in denial of what was happening.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg sought to downplay any suggestion that Mattiss message constituted a threat, saying that the United States was simply pressing its allies to live up to their own commitments.

This is not the U.S. telling Europe to increase defense spending, Stoltenberg said at a news conference after the tough meeting. This is 28 allies, heads of state, that all were sitting around the same table in 2014, and looking into each others eyes and agreeing that we shall increase defense spending.

I welcome all pressure, all support to make sure that happens, Stoltenberg said, adding that Lithuania and Romania have pledged to reach 2 percent soon.

Others in the room when Mattis spoke saw his message differently.

If you pardon my French, we got the message. Pay up or be pushed, one European diplomat said, using a more vulgar term for what the United States might do to its allies. If you take him literally, then the message is indeed that theres no unconditional guarantee of security any more, the diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity to speak openly about the reaction.

But not every leader felt that the message was a major departure from longtime U.S. policy to ratchet up its allies defense spending.

Its nothing new, to be honest, Dutch Defense Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert said in an interview. Mattis asked for milestones, so all of us will go home and work on them.

Public opinion in the Netherlands which currently spends 1.17 percent of its annual economic output on defense is in favor of spending increases, she said.

Public support has increased because its a rough world out there and people have noticed, she said. Europe and also the Netherlands for way too long were accustomed to peace and American leadership.

Mattiss ultimatum could have the largest effect for Germany. If it were to meet the 2 percent bar, it would boost its defense spending to about $75 billion per year, resulting in a military larger than Britains. That would bea profound shift for a country that has long had a pacifist tradition that held it back from embracing a global defense presence as greatas its economic might.

Mattiss demands were echoed by British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon, who met head-to-head with the U.S. defense chief before the main NATO conclave. Fallon said that Britain which spends the second-largest amount on defense in the alliance is proposing that countries that spend less than NATO guidelines commit to an annual defense budget increase.

An annual increase would at least demonstrate good faith, Fallon told a small group of reporters in Brussels. Fallon said that Mattis had underlined a 100 percent commitment to NATO.

Britain has generally triedto ally itself with the Trump administration as London negotiates an exit from the European Union. But British leaders have urged Trump to maintain his military commitment to NATO and to Europe.

Related stories:

Mattis attempts to reassure NATO allies as the Trump administration deals with fallout from Flynns ouster

Placing Russia first among threats, Mattis warns of Kremlin attempts to break NATO

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Defense Secretary Mattis issues new ultimatum to NATO allies ...

The Associated Press 9:55 p.m. ET Feb. 18, 2017

United States Vice President Mike Pence, left, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel meet for bilateral talks during the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. The annual weekend gathering is known for providing an open and informal platform to meet in close quarters.(Photo: Matthias Schrader, AP)

MUNICH (AP) America's commitment to NATO is "unwavering," U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said Saturday, reassuring allies about the direction the Trump administration might take but leaving open questions about where Washington saw its relationship with the European Union and other international organizations.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for strengthening a range of multilateral bodies the EU, NATO and the United Nations and lauded the benefits of "a free, independent press."

In his first foreign trip as vice president, Pence sought immediately to address concerns raised by President Donald Trump's earlier comments questioning whether NATO was "obsolete."

Pence told the Munich Security Conference, an annual gathering of diplomats and defense officials: "I bring you this assurance: The United States of America strongly supports NATO and will be unwavering in our commitment to our trans-Atlantic alliance."

"Your struggles are our struggles. Your success is our success," Pence said. "And ultimately, we walk into the future together."

Merkel, speaking before Pence, told him and other leaders that "acting together strengthens everyone."

Her address came amid concerns among allies about the Trump administration's approach to international affairs and fears that the U.S. may have little interest in working in international forums.

"Will we be able to continue working well together, or will we all fall back into our individual roles?" Merkel asked. "Let's make the world better together and then things will get better for every single one of us."

Trump has praised Britain's decision to leave the 28-nation EU. And a leading contender to be the next U.S. ambassador to the EU, Ted Malloch, has said Washington is "somewhat critical and suspicious" of the bloc and would prefer to work with countries bilaterally.

Pence did not mention the European Union in his speech, something picked up on by French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault who wrote on Twitter: "In Munich, Vice President Pence renews America's commitment to the Atlantic alliance. But not a word on the EU."

Pence did say, however, that the U.S. was on a path of "friendship with Europe and a strong North Atlantic alliance."

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel also indicated skepticism about Pence's pledges, saying that he agreed Europe needed to work with the U.S. on the basis of common values. But in a barely veiled reference to Trump, he said "both countries must define their interests, and our foreign policies should not be driven by ideology."

"Ideologies lead to hostile concepts that might not be able to be overcome," said Gabriel, who is chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Merkel's junior coalition partner.

Going ahead, he said Europeans "should hope for the best, but prepare for the worst."

In pledging the Trump administration's support for NATO, Pence said the U.S. expected all countries to live up to commitments to spend at least 2 percent of gross domestic product spending into defense.

"Europe's defense requires your commitment as much as ours," he said.

Merkel reiterated that Germany is committed to the 2 percent goal though Germany currently only contributes about 1.3 percent.

"We will do everything we can in order to fulfill this commitment," she said. "But let me add, however, that I believe while NATO is very much in the European interest, it's also in the American interest it's a very strong alliance where we are united together."

Gabriel suggested that development aid and humanitarian moves such as in Germany's decision to take in nearly 900,000 refugees last year should also be part of the consideration when looking at defense spending.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told The Associated Press, however, that both things were necessary.

"We need a comprehensive approach and of course development aid and funding for refugees is also very important," he said. "But there's no contradiction between being focused on development aid and security actually the only way we can create development is to preserve the peace. We need security to be able to facilitate economic development."

Merkel, who met with Pence one-on-one following their speeches, acknowledged that Europeans couldn't fight global issues like Islamic extremist terrorism alone.

"We need the military power of the United States," she said.

She renewed a call for Islamic religious authorities to speak "clear words on the demarcation of peaceful Islam and terrorism in the name of Islam."

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly told the security conference that Trump is working on a "streamlined" version of his executive order banning travel from seven predominantly Muslim nations to iron out the difficulties that landed his first order in the courts.

Kelly said next time Trump will "make sure that there's no one caught in the system of moving from overseas to our airports" during the travel ban.

The nations affected by the original ban were Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Kelly mentioned "seven nations" again on Saturday, leading to speculation they will all be included in Trump's next executive order on immigration.

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Pence offers 'unwavering' NATO pledge - York Daily Record/Sunday News

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has ruled out increasing Nato defence spending less than a week after the Trump administration issued an ultimatum to members.

Ms Merkel said Germany would honour its long-standing commitment to increase defence budgets by 2024 but would not accelerate its plans.

It came as European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker urged Europe's leaders to resist US pressure to increase European defence spending.

Donald Trump has repeatedly called for Nato members in Europe to increase their defence spend, and his defence secretary James Mattis said the US would be ready to "moderate its commitment" to the alliance if other members did not pay their fair share.

Nato guidelines call for all 28 members of the collective defence alliance to spend two per cent of GDP on military budgets.

However, only five of those members do so in reality America, Britain, Greece, Estonia and Poland.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, General Mattis warned of an "arc of instability" on Europe's periphery and called on Nato allies to contribute more.

"We all see our community of nations under threat on multiple fronts as the arc of instability builds on Nato's periphery and beyond," he said.

However, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said Europe should not allow itself to be "pushed into this."

It has been the American message for many, many years, he said. I am very much against letting ourselves be pushed into this.

Mr Juncker argued the EUs development and humanitarian aid spending made up for any shortfalls in military financing, and echoed Ms Merkels sentiments that development and crisis prevention had to be areas of focus.

If you look at what Europe is doing in defence, plus development aid, plus humanitarian aid, the comparison with the United States looks rather different. Modern politics cannot just be about raising defence spending, he said.

"Europeans must bundle their defence spending better and spend the money more efficiently.

Read more:
EU leaders defiant over US pressure to increase Nato defence budgets - The Independent

Russia was behind a plot to kill Montenegros pro-Western formerprime minister to stop the country from joining Nato, senior British government officials have claimed.

Senior government sources told TheSunday Telegraphthe alleged plot to kill MiloDjukanovichad been constructed in such a way that it could be blamed on rogue Russian nationalists if uncovered.

In November, a special prosecutor in the former Yugoslav republic said a group of Russian nationalistshad planned to assassinate Mr Djukanovic to get an opposition party into power.

Moscow has denied any involvement in the plot, and Montenegrin opposition parties have said it was fabricated and accuse Mr Djukanovic of using the security services to extend his quarter century of dominance.

Michael Flynn resigns as national security adviser over Russia row

However, the newspaper reports the alleged plot was foiled hours before it was due to take place on 16 October, on the eve of the nation joining Nato.

Moscow has repeatedly warned Montenegro to ditch its plans to join Nato. If Montenegro joined the Western military alliance, Russia would lose strategic access to the Adriatic Sea and Serbia would remain its only ally in the region.

You are talking about a plot to disrupt or take over a government in some way. You cant imagine that there wasnt some kind of approval process,anunnamed source is quoted as saying.

Two Russian intelligence officers reportedly spent months recruiting and equipping a small force of Serbian nationalists to attack the parliament building.

The alleged plot would have seen the attackers, disguised as police, open fire on a crowd of opposition party supporters as the election results were announced.

In the resulting confusion, other conspirators planned to force their way into the parliament building and kill the Prime Minister.

Such a massacre could have tipped the country into civil war and derailed any hopes it had of joining Nato and, later, the EU.

The Montenegrin police reportedly arrested more than 20 people on the eve of the election, including a former commander of Serbias special forces, while Serbian authorities detained others across the border.

After winning the parliamentary elections, Mr Dukanovic announced he would resign as Prime Minister and his deputy Dusko Markovicwould take over the role and form the new government.

The newspaper said Britain and the United Statesintelligence agencies had gathered evidence of high-level Russian involvement in the plot.

When asked about the newspaper report, Britains foreign ministry said Montenegro had identified Russian nationalists as behind the plot.

Montenegro must itself deliver a competent, transparent judicial process and trial of the coup suspects,a foreign ministry spokeswoman said.

Success would be a major step in convincing the international community of real progress in Montenegrin rule of law reform and compatibility with Nato and EU standards,she added.

The director general of MI5, Andrew Parker, said in November that Russiawas pushing its foreign policy in increasingly aggressive ways including cyber-attacks and espionage, posing a growing threat to Britain and the rest of Europe.

Moscow has denied this, and has challenged Britain to produce hard evidence.

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Russia 'plotted to kill Montenegro's PM and overthrow government to stop country joining Nato' - The Independent

One of President Trump's GOP primary opponents called on members of the new administration, including the president, to "be on the same page" and avoid inconsistent statements that are troubling to foreign allies.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich said Sunday that allies at the Munich Security Conference are still worried about the support for NATO by President Trump himself, despite repeated reassurances at the conference from several top members of the administration, including Vice President Mike Pence, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.

"What they're saying is we can hear from the vice president, Gen. Matts, Gen. Kelly, but we're not sure about the president. It is vital that the administration be on the same page," Kasich said on CNN's "State of the Union."

The U.S. involvement in NATO has been a key issue at the Munich Security Conference, with Pence talking about an "unwavering" commitment to the alliance. But the president himself has wavered in his support, at one point saying that the U.S. may not fulfill its promise to defend other allies of those countries don't increase their monetary support of NATO.

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"It's just critically important that all the signals coming out of the administration are very solid and very consistent that we all stand together in Western alliance," Kasich said.

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The uncertainty brought on by political activism is chipping away at coal mining communities.

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Kasich calls on White House to be 'consistent' in support of NATO - Washington Examiner

Russia indeed poses a challenge to NATO, but of a different kind than ISIS terrorism, the alliances former chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen told RT. He believes NATO should adapt to the various threats but ultimately deal with them from a position of force.

The military alliance does not compare Russia with Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) terrorism since it does not measure whether one threat is worse that another, but deems them both as challenges, NATO's former Secretary General told RT on the sidelines of the annual Munich Security Conference in Germany.

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I dont think we should rank treats. I consider Russia a challenge, I consider the Islamic State a challenge, and they should be addressed in different ways. Thats actually the essence of this, that NATO should adapt to be able both to address territorial challenges as well as challenges from overseas like terrorism.

The so-called territorial challenges which NATO faces according to Rasmussen are apparently tensions along Russias borders, namely the Ukraine unrest and concerns over Moscows potential aggression across other Eastern European states. Rasmussen believes the tensions are Moscows own strategy; to set its own borders ablaze to keep NATO out, and not a result of the bloc's expansion into post-Soviet countries.

It is Putins strategy to keep conflicts in the near neighborhood similarly or frozen, because he knows if that he can keep these conflicts similarly or frozen then he will keep his neighbors dependent on the Kremlin and economically weak, and he will prevent them from seeking Euro-Atlantic integration with NATO and the European Union, Rasmussen said.

To prevent Russia from pursuing this alleged strategy, NATO should do its best to implement the Minsk agreement, which is rather confusing since Russia itself has constantly been calling the warring sides of the Ukrainian civil war to stick with this deal for the past two years.

This is also the reason why we should focus on the implementation of the Minsk deal. And the ultimate goal should be to restore full Ukrainian control with the eastern borders, Rasmussen said.

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While NATO is refusing cooperation with Russia, it is ready for dialogue, and Rasmussen fully supports the US approach to talks with Moscow from a position of strength and even refers to a very successful Cold War experience.

Dialogue is always good. But I think any dialogue should take place from a position of strength, and thats exactly what Vice President Pence also stressed today. He said 'Peace through strength.' And the same did president Reagan in the past, and very successfully. He said we will need a stronger US to make sure that the Russians understand that were sincere.

But according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, political dialogue and diplomacy do not make any sense without the resumption of military cooperation.

NATOs expansion has led to an unprecedented level of tension over the last 30 years in Europe, Lavrov said in Munich, rejecting the idea of such dialogue.

What kind of relationship do we want with the US? One [based on] pragmatism, mutual respect, and an understanding of special responsibility for global stability, the Russian FM stated.

READ MORE:Lavrov: NATO expansion led to tension in Europe unprecedented in last 30 years

The stealthy approach of dialogue from a position of strength seems to even apply to Washingtons own allies, whom the US has pressured to contribute their fair share of 2 percent of GDP on maintaining NATO.

But Rasmussen says this call should not be treated as a threat. We should consider this statement from the US not as threat but as a welcome opportunity how can we, Europeans invest more, not only economically but also politically into transatlantic bond.

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NATO should adapt to various challenges like Russia & ISIS - RT.com - RT

New York Times

Sharing the NATO Burden New York Times For many years now, successive American administrations have made no secret of their frustration with how little most NATO allies spend on their militaries, leaving the United States with a disproportionately large share of the bill for the joint defense. Straight shooting with NATOCharleston Post Courier Trump confronts NATO's free ridersChicago Tribune Germany: US benefits from stable EU, united NATOMinneapolis Star Tribune Wall Street Journal (subscription) -Wilkes Barre Times-Leader -NATO HQ (press release) all 1,293 news articles »

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Sharing the NATO Burden - New York Times

Former British Prime Minister David Cameron | EPA/Andy Rain

Brussels post for former PM would give Britain major role on Continent post-Brexit.

By Tom McTague and Giulia Paravicini

2/18/17, 5:30 AM CET

Updated 2/18/17, 9:48 AM CET

LONDON U.K. cabinet ministers and a foreign statesman are courtingDavid Cameron to raise his hand to bethe next secretary general of NATO, according to people familiar with the situation.

Barely half a year since stepping down as prime minister, Cameron has held what one British official calledconversations about the top job at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Brussels. Hes not ruled it out, though Cameron has on separate occasions refused to make any commitment, these people said.

The post, currently held by the Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg, wont likely be open for at least another year, and as one person who has talked to him about it noted, Cameron wouldnt want to jump out of the gate early by declaring his intentions.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, Chancellor Philip Hammond and Defense Secretary Michael Fallon wantCameron atNATO, a senior official said.

The formal jockeying for the post wouldnt begin before the end of the year, NATO officials say. Candidates are put forward by their nations and chosen by consensus of the 28 members. In reality, the most powerful states, led by the U.S., decide among themselves whom to pick. The top civilian job at the alliance is by custom held by a non-American.

Spokespeople for Cameron and the British government declined to comment.

Someone close to Prime Minister Theresa May saidthe initiative to get Cameron the job has not crossed Maysdesk or that of any of her senior staff.

Last month, Cameron met former NATO secretary general and Danish ex-premier Anders Fogh Rasmussen in London, according to people who know both men. The pair discussed the secretary general job, the future of NATO and the threat posed to the West by radical Islam and Russianaggression in Ukraine and elsewhere, these people said.

Rasmussen declined to comment.

Camerons supporters see in him a strong candidate to lead the alliance at a tumultuous time, asPresident Donald Trump bothdismisses NATO as obsolete and sends surrogates this week to push Europeans to spend more on defense. Itwould also anchorBritain in astrong leadership role on the Continent at time whenthe U.K. is preparing to leave theEU by 2019, following last summers referendum that ended Camerons career in British politics.

The timing of any change atop NATO remains unclear. Stoltenberg, who got a four year term in 2014 with a possible option to extendfor a fifth,may want to stay in post until April 2019 to see in the 70th anniversary of the alliance, which would probably be marked by a special summit in the United States, according to asenior NATO official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Jens Stoltenberg is not even halfway through his term of office, so no one is really thinking about this operationally, this official said, adding that the speculation about Cameron as more about domestic politics than NATO politics.

The NATO job could be given a strongermandate, givingCameron a bigger playing field than the current secretary general.

Cameron would be a formidable candidate.The past two secretary generals were both former prime ministers of Scandinavian nations, and Cameronwould continue thetradition of having a head of government in the role, and in this case from a major NATO power.

His supporters note it would be easier to win Americanblessingfor acandidate who comes from a 2 per-center a member country that hits the NATO target for military expenditure. Only five, among them the U.K. and the U.S., of the 28 currently meet thethreshold of spending 2 percent of GDP on defense.

U.K. government aides have mentioned Britains defense minister Michael Fallon as a less high-profile British option. Following the EU referendum last year, Fallon pledged to increase Britains engagement with NATO to compensate for its withdrawal from the EU.

Cameron is committed to a series of new projects that will take him through until at least mid-2018, including a new academic role related to international development set to be announced in the next few weeks, according to an ally who remains close to the former PM.

People are keen in government for him to do it, asenior government aide said. They think hes an incredibly smart guy who would do a very good job representing Britain and would take it very seriously. Theres a broad view that hed be very good. The big question is whether he wants to do it. Im not actually sure he does. Conversations have been had saying why dont you do it, but hes saying I dont want it.

The official said seniorfigures in the British governmentwere looking at whether the job could be given a strongermandate, so Cameron had a bigger playing field than the current secretary general. At the moment hes a bit cold on it, this officialsaid. People are trying to convince him. Its true people are courting him, but hes not there yet.

The official said senior cabinet ministers including Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, Chancellor Philip Hammond and Fallon all supported Cameron.

Someone familiarwith the former prime ministers discussions about NATO saidnothing has been offered either formally or informally.

Agovernment official said the initial soundings would not have been taken without Number 10s tacit approval. It would be difficult for people who have been speaking to him and encouraging him to be freelancing. I havent had indications that its come directly from Number 10, but you just dont do these conversations if there was a risk that if he said yes it would not all be fine.

Such an initiative is also unlikely to have been undertaken without at least tacit American support, the official added.

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David Cameron 'courted' for top NATO post - POLITICO.eu

The move is the latest in a series of multinational training and security cooperation activities along the alliance's eastern front. It comes at a tenuous time in the relationship between the Kremlin and the fledgling administration of President Donald Trump, who just last week voiced unusually strong support for NATO after repeatedly objecting to its relevancy and funding. One hundred twenty troops from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, from Fort Carson, Colorado, arrived Wednesday at the Novo Selo training range in eastern Bulgaria, according to the Bulgarian statement. They're due to be joined by heavy military equipment and armored vehicles by the end of the week.

"This year joint exercises and training will be increased at the Novo Selo training grounds," said the ministry, adding that its goal is to develop and strengthen cooperation on a national and allied level.

Moscow has repeatedly criticized the deployments, calling them provocative and a threat to Russian security. Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated that position Thursday at the annual board meeting of the Federal Security Service, a Russian agency that oversees national security and counterterrorism.

"At the NATO summit last July in Warsaw, Russia was declared the main threat to the alliance for the first time since 1989, and NATO officially proclaimed containing Russia its new mission. It is with this aim that NATO continues its expansion," Putin said.

"They are provoking us constantly and are trying to draw us into confrontation," he said.

"We are not in a position right now to collaborate on the military level, but our political leaders will engage and try to find common ground," he said.

"As we search for new common ground, we expect Russia to honor its commitment to the Minsk Agreements and work to deescalate the violence in the Ukraine," Tillerson said.

Russia's annexation of Crimea and ongoing tensions between pro-Russian separatists and government forces in eastern Ukraine have caused growing unease among NATO members in Eastern Europe and the Baltic states, presenting one of the biggest challenges for the alliance in its nearly 70-year history.

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US troops deploy to Bulgaria as part of NATO operation to support Eastern European allies - CNN