Category Archives: NATO

The offensive, we are told, will take many forms. The first sign may well be a cyber-attack knocking out the power grid and internet, jamming mobile phone networks. Well-funded paramilitaries within Ukraines borders will be encouraged to create as much disorder as possible. There will be a blitz of propaganda, misinformation and false-flag operations. And then finally the blood sacrifice: the trained young men and women prepared to lay down their bodies for greater Russia.

Perhaps we all got a taste of how this might play out on a much smaller scale on Thursday night. As a distraught Kamila Valieva left the ice after a disastrous skate that would cost her a medal in the Olympic womens competition, the first person to greet her was her coach, Eteri Tutberidze. Why did you let it go? she screeched at Valieva in disbelief. Explain it to me. Why? Why did you stop fighting?

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For all the deep, voyeuristic discomfort of the exchange, Valievas treatment also felt jarringly at odds with the solidarity and belligerence that Russian officials had displayed for much of the past week as their gold medal hope was embroiled in a scandal over a failed doping test. How could Russia fight so vehemently for Valieva only to disown her so publicly after the event? But, of course, that was the difference. Before, Valieva was a potential gold medal for Russia, an asset worthy of state-level protection. Now she was nothing. The motherland thanks you for your sacrifice. But it has no further use for you. Next.

And, of course, there will be a next. If history is any guide, then it is probably safe to assume we have seen the last of Valieva in Olympic competition. This is the fourth successive Winter Games in which none of the Russian figure skating team from the previous Olympics made it to the next. Such is the depth and Darwinist savagery of the countrys skating programme, the lust for fresh and unspoilt young talent, the cheapness of human dignity and health, that by the time of Milan 2026 there will already be more Valievas, more Anna Shcherbakovas, more Alexandra Trusovas.

For her part Valieva remains perhaps the only blameless party here. It does not feel remotely controversial to point out that a 15-year-old girl taking part in an enormous state-run sporting programme might not necessarily enjoy complete autonomy over the substances going into her body, any more than a soldier gets to choose the city he invades. Indeed, it is probably more helpful to think of her as the sporting equivalent of the Russian men and women currently crouched behind the Ukrainian border in their thousands: young and fit, in the prime of life and yet utterly expendable, live meat waiting to be flung into somebody elses war.

As the worlds diplomats and geopolitical experts peer into the fog trying to divine Russias intentions, perhaps sport offers a handy paradigm for how the country has chosen to behave on the global stage. In many ways sports governing bodies have been grappling for years with what much of the wider world is only now encountering: the challenge of corralling and constraining a power that shows no inclination of playing by the same basic rules and norms as everyone else.

From the Sochi Olympics to the 2018 football World Cup to the massive state-sponsored Olympic doping programme that Russia continues to insist never existed, sport is a useful prototype for the rules of engagement that the Putin regime is now so dramatically bringing to the battlefield.

International organisations, whether Fifa or Wada or the International Olympic Committee, are only as strong as their weakest link. Inconvenient narratives and insubordinate individuals can simply be denied, dismissed, discredited: witness how the British journalists who first broke the story of Valievas positive test claim they have faced a barrage of abuse and even death threats online. And, ultimately, the ends will always justify the means.

There are two ways, I suppose, of looking at all this. Perhaps the impotence and indecision of western powers in the face of Russian aggression is an indication that standing up to Putins gangster state is easier said than done. If Nato cannot agree on an effective way of curbing Putin, then is it really fair to expect as much of the IOC president, Thomas Bach, a 68-year-old former fencer? Yet by the same token sport is irredeemably part of the greater enterprise here, the little unpunished broken windows that have persuaded the Kremlin the whole compound is up for grabs.

In another saner world it would be appropriate to ask whether any of this is still fit for purpose. Clearly figure skating has some deep-seated ethical issues to deal with here, from its exploitation of young women on the very brink of adolescence to its controversial judging system to its history of eating disorders. With each gram of weight, a gram of laziness is added, Tutberidze said in a 2021 interview, and one wonders if a more enlightened sport might have considered restraining her rather than revering her for years as a legend.

All the mood music coming out of Beijing suggests the IOC will instead rattle the sabres for a few days and then do very little. By the time Valievas doping case is finally heard, the world will have moved on to other matters and so will Russia. After all, there are always new theatres, new frontiers: new wars to fight and new bodies to fight them with.

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First the IOC, now Nato: how Putins Russia refuses to play by the rules - The Guardian

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NATO allies, including White House officials, are concerned by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys decision to depart Kyiv for the Munich Security Conference this weekend, sources told Fox News Friday.

Allies of the 30-member alliance are reportedly worried thatRussia could exploit the presidents absence as tension in Eastern Europe has reached a boiling point not seen in decades.

STATE DEPARTMENT CALLS EVACUATIONS IN EASTERN UKRAINE 'FALSE FLAG OPERATIONS,' WARNS OF DISTRACTIONS

Image released by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense on Thursday Feb 17, 2022 shows the frontline of Donbas, a conflict area with the Russian-backed separatists, during President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's visit to the Donetsk region in the east of Ukraine. (EYEPRESS via Reuters Connect)

Zelensky, who is set to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday, is expected to be a key target if Russia does successfully invade Kyiv, sources confirmed.

Zelensky'soffice confirmed his plans to attend the Munich conference early Saturday but said he will return to Ukraine hours later, according to Reuters.

President Biden said Friday he is "convinced" that Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to invade Ukraine.

In answer to questions from reporters as to whether he believed it would be a mistake for Zelensky to leave Ukraine at this time Biden said, "It may not bethe wise choice, but it's his decision."

"That's a judgment for him to make," Biden said. "It's in the pursuit of a diplomatic solution."

A senior U.S. defense official told Fox News Digital there is a strong possibility of a "significant invasion" by the Russian military in the coming days and Kyiv is its sites.

President Joe Biden speaks from the White House, Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

The official said Russian military forces have left their barracks and that roughly 40-50% of Putin's troops have moved into attack positions putting them within striking distance of the Ukrainian border.

Putin now has 120-125 Battalion Tactical Groups amassed along Ukraine's border. All Special Forces have been mobilized, and rocket forces along with ballistic missile units are within range of the capital.

Destabilization efforts that the U.S. and NATO have warned against "has begun," the senior U.S. defense official said.

Tensions in Eastern Ukraine, where Russia-backed separatists have clashed with the Ukrainian military since 2014, mounted this week and resulted in an exchange of artillery shelling that began Thursday.

KYIV MAYOR PLEADS WITH US, GERMANY OVER THREAT OF RUSSIAN INVASION: 'WE CAN'T DEFEND OUR COUNTRY'

A participant of an open civil defence exercise aims at a target, Uzhhorod, western Ukraine (Serhii Hudak/Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

Leaders of two the separatist groups called for an evacuation of the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, and leaders of the self-proclaimed republics claimed Friday that Russia has allegedly agreed to host evacuees.

Ukrainian officials and Russian-backed separatists have blamed each other for the attacks.

The separatists Saturday declared a full military mobilization a day after women and children in the region had begun evacuating to southern Russia.

NATO allies are concerned Russia will use the violence there as a pretense to invade Ukraine.

The U.S. has not said who is responsible for the attacks, but officials have been sounding the alarm that Russia is laying the groundwork for an incursion.

The State Department this week pointed to false claims by Putin regarding human rights abuses, and a spokesperson told Fox News Digital the evacuation effort is just the latest "false flag operation."

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Harris reaffirmed that the Biden administration remains committed to engaging with Moscow, but said the focus of the security talks will be in maintaining a united front to deter Russian aggression.

"We have made clear that we remain open to diplomacy," she said from Munich Friday. "The onus is on Russia at this point to demonstrate that it is serious in that regard."

Fox News' Brie Stimson contributed to this report.

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NATO allies concerned by Zelensky move to leave Ukraine, threat of Russian invasion almost certain - Fox News

12.00am EST 00:00

Thanks for following our live coverage of the Ukraine crisis. We will be closing this blog but you can follow all the latest developments on our new feed here.

Updated at 12.02am EST

11.53pm EST 23:53

Germanys foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, has released a statement ahead of the Munich security conference (which we mention in our post here), which starts today. She criticises Russia for its cold war demands and for declining to attend the meeting.

With an unprecedented deployment of troops on the border with Ukraine and cold war demands, Russia is challenging fundamental principles of the European peace order, Baerbock said in a statement.

I am travelling to Munich today to discuss how we can still counter the logic of threats of violence and military escalation with the logic of dialogue ... It is a loss that Russia is not taking advantage of this opportunity.

11.45pm EST 23:45

The United States has criticised Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaros declaration of solidarity with Russia during a visit there this week.

The State Department said in a statement, as reported by Reuters:

The timing of the president of Brazil expressing solidarity with Russia, just as Russian forces are preparing to launch attacks on Ukrainian cities, could not be worse.

It undermines international diplomacy directed at averting a strategic and humanitarian disaster, as well as Brazils own calls for a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

Brazils foreign ministry and spokespeople for Bolsonaro did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

On Wednesday, during his state visit to Russia, Bolsonaro said in a statement he was in solidarity with Russia without elaborating.

Later in a joint statement, alongside Vladimir Putin, he said: We stand in solidarity with all those countries that want and strive for peace. We have intense collaboration in key international forums such as the BRICS, the G20 and the United Nations, where we defend the sovereignty of states, respect for international law and the United Nations Charter.

Updated at 11.55pm EST

11.25pm EST 23:25

Julian Borger

As we reported earlier, US secretary of state Antony Blinken is to meet the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, next week, warning the crisis in Ukraine was a moment of peril for the lives and safety of millions of people.

The US state department said on Thursday night that Blinken had accepted an invitation to meet Lavrov provided there was no invasion of Ukraine. The move provides hope that diplomatic channels remained open even as US warnings of an imminent invasion grow louder.

If they do invade in the coming days, it will make clear they were never serious about diplomacy, said state department spokesperson Ned Price. Blinken said earlier on Thursday he had sent a letter to Lavrov proposing a meeting in Europe.

Read our full report below.

10.12pm EST 22:12

Some more photos from the scene of a shelling in the city of Stanytsia Luhanska in eastern Ukraine have emerged.

According to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) there were multiple shelling incidents on Thursday morning across the frontline in eastern Ukraine.

A nursery school in the Donbas region was hit by Russian-backed separatists as residents woke to find a hole blown through the wall.

The move has been described by leaders in the west as a false-flag operation aimed at discrediting the Ukrainian government, while Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, accused the Russian side of provocative shelling.

9.44pm EST 21:44

A White House official has just confirmed earlier reports that US president Joe Biden will host a call on Friday with Nato allies to discuss the Ukraine crisis.

In a statement, the official said:

The President will speak with Transatlantic leaders on a phone call tomorrow afternoon about Russias buildup of military troops on the border of Ukraine and our continued efforts to pursue deterrence and diplomacy.

Updated at 9.54pm EST

9.28pm EST 21:28

Russia is on the brink of an all-out conflict in Ukraine, according to Australias defence minister.

Peter Dutton told Australian broadcaster, the Nine Network, on Friday:

Its tragic and well see terrible scenes unfolding.

You would expect that President Putin, who obviously cant be taken at his word, is manufacturing some sort of trigger, or is in the process of executing the final stages of his plan to go into Ukraine.

Dutton said while European leaders have attempted to prevent a conflict in Ukraine, he believed Putin was intent on military action.

That really is going to result in the loss of innocent life.

Weve seen it before in eastern Europe, we dont want it repeated but we live in a very uncertain world.

This is an issue Nato and Europe need to deal with and those European leaders really need to step up and put the pressure, even more pressure, on Russia to stop them.

The defence minister said Australia has not been asked to provide troops to Ukraine, should there be any military retaliation.

9.10pm EST 21:10

The US Senate has voted in a rare bipartisan moment late on Thursday to send a show of support for an independent Ukraine, the Associated Press reports.

The vote comes shortly after Biden said the US has every indication of a potential Russian attack on Ukraine in a matter of days.

The resolution from the senators does not carry the force of law but puts the US legislative body on record supporting Ukraine and condemning Russian aggression.

The vote was unanimous, without objection or the formal roll call, according to the Associated Press.

Republican senator Rob Portman, in introducing the measure with Democratic counterpart Jeanne Shaheen among others, said:

This Congress is united in its support of Ukrainian independence and sovereignty.

Ukraine has strong allies in the Senate, where there is broad support for sanctions on Russia as a powerful foreign policy tool to be used if Vladimir Putin furthers his aggression toward Ukraine.

Senators held back on legislation sanctioning Russia, saying the White House can impose sanctions on its own, regardless of congressional action.

It is not a question of if but how we will respond to Putin, said Shaheen in a statement.

8.45pm EST 20:45

US secretary of state Antony Blinken will meet Russias foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, next week provided there is no further Russian invasion of Ukraine, US state department spokesperson Ned Price has annoucened.

In a statement, Price said:

The Russians have responded with proposed dates for late next week, which we are accepting, provided there is no further Russian invasion of Ukraine.

If they do invade in the coming days, it will make clear they were never serious about diplomacy. We will continue to coordinate with our Allies and partners and push for further engagements with Russia through the NATO-Russia Council and OSCE.

Updated at 9.23pm EST

8.39pm EST 20:39

Global leaders are preparing to meet in Germany for Fridays Munich security conference to hold talks on the crisis in a bid to avert war in Ukraine.

In attendance will be the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken and vice-president, Kamala Harris, along with the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, the UK foreign secretary, Liz Truss, and Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) most developed nations are set to speak at length over the four-day conference, discussing efforts to get Russia to de-escalate and ways to strengthen European security.

8.27pm EST 20:27

The increasingly pointed warnings from Joe Biden and Antony Blinken, plus the shelling in separatist regions of Ukraine sent jitters through Asias markets as they opened on Friday. Gold also reached an eight-month high as investors looking for safety ahead of the weekend.

Here are the details from Reuters:

MSCIs broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan, was down 0.3% in early trade. Japans Nikkei fell 1.4%. Korean shares and Australian shares each fell 1%.

On Wall Street overnight the Dow Jones 1.8% fall was its worst session of the year so far, the S&P 500 fell 2.1% and the Nasdaq dropped 2.9%. Gold shot to an eight-month high of $1,900 an ounce and held its gains.

The market will be on high alert over the possibility of a Russian invasion next week once the Beijing Olympics are over, analysts at ANZ Bank said in a note.

Overnight safe-haven currencies such as the Japanese yen and Swiss franc climbed to two-week highs on the dollar, with the yen edging a tad higher still in Asia to 114.84 per dollar.

8.13pm EST 20:13

US secretary of state Antony Blinken earlier told a United Nations security council meeting on Ukraine that the unfolding crisis represents a moment of peril for the lives and safety of millions of people as Russian continues to deny plans to invade Ukraine.

Blinken addressed those assembled, saying: Our information indicates clearly that [Russian] forces, including ground troops, aircraft, ships, are preparing to launch an attack against Ukraine in the coming days.

Watch the highlights of the speech in the video below.

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Biden to host call with Nato allies as invasion fears grow as it happened - The Guardian

NATO, in its full name, is an international military alliance of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It was founded on April 4, 1949, based on the North Atlantic Treaty signed by 12 countries.

Also, more than 17 countries have participated in different periods. Moreover, NATO member states have a common defense mechanism against an attack from any external force. Furthermore, the center of the association is located in Brussels, the capital of Belgium.

While 21 countries are part of NATOs Partnership for Peace initiative, 15 countries are in institutionalized dialogue programs. Furthermore, the total military spending of NATO members is more than 70% of the defense spending in the world. However, there is a detail as follows; members defense spending should be up to 2% of the Gross Domestic Product.

On the map, you can see NATO countries all over the world. USA and Canada are located in North America, while all other members are located on the European continent.

You will see countries with and without NATO membership in the European map.

Moreover, Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, Ireland, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, and Ukraine are not NATO members.

Austria: A country with a Permanent Nongovernmental Policy.

Belarus: At the same time, this country, called Small Russia, is not a NATO member due to its proximity to Russia. The foundations of NATO are based on Russian antagonism.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Serbian Member of the Bosnian Herzegovina Council; Bosnia and Herzegovinas accession to NATO, the three founding elements of the country, Bosniak, Serbs, and Croats that there was no compromise, said for a long time.

Click here for international recognition of Kosovo.

There have been periodic disagreements among NATO members, and as a result, there has been a problem of trust. Namely; The Cold War process led to conflicts with the members of the Warsaw Pact. The foundation date of the Warsaw Pact is 1955. Furthermore, the doubts over the strength of the relations between European countries and the United States have increased from time to time, with doubts about the credibility of NATOs defense against a possible Soviet occupation, which led to the withdrawal of France from NATOs military wing in 1966.

In addition after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the organization was involved in the disintegration of Yugoslavia and its first military interventions in 1992-1995 in Bosnia and Herzegovina and then in 1999 in Yugoslavia. Furthermore politically, they tried to establish good relations with the former Warsaw Pact countries. Furthermore, some of these countries joined the alliance in 1999 and 2004.

Shanghai Fifth: In 1996, a union was established in Shanghai, with the participation of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China and Tajikistan, foreseeing a deep cooperation in the field of regional security called Shanghai Five. Also in 2001, Uzbekistan joined this formation and changed its name to Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Furthermore, the formation, from predominantly in the 2000s, has shown a stern attitude to the military presence in the territories of the United States and has opposed the unipolar world order.

Arab League: The Arab League is an international organization in which 22 Arab countries are members. Furthermore, the first alliance between Arab countries occurred between Iraq and Saudi Arabia in 1936. Also, the Alexandrian Protocol signed in 1944 laid the foundations of the Arab League.

NATO was born in 1949 with the North Atlantic Treaty, where 12 countries came together and agreed to the conditions for non-aggression and cooperation. This military alliance has requested to join more than 16 countries in the period. The main aim of the organization is to ensure that the participating countries have the right to form an alliance in an attack against them, in addition to being assured of non-aggression against each other. The center of the union is located in Brussels, the capital of Belgium. NATO member states have to pay special attention to defense spending. For example, the total expenditure of NATO member states is 70% higher than the defense spending of all states in the world.

As an organization, NATO did not go beyond the promises of the states under the political and treaty conditions. But these political partnerships were motivated by two US ranking commanders during the Korean War when a common military force was created and gained a military identity. But during the Cold War era and the membership of the Warsaw Pact, which was established in 1955, the member states were in great competition. These controversies subsequently led to doubts among the member countries. How much would the US support NATO? Or, how could the organization be able to carry out an active policy against the Soviet threat after France withdrew from NATOs military wing after 1966?

After the fall of the Berlin Wall and the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1989, the organization dragged it into a major European civil war. In this internal turmoil, the organization had to use its power of military intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Yugoslavia in 1992-1995.

The founding text of the organization is Brussels Treaty, an alliance agreement between Belgium, the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands and Luxembourg on 17 March 1948. This unification became a source of inspiration for Europe and the Western European Union was established during the siege of the Soviets in Berlin. But in order for this defensive unit to be successful both the military authority and the support of the US to prevent the formation of a nationalist character has become necessary. With this initiative, a North Atlantic Treaty was signed in Washington DC on April 4, 1949, and a cooperation was established in the field of defense and cooperation.

The five countries involved in the Treaty of Brussels, as well as the United States, Denmark, Italy, Iceland, Canada, Norway, and Portugal, participated in this cohesion. In 1949, Lord Ismay, the first NATO Secretary General of the period, outlined the organizations tasks as follows: The organization will try to keep the Americans inside, the Russians outside, and Germany. Although countries have signed the treaty in political terms, the people have opposed this situation by some groups. In Iceland, for example, a population of people joined the supporters of neutrality. This treaty text represents the notion of Atlanticism and the idea of a cooperation and alliance between North America and Europe.

In the context of the agreement, the military cooperation of the member countries has attracted attention. Because in case of an attack on the member countries, the other member countries will recognize the attacking country as a common enemy and impose sanctions. This sanction may be in the form of a union or direct participation in the military intervention. The same cooperation will also apply to the protection of the North Atlantic region. This does not mean that the organization is an attack unit. On the contrary, the nature and formation of the attack is a long time. Because the aggressive country will be warned first and military assistance will be given to the allied country.

NATO has had a great impact on member states weapon terminology, inventories and military strategies. Because the European countries participating in the organization and especially the USA are very specialized in this regard.

In the 1950s, with the increasing threat of the Communist countries between the countries and the Korean War in the same period, the organization started to adopt a military intervention. Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) was established under the roof of the military intervention, and in January 1951 Dwight Eisenhower, the high-ranking commander, started his first work. Then, the idea of increasing the number of divisions to 96 in terms of having a long-term defense plan during the 1952 Lisbon Conference came up. But the proposal was rejected the following year. Instead, they decided to establish 35 divisions supported by nuclear weapons.

In the 1950s, NATO had 15 divisions in Central Europe and 10 in Italy and Scandinavia. In 1952 there was another development. The rank of Secretary General of NATO, the highest rank of the organization, was created and Hastings Ismay was appointed to this position. After this period, the organization has made a trial against a possible enemy attack by doing exercises and also showed a host of enemy countries with such exercises. Some of these exercises include:

Following the incorporation into the Organization in 1952, Turkey and Greece were left in suspense on how to ensure the use of the military in these countries. These debates were particularly moving towards a distinct crossroads between the United Kingdom and the United States. While these debates were under way, Operation Gladio and the secret protocols of stay-behind arrangements, which were prepared and hidden by the European Union for the continuation of the continents war after a possible Soviet occupation, were controlled by NATO.

After this process, NATO, in its military competitions, was actually discussing the combat capabilities and military capabilities of some member countries. NATO has begun to organize competitions to measure military capabilities. Maroon Berets, the Turkish Special Forces, won the first place in the International Special Forces Competition in 2004, which was attended by 25 military teams from eight countries. When Maroon Berets won these competitions 4 times in a row, NATO canceled the 5th year.

When the dates showed 1954, a surprising offer came from the Soviets. In fact, communism and the European continent, whose aim was to establish the organization, stipulated its membership in order to ensure the security of the state. But the withdrawal of the Soviets from such a formation, which was the most anti-Soviet, could have made a great deal of play in the internal dynamics of the organization. Following the rejection of the Soviet proposal, West Germany joined to the organization on 9 May 1955.

The decision to bind was expressed as a decisive turning point in the history of the continent by Foreign Minister Halvard Lange. In fact, this behavior of the organization was to be able to benefit from the German workforce and the war experiences of a country such as Germany in the event of an attack that could arise in a period when the Soviets were rejected. Thus continental Europe was faced with a polarization. Because the Soviet Union, with a decision dated May 14, 1955, founded the Warsaw Pact attended by Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, and East Germany. Even if there was no clear attack, the efforts of the two unions to continue their armaments and demonstrations would continue. In this way, a power imbalance has identified both sides of the Cold War era.

According to the logic of cold war, the main purpose was to be a deterrent force by showing the forces of the countries by exercises. In the late within NATO of 1957, after another 300 nautical elements in an area from Norway to Turkey until 1500 air element and a Black element 250,000 Operation Counter Punch, Operation Strikeback and Operation of the organization show of strength organized Deep Water exercises are made.

France has suffered a great deal in the early years of the union. In fact, a period of long-standing relations had led France to take an attitude. France was at first opposed to the US being the first power in the organization and an alliance with Britain.

Following this, US President Dwight D. Eisenhower and British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, on 17 September 1958, proposed that France be admitted to a tripartite structure equivalent to them. When a satisfactory situation did not arise in the face of this proposal (Memorandum), France began to form its own independent troops. In this way, Frances decision would allow a possible East Germany to launch an attack on West Germany or the war of a possible NATO-Warsaw Pact member.

Military segregation continued in February 1959 when France separated its naval elements from NATO forces in the Mediterranean. Later, alienated from the military wing, de Gaulle prevented the deployment of foreign countries nuclear weapons in his country. The most affected state was the US. After the decision to purge foreign agents, the US was obliged to remove 200 military aircraft from the country and to deliver military-owned airports from 1950 to the French in 1967.

France has defended its idea of independent defense by withdrawing its NATO fleet from the Atlantic Ocean and the English Channel. However, during the Cuban missile crisis that erupted in 1962 when Cuba received missiles from the Soviet Union, de Gaulle acted in a spirit of solidarity with NATO. By 1966, France was completely withdrawn from NATOs military wing and warned NATO forces in the country to leave the country.

Now the organization had to comply with this decision of France, and on October 16, 1967, Supreme Headquarters removed Allan Powers Europe from Rocquencourts position near Paris and moved to Casteau north of Mons, in Belgium. The separation of France from military sanctions does not mean that it has left the membership. The countrys membership continued and contributed to the defense of European territory in the event of an attack against the German Federal Republic.

In this case, members of the Warsaw Pact were happy with Frances decision to disarm. But it didnt take too long to break through this vulnerable environment. It is evident that it provides a suitable environment for changing situations in favor of the parties with secret protocols during the Cold War period. This is exactly what happened on the French front. In the historical literature, with the secret protocols known as Lemnitzer-Ailleret, the United States made a kind of negotiation of how France would contribute to the military in a possible attack.

During the Cold War period, the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact members, who were the co-operatives, were arrested for the absence of an attack on European soil. In July 1968, member states agreed to take preventive measures against nuclear weapons.

After the Warsaw Pact, the capacity of nuclear weapons on the European continent increased. NATO received Pershing II nuclear weapons with GLCM cruise missiles by the US, deployed in Europe on December 12, 1979 approval. This policy of disarmament, as well as the deployment of nuclear weapons on European soil, was a Bi-Directional policy in political jargon. But on the other hand, there was an armed movement. During the period 1983-1984, the Warsaw Pact members were ordered to fire the Pershing missiles in the event of an attack by NATO with the deployment of SS-20 medium-range missiles on European soil. European public didnt welcome these mutual armaments.

The expansion of the organization within this war environment also came to a halt. In 1974, Turkey launched a campaign to Cyprus, Greece decided to withdraw from NATOs military wing. Greece returned to the military wing after the parties declared a peace in 1980 again. Moreover, during the Falklands War between the United Kingdom and Argentina, NATO members were not in this war.

After the Warsaw Pact broke out in 1991, the biggest obstacle to NATO ended. The dissolution of this enemy made it necessary for the organization to make changes in new targets, new policies, and duties in the European continent. This change between countries began with an attempt to alleviate military armaments and military deployments in the Soviet Union in Paris. At that time, NATOs focus was on military defense that military spending rose to 34%. But by 2012, they reduced these military expenditures to 21%. After this period, NATO directed its military and military interventions to peaceful and humanitarian purposes.

After the Cold War, NATO won a great alliance with Germanys unification. East Germany and West Germany were finally united. In order to avoid this and East Germanys objection to a possible Russian objection, NATO offered a guarantee that the Russians would not deploy foreign troops and nuclear weapons in the eastern region.

At the end of the Cold War, they reduced NATOs military wing. Because in this war-free environment the organization had to obey the conjuncture. In this context, they revised the military units and created new forces in the form of the European Allied Command Emergency Response Corps. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the organization has made even greater changes and in 1999. Nicolas Sarkozy, the French President, made a great contribution to Frances return to the military wing of the organization. With the decision of April 4, 2009, the country gained full membership in NATO relations and maintained its attitude towards nuclear disarmament.

In 1994 and 1997, NATO tried to consolidate its coordination and cooperation with the forums it established. They further strengthened these regional development efforts by more comprehensive efforts such as Partnership for Peace, Mediterranean Dialogue and Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council. In 1998, with the idea of the creation of a Permanent Joint Council with Russia, the organization became stronger.

On July 8, 1997, the Czechs, formerly a Soviet subordinate, won the status of a member state of the organization in 1999 with the invitation of NATO. Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, which later became members of the organization enhanced this large turnout. The membership applications of the six countries were first during the 2002 Prague Summit. NATO approved these applications shortly before the Istanbul Summit on March 29, 2004. At the summit in Istanbul, the organization launched a new study called the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) with four countries on the Persian Gulf coast.

During the Cold War period, the organization never attempted military operations. But after the Cold War ended, the first operation was in the 1990-1991 period with the invasion of Iraq by Kuwait.

The last members of the organization are the member states of the Warsaw Pact or the countries of the Balkan nations. For the approval of the membership of these countries, they arranged Membership Action Plans. The membership of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Macedonia, which want to join NATO, is still under discussion.

In fact, Macedonia, Albania, and Croatia, together with these memberships, fulfilled the requirements of membership but Greece vetoed them. However, the countries that want to become and become members of the organization came together and formed the Adriatic Convention in 2003.

The first initiative of the organization in foreign relations was under the name Partnership for Peace. This partnership, which was launched in 1994, was built on the member countries relations with NATO. Furthermore, countries that are part of the Partnership for Peace platform are all old and new states that are members of the Commonwealth of Independent States. In addition, NATO merged with European states on 29 May 1997 to form a partnership council (Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council).

Employees in the center of the organization are national delegates of the member states. These include civil and military representatives, diplomats guiding the diplomatic relations of the member states, and members of the armed forces of the member states, as well as international staff and military personnel of the organization. In addition, there are non-governmental organizations in parallel with the Atlantic Council / Atlantic Treaty Association.

NATOs decisions are according to the provisions of the North Atlantic Treaty in the meetings of 28 members. In this structure, each member country must send a delegate and a mission to Brussels, which is the NATO center. Delegates sent by countries are usually ambassadors under high civil servant status. Most Member States have a mission to manage diplomatic relations at the headquarters in Berlin.

The North Atlantic Council meet once a week by permanent members. Furthermore, it is the most effective unit of the organization, including decision and management powers. In some crises, the Council convenes at critical summits gathered by the countries Foreign Ministers, Defense Ministers, and the top executives of the state. In these critical meetings, they reached a common decision on NATO-related issues. However, the status of those attending the meeting cannot limit the councils decision-making and management powers in any way. In addition to these meetings, they discuss the enlargement policies of the organization at the NATO Summits.

The presidency of North Atlantic Council belongs to Secretary General of NATO. Their main objective is to reach an agreement on unanimity and common thought in the decisions taken. There is no vote or decision in this council. None of the members participating in the council and its subcommittees has the right to lose their independence or to lose their obligation.

Parliamentary Assembly determines the most important strategic objectives of the organization. The unit meets on an annual basis and tries to communicate directly with the parliamentary structures of the members of the organization or the members who have appointed ambassadors for relations with NATO. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly consists of the legislators of the members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and 13 substitute members. NATO Parliamentary Assembly is essentially a structure different from NATO.

The structure collects members to discuss security policies set by the NATO Council. In fact, it is a political and diplomatic consultant of the Assembly. Mutual communication and interaction of institutions and members are vital for the organization. This interaction with the political mission follows the reports of five committees for the NATO Councils political policies and strategies.

NATO Military Committee commands the military interventions of the organization. The military units of the organization consist of two Strategic Union, led by a senior officer from the United States and a senior French officer. The commanders who are at the head of the unions are responsible for the military committee of all military operations.

The military wing contains a military representative representing the member states and a senior officer from the armed forces supported by International Military Staff. Military representatives sent by the member states have set up the Military Committee. The main task of the Committee is to direct the military policies of the organization. Also, to provide opinions on these issues. The committee also provides guidance to the Strategic Commanders who take part in NATO alliances and who are active in the military wing of the organization.

Active Soldier Number: 1.400.000Number of Reserve Soldiers: 1.100.000

Active Soldier Number: 410.000Number of Reserve Soldiers: 185.630

Active Soldier Number: 320.000Number of Reserve Soldiers: 42.000

Active Soldier Number: 205.000Number of Reserve Soldiers: 195.770

Active Soldier Number:180.000Number of Reserve Soldiers:280.000

Active Soldier Number: 180.000Number of Reserve Soldiers: 145.000

Active Soldier Number: 150.000Number of Reserve Soldiers: 182.000

Active Soldier Number: 125.000Number of Reserve Soldiers: 16.200

Active Soldier Number: 120.000Number of Reserve Soldiers: 515.000

Active Soldier Number: 95.000Number of Reserve Soldiers: 51.000

See the original post:
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)/NATO Map | Mappr

The principal objection would be: Does such a move actually contribute to the stability in Europe, or would it contribute to destabilization? said Douglas E. Lute, a former U.S. ambassador to NATO. I think its indisputable there wouldnt be consensus among the 30 members, even though all allies agree that Ukraine has the right to aspire to become a NATO member.

Stephen M. Walt, a professor of international affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, said that even in the 1990s, when NATO enlargement was first proposed, many prominent American strategists opposed it for this reason. That was the concern all along it wouldnt be easy to do this in a way that wouldnt threaten Russia, he said.

Ukrainian leaders have not always pushed hard to join NATO, and that has shaped the American approach.

Former President Viktor Yushchenko wanted entry into the alliance, but Ukrainians became more reluctant after Russia invaded Georgia. His successor, Viktor Yanukovych, dropped any drive for membership and promoted closer ties with Russia, even agreeing to allow Moscow to continue leasing a Black Sea naval port in Crimea.

During the Obama administration, American officials encouraged Ukraine to sign a formal association agreement with the European Union rather than try to join NATO. Mr. Putin pressured Mr. Yanukovych to reject the agreement, which led to the Euromaidan protests in 2013 that eventually ousted Mr. Yanukovych.

A lot of the U.S. policy has been quite reactive due to circumstances, said Fiona Hill, a Russia expert at the Brookings Institution who was a senior director for Europe and Russia on the National Security Council under President Donald J. Trump. It has also changed due to changes in Ukraine itself toward this.

By now, youve got much more sentiment in Ukraine for joining NATO, she added.

Mr. Zelensky has pressed Mr. Biden repeatedly on membership, including during his visit to the White House in September. I would like to discuss with President Biden here his vision, his governments vision of Ukraines chances to join NATO and the time frame for this accession, if it is possible, he said as he sat next to Mr. Biden.

Mr. Biden blew past those comments without responding.

See original here:
NATO Wont Let Ukraine Join Soon. Heres Why. - The New ...

Thank you so much Ursula for those kind words.And thank you also so much for our very close cooperation over these years.The relationship and the cooperation between NATO and the European Union has never been closer and thats not least because of your commitment to bringing this relationship so close together and strengthening the transatlantic bond by working together with NATO.

And also many thanks to Minister-President Sder for your warm welcome here in Munich. And also for informing me that you have danced with President von der Leyen. I have never had the courage, but now maybe.And many thanks to you, Wolfgang, for your outstanding leadership of the Munich Security Conference,and for this prestigious award.I am really and greatly honoured.

Ewald von Kleist championed the transatlantic alliance.He saw the value of Europe and North America standing together to keep us all safe.

His message is as important today.These are dangerous days for Europe.

Russia has relentlessly massed troops in and around Ukraine,in the biggest military build-up since the Cold War.We do not know what will happen.But the risk for conflict is real.

NATO Allies continue their strong diplomatic efforts to find a political solution.

However, despite Moscows claims, we have seen no sign of withdrawal or de-escalation so far.On the contrary, Russias build-up continues.

We continue to monitor very closely.We call on Russia to do what it says, and withdraw its forces from the borders of Ukraine.

This will be an important first step towards a peaceful solution.

It is not too late for Russia to change course.

To step back from the brink.Stop preparing for war.And start working for a peaceful solution.

NATO remains ready to engage in a substantive dialogue with Moscow.

To take meaningful reciprocal steps that can improve security for all countries inEurope.

And for Russia too.

We have made written proposals to Moscow.

To reduce risks and increase transparency of military activities.Address space and cyber threats.And engage on arms control,including on nuclear weapons and missiles.

This is a substantial agenda,where we believe it is possible to find common ground.

So I have invited Russia and all NATO Allies to a series of meetings of the NATO-Russia Council.And I reiterated my invitation in a letter that I sent to Minister Lavrov on Thursday.

The current crisis is about more than Ukraine.

There is much at stake.Relations between NATO and Russia.European and transatlantic security.And ultimately the question of how we wish to organise relations between states.

Moscow is attempting to roll back history.And recreate its spheres of influence.

It wants to limit NATOs right to collective defence.

And demands that we should remove all our forces and infrastructure from the countries that joined NATO after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

But let me be clear.

There is no first class NATO members in the west of our Alliance.And second class NATO members to the east.

We are all NATO Allies.

And we stand as one.And we will always do what is necessary to protect and defend each other.

Moscow also wants to deny sovereign countries the right to choose their own path.And their own security arrangements.

For Ukraine - but also for other countries, such as Finland and Sweden.

And for the first time, we now see Beijing joining Moscow in calling on NATO to stop admitting new members.

It is an attempt to control the fate of free nations.To rewrite the international rulebook.And impose their own authoritarian models of governance.

The current crisis demonstrates the importance of the transatlantic relationship for European security.

Two World Wars and the Cold War has taught us that there is no real security in Europe without a strong transatlantic bond.

Standing together in NATO, Europe and America will continue to keep the peace and protect our democratic way of life.As we have done for more than 70 years.

NATO is a defensive Alliance.We are not threatening Russia or anyone else.

But we will take all necessary measures to protect and defend all Allies.

This is why in response to Russias pattern of aggressive actions,we have been strengthening our deterrence and defence across the Alliance.

To avoid any miscalculation or misunderstanding about our ironclad commitment to defend each other.

So if Kremlins aim is to have less NATO on Russias borders, it will only get more NATO.

And if it wants to divide NATO, it will only get an even more united Alliance.

Over the last years, our security environment has fundamentally changed for the worse.

Peace cannot be taken for granted. Freedom and democracy are contested.And strategic competition is on the rise.

This is a new normal.And we must be prepared.And do everything we can to keep the bond between America and Europe as strong as ever.

After the experience of horrors of war, Ewald von Kleist knew that Europe and America together was the guarantee of lasting peace.

It still is to this day.

By standing together, we can and will keep our people safe.Protect our core values and principles.And uphold the rules-based international order.

Thank you.

Chair of the Munich Security Conference Wolfgang Ischinger: Thank you so much, Jens, Mr. Secretary General. Thank you to both of you, Madam President and you, Mr. Secretary General for your presentations.

We've had a long standing tradition at the Munich Security Conference that at the Main Event on Sunday morning, the first question always goes to Franois Heisbourg of France. And now Franois has informed me, I think late last night, that he has actually tested positive. He was already in Munich, so he's now somewhere in quarantine, I guess. But he has sent me overnight the question he had intended to ask by raising his arm as the first one. So this is my privilege now to present his question as the first one. So Franois, I'm sure you're listening.

The question is actually asked of the President of the EU Commission, but I think it's also a question that you would want to respond to, and I quote: Are the European Union and its Member States ready to jointly and severally, together and separately, express their support of a possible candidacy of any of the European Union's Members to join the Atlantic Alliance? For those who are not so familiar with this, this is a question about, for example, Finland, a question for example of Sweden. So, Madam President.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen: First of all, I think it's a very good sign, dear Jens, that Ambassador Ischinger asked this question to the European Union, President of the Commission. So it's not to me, or for me, to judge about internal issues of NATO. But of course, I'm very willing to answer this. Because indeed, I've been watching at my time as.. the five years as defense minister, being of course in the Alliance of NATO, how very close the cooperation, for example, with Sweden and Finland already is of NATO.

First and foremost, it is the decision of the people of Sweden and Finland what they want to do and which kind of alliances or partnerships they prefer. But then, of course, I've witnessed that there is a long standing, excellent cooperation between NATO and those members of the European Union. Many missions, they are participating in joint capabilities were developing. So you are always, of course, emphasizing, rightly so, that there is an open door policy at NATO. And therefore, now after having spoken for the members of the European Union, I throw the ball to you Jens, to speak about NATO itself.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: Thank you so much, Ursula. And I think the fact that we can answer this question together just demonstrates how close the relationship is between the European Union and NATO. And also between Ursula and me.

As you said, Ursula, the thing is that it is enshrined in NATO's Founding Treaty, the Washington Treaty, in Article 10, that we have an open door. That European countries can join NATO. But this is, an enlargement of NATO in the last decades has been a great success. It has helped to spread democracy, freedom throughout Europe and actually also paved the way for further EU enlargement, demonstrating how closely we work together. So in that sense, NATO's open door has been a success and NATOs door remains open.

The important message is that it is for individual countries in Europe to decide whether they aspire for membership, they want to belong to NATO, or they do not want to belong to NATO. That's for them to decide. Therefore, we respect those countries that aspire for membership. We sit down and we look into how can we help them with reforms so they meet the NATO standard and can join at some stage.

But we also respect if they decide not to apply. So for instance, when Finland and Sweden have decided that they are not applying for membership, of course we respect also that decision.

I'm not speculating about the likelihood of Finland, Sweden, changing their mind. I think that's very much for Finland and Sweden to decide. That's the main point. And as a Norwegian, I will be very careful giving advice to the Swedes, and the Fins. So we trust the Swedes and the Fins. They decide. As long as they decide to stay outside, we are very happy to have a very close cooperation with both countries.

Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger: Great, thank you very much to both of you. Now, those of you who wish to ask a question there are two ways of doing that. First by just waving and making yourself known to me or by using the electronic manner. I have a tablet here which would show me questions that are being typed electronically. So use the opportunity. Who wish who wishes to raise the first question? I think this is Nathalie Tocci, if I'm not mistaken. Natalie, microphone is coming.

Nathalie Tocci: Question to President von der Leyen. As your second keyword, you mentioned diversification. And it was the word that had disappeared from the European lexicon for a while. Energy security diversification had really not been talked about for quite some time. How do you square the circle, if there is a circle to be squared, between the return of energy security to the debate, through diversification, and your landmark, sort of, your trademark for this Commission, which of course is the European Green Deal?

President of the European Commission: Yes, thank you very much. I, of course, focus as your question should indicate, on our dependency, first of all, on Russian gas. Just to give you figures round about 24% overall in the energy mix of the European Union is gas. We import 90% of this gas. And 40% of this import is Russian gas. So quite a high dependency. It's very different from member state to member state. For example, as France is relying on nuclear energy, they are not at all dependent on Russian gas. Other member states, for example Italy or Germany, have a more intense dependency on Russian gas.

What we've seen over the last six months is that Gazprom has delivered always at the lowest level. They pay or deliver. So often they've chosen the payment instead of to deliver gas. And the storage is, of Gazprom in our storages, is a 10-year low this year. And this at a time as I said where we have skyrocketing prices and demand, it's a strange behaviour of a company who normally would maximize their profits by delivering more and storing better for winter to come.

Therefore, we have decided to do everything possible to get rid of this dependency. And we've reached out to our friends who are suppliers of LNG gas. First and foremost, the United States that really helped a lot also to reach out globally, but also to other suppliers of LNG.

Actually, it helps us that we've done our homework since 2014, the annexation of Crimea, because we've built LNG terminals, and more important, we have now a network of pipelines and electricity interconnectors throughout Europe, so that wherever you have the gas, you can display it all over the European Union. Partially also reverse flow, for example, to Ukraine, to support Ukraine with energy demands.

And now to the second part of your question. For the moment being, we won't be able to replace the Russian gas with LNG deliveries that we get from our friends all over the world. And we are supported actually also by buyers, like Japan or South Korea, who are willing to swap contract with us so that ships with LNG gas or de-routed to the European Union.

Now LNG gas remains fossil fuel without any question. The advantage is that the infrastructure that we use with the LNG, or any kind of gas, is over time suitable and fit for purpose for green hydrogen. And therefore now our work goes on. We had yesterday the EU-Africa Summit to.. into looking towards the Global South. They have in abundance sun, and wind, and hydropower. They need the infrastructure, but they are to have over time the development of a solid green hydrogen infrastructure using the pipelines we do have already in place, and thus giving a complete different business case to the Global South, our African friends for example. Of course, green hydrogen for the European Union too. And I can only say these renewable energies, they are clean and therefore good for the planet, but they are also home grown, and therefore good for our independence.

Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger: Thank you, Madam President. I see a couple of more questions before I go to you, let me use my privilege of being the moderator here to turn to Jens Stoltenberg again. Jens, you'll be leaving NATO toward the end of this year, as I understand. And I want to remind you that as the future Head of the Norwegian Central Bank, like all the other recipients of the Ewald von Kleist Award, you will have a standing invitation to the Munich Security Conference. Its one of the reasons why Javier is always here each year. And I hope you'll be with us again.

Here's my question: Eight years ago, in 2014, NATO decided to define, as a collective goal, this famous 2% goal. Let's assume the worst case, namely that we're going to have some degree of military confrontation in coming days, weeks, months. As you prepare your own departure from NATO in coming months, would you think that the 2% objective, goal, which was a goal for 2024, 10-year goal, is going to be good enough? Or is NATO going to have to say: under these circumstances, we're actually going to have to, you know, take it up another notch?

NATO Secretary General: Well, I think what happens now just underlines how important it was, back in 2014, to make the decision to go to 2%. And then, I think we should deliver on that first. And then we can discuss the next steps after that. Because what has happened is that before 2014 defense budgets were going down across Europe and Canada, in almost all Allied countries, year by year. Because after the end of the Cold War, European countries thought that they could spend less on defence. And I was part of that myself. I was Prime Minister and Minister of Finance in Norway, and for many years, we cut defense spending.

But then, after the illegal annexation of Crimea and what happened in Europe in 2014, things changed. And the good thing is that all Allies actually realized that we need to do something different. And the most important different thing that we had to do, was to invest more. And since 2014, all Allies in Europe and Canada have increased defense spending every year. And they have, in total, added 270 billion extra for defense.

And of course this is not only about money, but it's about capabilities. Because with this money you can buy drones, and planes, and battle tanks, readiness, and exercises, and a lot of important stuff. The main reason to do this is not to provoke a war, but to prevent the war.

And I think that, what is happening now demonstrate that our strength, the fact that we can deploy more troops at high readiness to the eastern part of the Alliance, is the way to send a very clear message to Moscow that we are there to protect and defend our Allies. An attack on one will be regarded as an attack on all. And that's exactly the best way to prevent any armed attack on any NATO Ally. So, well, it just demonstrates that what the decision-makers in 2014 decided. They were wise and forward looking. And former Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, is somewhere in the audience, and he was responsible then, and many others have been part of that big transformation of NATO.

Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger: Thank you. Thank you very much. Now I think the first raised hand I saw was Dr. Chipman of IISS. John.

John Chipman: Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, in the last seven or eight years as IISS has transparently recognized in our famous volume the military balance. The Russians have massively modernized their conventional armed forces, introduced lots of technologies and much more professional army. But in that time as well they have been modernizing their nuclear weapons, adding more capabilities, changed their doctrine. And only in the next few days, we might see the formal change of the Belarus constitution that would permit the stationing of nuclear weapons in Belarus. Against that background, what would you judge to be the first two or three priorities of the NATO Nuclear Planning Group, and what place would nuclear strategy have in NATOs new Strategic Concept?

And a caveat for the President of the European Commission. IISS, which is now happy to have a Europe office in Berlin, is working on the subject of green defense. And I wonder, as the President of a geopolitical Commission, what collaboration we would be able to have with the European Commission to ensure that militaries continue to green their operations while maintaining their effectiveness? Thank you.

NATO Secretary General: Well, I think you're absolutely right. What we have seen over the last years is that Russia has invested heavily in modernizing their nuclear capabilities, they have changed a nuclear doctrines. And they have actually lowered the threshold for use of nuclear weapons in armed conflict. This is something of course we are taking very seriously. And therefore, I think it's important that we maintain our NATO nuclear deterrent, that we make sure that we keep it safe, and secure, and effective.

And also, I think it also demonstrates that what we are in favour of is balanced, reciprocal, verifiable arms control, also when it comes to nuclear weapons. But we are not in favour of unilateral nuclear disarmament from the NATO side. NATO's goal is a world without nuclear weapons. But the world where we get rid of our nuclear weapons and China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and so on, they keep their weapons, that is not a safer world. That's a more dangerous world. So, yes, we believe in the world without nuclear weapons, but the only way to get there is through verifiable, balanced arms control. And that's exactly what NATO is working for.

President of the European Commission: Yes, thank you. So, John, I think whatever, if you look at the defense sector, whatever is rolling, flying, or swimming needs energy. Energy is the core of any kind of European Green Deal or Global Green Deal to fight climate change. And therefore, I was.. the other answer already, reflecting over changing our posture of energy supply. And whatever goes for fighter jets, as well as any kind of airplanes, goes for cars or armoured vehicles, you name it, that you have to change the approach of the energy you use. Not the dirty, carbon heavy, fossil fuel energies, but the renewables, clean ones and for example, the prospect of hydrogen is a highly interesting one to work with.

And therefore, there is quite a lot of [inaudible] in it. It is a fascinating business case. Because for us is important. We know we have to fight climate change, otherwise, we're all doomed. And therefore, if we invest in the innovation, if we invest in clean energy, if we invest in a different way to produce and to consume, we will be the innovators who export them these technologies. It's a big topic of innovation. And therefore, it is for us not only something which is so important for the climate itself, but it's a very clear business case. It's our new growth strategy.

Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger: Alright, I've seen a few raised hands. The one I know is Stefan Kornelius of Sddeutschen Zeitung. So Stefan, please.

Stefan Kornelius: Thank you. It's a question to the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Since you're displaying unity between the EU and NATO on the stage, why did the EU not call for an earlier meeting on the Heads of States? That was now a special summit [inaudible] the African Union, a meeting just a few hours ago. But this crisis is boiling for, I don't know, two months at least. And we haven't seen Heads of States unifying, or at least finding some coherent strategy, on sort of the reaction of the day after.

President of the European Commission: So how are we working? Since many, many weeks, six to eight weeks now, we are preparing for this looming crisis, which is unfortunately, since then, always going in the wrong direction with a massive build-up of troops that has not stopped.

And of course, there is a very strong alignment between the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, on a regular basis. We have by now, in the last weeks, once or twice a week of VTC. Or yesterday evening, for example, a telephone call together. The countries, Joe Biden, Justin Trudeau, Boris Johnson, some of our leaders like Olaf Scholz, Emmanuel Macron, Mario Draghi, you were, of course yesterday, also you are on a regular basis in these sessions.

This is to align on a regular basis, on all the necessary steps we have to take. What are these steps? The Commission has developed a robust and comprehensive package together with the United States, UK and Canada of financial sanctions. That in case that Russia strikes, we will limit the access to the financial markets for Russia, for the Russian economy and export controls that will stop the possibility for Russia to modernize and diversify its economy.

And we have a lot of high tech goods, where we have a global dominance and that are absolutely necessary for Russia and cannot be replaced easily. We also prepare, in this group, for example, what is the state of cyber attack, robustness and resilience we have within our system, but also supporting Ukraine. We are preparing for potential refugees coming. We are preparing on all sorts of fields. I've been referring to the energy field. The other friends and allies goes on since weeks and weeks and weeks, and that's where the core of the work is. That's where the bulk of the results is coming from now.

Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger: Thank you very much. We have less than five minutes to go. I have one question on my tablet here, which is addressed to Secretary General of NATO, comes from Clemens Wergin, who is a journalist with Die Welt, a German newspaper. This goes to Mr. Stoltenberg. I'm quoting: How can the West counter, in the realm of informational measures, what seems to be Russian false flag operations in Donbass?

NATO Secretary General: To expose what they do. And that's exactly what we have done. Because we have been very open, transparent on the information we have received, intelligence and other types of information, both, about the Russian military build-up and it is, as I said, as Ursula has said, this actually started several months ago, this fall. And we all did then warn, both that we saw a build-up going, taking place but also of the plans of further building up. And what we predicted back then has actually happened.

Second, we have also been very transparent on the attempts by Russia to create a pretext, to create a situation that they will use as an excuse for attacking Ukraine. And we have seen some attempts. We have seen some very dangerous situations. And also what we see taking place now just adds to that picture of concern that they are trying to create a pretext for an invasion.

But the reason why we have been so transparent, the United States, other Allies and NATO, is that we believe that when we expose these plans, we make it harder for them to do what they're planning to do. So the reason to expose is to prevent that from happening, what they're planning to do.

We are extremely concerned because we see that they continue. They continue to build up, they continue to prepare. And we have never in Europe seen, since the end of the Cold War, such a large concentration of combat ready troops. And of course that sends a very, very ominous or dangerous signal to all of us.

Let me add one more thing, Wolfgang, and that is that, you know, what they do in Russia now is partly to amass the troops. But they've also put forward claims, demands not only to Ukraine, but also to NATO. They have demanded that we should leave our enshrined commitment to open door. And they have demanded that we should remove all NATO troops and forces from almost half of the member states. And then they have said that if we don't meet those demands, they have repeatedly said that there will be what they call military-technical consequences. So the danger is now the combination of this massive military build-up with the very threatening rhetoric, putting forward demands they know we cannot meet and say if we don't meet them, there will be military consequences. So this is a step change. This is a new normal that you have Russia which is openly contesting core values for European security. And then demonstrating their will to use force, or the threat of force, to get there. And that's the reason why this is so extremely important that we are united, Europe and North America, working closely with the European Union. But also that we actually have demonstrated our commitment with increased military presence in eastern part of the Alliance.

Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger: Thank you, Jens. I think we have a minute left. I saw a question from the very back of the room. If you can turn this into a very quick question, and if we can get a very quick response, then we're still good. This is Robin Niblett, I didn't recognize your face, so, Robin.

Robin Niblett: I want to ask a question that maybe mirrors what Franois Heisbourg asked at the beginning, which was interesting. He asked a question to Ursula von der Leyen whether she would support NATO enlargement. I suppose, Id flip the question and say: is this not a time to be talking about accelerating Ukrainian membership of the EU? And as we have the two leaders of these two institutions side by side, one of the biggest threats obviously to Russia's interest, Ukraine, will be a much closer relationship with the European Union. So, Secretary General of NATO would you support an acceleration of the process of negotiation for enlargement to Ukraine to the European Union?

NATO Secretary General: It's not for me to decide. I actually tried to convince the Norwegians to join EU and I didn't succeed. So, I think I should be very careful giving advice to others.

But the principle still applies. That of course it is for individual countries in Europe to decide whether they want to belong to NATO, or they want to belong to the EU. And then, there is for the members of NATO to decide whether they can join our Alliance. And then for the members of EU to decide whether they can join EU. Thats the principle and that is what is contested now. Because [inaudible] absolutely possible to have different views whether NATO or the EU should have this or that new member, but this is not the issue. The issue is whether that is a decision to be made by those individual countries, and the members of the organizations, or whether Russia has a veto to decide what neighbours can do or not do. That's to re-establish sphere of influence. We don't believe in that. We don't believe in going back in history. We believe in free, independent nations making their own free democratic choices.

Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger: Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary. It's reassuring to me, and I'm sure to many in the room, to see how well NATO and the European Union work hand in hand. Let me propose that we offer a round of applause to our two speakers.

And of course, most importantly, to congratulate Jens Stoltenberg again on receiving the Award.

Ladies and gentlemen, please don't leave the room because within literally seconds or a minute at maximum we're going to have Chancellor Scholz coming in and continuing the program. So stay put, if you could. Thank you very much.

Continued here:
Remarks by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Munich Security Conference session ''Hand in hand: Transatlantic and European Security'' -...

NATO staff in Kyiv have been relocated to both Lviv, Ukraine situated in the western region of the country and the Belgian capital of Brussels, a NATO official confirmed to The Hill.

"NATO and allied countries are monitoring and assessing the situation very closely, and continue to take all the necessary measures. The safety of our personnel is paramount, so staff have been relocated to Lviv and Brussels," the NATO official said in a statement. "The NATO offices in Ukraine remain operational. We continue to call on Russia to de-escalate and choose the path of diplomacy."

It was not immediately clear how many people were relocated or how many were being relocated to each city.

However, NATO staff are not the only onesoperatingfrom Lviv; the British government, in a statement on foreign travel advice, said thatit would be relocatingits own embassy staff from Kyiv to Lviv.

The British Embassy office in Kyiv is temporarily relocating. Embassy staff are operating from the British Embassy office in Lviv, the government said in a statement.

Officials estimate that up to 190,000 Russian troops have now been amassed near the Ukrainian border, and President BidenJoe BidenAustin on potential Russian invasion into Ukraine: 'I don't believe it's a bluff' Overnight Energy & Environment Russia situation mayworsengas prices On The Money Fed puts strict limits on trades by top officials MORE announced on Friday that he now believes Russian President Vladimir PutinVladimir Vladimirovich PutinAustin on potential Russian invasion into Ukraine: 'I don't believe it's a bluff' Biden 'convinced' Putin has decided to invade Ukraine White House: Kicking Russia out of SWIFT unlikely to be in initial sanctions package MORE has made up his mind to invade Ukraine.

Secretary of State Antony BlinkenAntony BlinkenOvernight Energy & Environment Russia situation mayworsengas prices What next for NATO, challenge or opportunity? Biden to give Ukraine update as Russia adds troops MORE on Monday said that the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv would be closing as officials witnessed heightened military buildup near the Ukrainian border.

We also continue our sincere efforts to reach a diplomatic solution, and we remain engaged with the Russian government following President Bidens call with President Putin and my discussion with Foreign Minister Lavrov," Blinken said in a statement. "The path for diplomacy remains available if Russia chooses to engage in good faith. We look forward to returning our staff to the Embassy as soon as conditions permit.

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NATO staff in Kyiv moved to Lviv, Brussels | TheHill - The Hill

Western leaders on Saturday stepped up their warnings over the prospect of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, accusing Vladimir Putin of seeking to undermine European security and overhaul international order.

Meeting at the Munich Security Conference as they seek to avert war in Europe a prospect many thought unthinkable until recently several leaders said Russia would face severe consequences should it attack Ukraine.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, present in Munich, used his speech to demand a "clear and feasible" timetable for his country to join NATO, calling for what he called the "politics of appeasement" towards Russia to cease.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen accused Russia of a "blatant attempt" to "rewrite the rules" of the international system.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that "the deployment of well over 100,000 soldiers around Ukraine is justified by nothing", while UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said a Russian invasion would echo around the world.

Their comments came the day after US President Joe Biden said he was convinced Vladimir Putin had decided to invade Ukraine, in his clearest warning yet over the Russian president's intentions.

US Vice President Kamala Harris told the conference on Saturday that the principles forged after two world wars in Europe were under "direct threat" in Ukraine, and pledged unity with America's allies. Russia will face unprecedented financial penalties if it invades, she added.

Ukraine has accused pro-Russian separatists of escalating the violence, amid fears in the West that Russia might use the strife as a pretext for an invasion. Moscow denies it is planning to invade Ukraine, despite the huge military buildup on the country's borders.

In other developments:

Faced with the threat from Russia, the West should "support Ukraine and its defence capacities" and give the country "a clear and feasible timetable" towards NATO membership, President Zelenskyy told the Munich conference.

NATO leaders promised future membership to ex-Soviet republics Ukraine and Georgia back in 2008.

Despite being promised security when it renounced nuclear weapons, the Ukrainian leader said his country had been left with neither. "We have the right to demand an end to the politics of appeasement and to demand guarantees of security and peace," he declared.

Zelenskyy, who had rejected calls to remain in his country amid the heightened tension, suggested a meeting with Vladimir Putin to clarify the Russian leader's intentions.

In her speech earlier on Saturday, Ursula von der Leyen portrayed the Russian stance over Ukraine as a part of a wider attempt to overhaul the international geopolitical system.

She said the Russian military buildup and threat to Ukraine meant that a generation "born and bred in a free country" were now faced with the prospect of fighting "a war that they don't want, but which Moscow might choose to impose on them".

"This is what the Kremlin's policies mean in practice: to instil fear, and call it 'security demands'," the European Commission president said in her speech, adding that they were an attempt to deny Ukraine the right to determine its own future.

"The Kremlin is not only trying to undermine the entire European security architecture," she went on, it was also violating the UN charter proscribing the use and threat of force towards other countries.

"We cannot let this stand. We are facing a blatant attempt to rewrite the rules of the international order," saying Russian and Chinese leaders were openly seeking "a new era" based on the "rule of the strongest", "intimidation" and "coercion".

The European Union and its partners had been preparing a "robust" package of financial and economic sanctions in response to Russian aggression, von der Leyen added. "If the Kremlin strikes, we can impose high costs and severe consequences on Russia's economic interests."

US Vice President Kamala Harris told the Munich conference on Saturday that the "foundation of European security is under direct threat in Ukraine", a challenge to the order that had been forged in Europe in the aftermath of two world wars.

The United States was committed to principles where people could choose their own form of government and countries could choose their own alliances, she said. "Sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states must be respected, and... national borders should not be changed by force."

Harris who met Baltic state leaders on Friday said that a Russian attack on Ukraine would bring a reinforcement of NATO forces in eastern Europe as well as severe and rapid economic sanctions against Moscow. She had previously said she would use her speech to demonstrate "strength and unity in the face of Russian aggression".

In his speech, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described as "ridiculous" Vladimir Putin's accusations over a supposed "genocide" committed against civilians in areas of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region controlled by pro-Russian separatists.

The British Prime Minister warned that a Russian invasion of Ukraine would bring "the destruction of a democratic state" and would embolden rulers who believe that "might is right".

"The shock will echo around the world. And those echoes will be heard in East Asia. They will be heard in Taiwan," Boris Johnson said.

He suggested that consequences for Russia would be severe and that it would not be allowed "to change the security architecture of Europe".

The Munich gathering has been used in recent years by both US and Russian leaders to deliver pivotal messages before an important audience.

Fifteen years ago, Putin used his own Munich appearance to deliver a broadside against NATO, accusing the alliance of putting "its frontline forces on our borders". However, this year Russia is not officially represented.

Russia now wants guarantees that NATO will halt its eastward expansion, rule out membership for Ukraine and other former Soviet countries, and roll back its military deployments in Central and Eastern Europe.

After weeks of saying the US wasnt sure if Putin had made the final decision to invade, US President Joe Biden said on Friday that assessment had changed, citing American intelligence.

As of this moment Im convinced hes made the decision, Biden said. We have reason to believe that. He reiterated that the assault could occur in the coming days, including an assault on the capital Kyiv.

The White House on Friday accused Russia of being responsible for recent cyberattacks targeting Ukraine's defence ministry and major banks.

With an estimated 150,000 Russian troops posted around Ukraines borders, US and European officials warn that the long-simmering separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine could provide the spark for a broader attack.

One US defence official has estimated that up to 50% of Russian forces near the border have been moved into attack positions, while the number of ground units has increased.

Russia said it launched a massive drill of its strategic nuclear forces on Saturday, involving multiple practice launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. According to the defence ministry, The Russian and Belarusian presidents observed the drills from the Ministry's situation room.

Separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine ordered a full military mobilisation Saturday amid a spike of violence in the war-torn region.

They said thousands of residents of the rebel-controlled areas had been evacuated to Russia, in response to the "threat of aggression by Ukrainian forces". Ukraine denies any intention to launch military action in the Donbas.

Ukraine's military said on Saturday that two soldiers had been killed and four wounded on the eastern front, accusing pro-Russian separatists of ceasefire violations.

Mortar shells exploded near Ukraine's interior minister as he visited the front line in the east, AFP journalists reported. No-one was injured.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba "resolutely" refuted any allegations that Ukrainian shells had landed in Russian territory. The Russian news agency TASS reported on Saturday said that a shell exploded in Russia's Rostov region, one kilometre from the Ukrainian border.

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Ukraine's Zelenskyy demands 'clear timetable' to join NATO and an 'end to appeasement' of Russia - Euronews

Ukraines desire to join Natois a central reason behind thecurrent conflict with Russia, with apossible invasion believed to be imminent.

Russian President Vladimir Putin seesUkraine joining Nato, as well as any further Nato expansion into Eastern Europe, as a threat to his countrys borders.

This has put Nato in the news frequently, with many people noticing that the Nato logo also contains the word Otan.

So why does Nato also appear to have its name backwards on its logo? Heres what you need to know.

Otan is not actually just Nato backwards, it is actually the French name for the organisation.

It stands for Organisation du Trait de lAtlantique Nord, which translates directly to the English name.

Nato stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, and is also known as the North Atlantic Alliance.

Its headquarters are in Brussels in Belgium.

There are currently 30 countries in Nato; 27 in Europe, two in North America and one in Eurasia.

Here are the countries, along with the year they joined:

Nato says its membership is open to any other European state in a position to further the principles of its treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area.

Nato was officially founded in April 1949 in Washington DC.

It was born from the Treaty of Dunkirk, which was signed by the UK and France in March 1947 as an alliance against any possible German or Soviet Union attack in the wake of the Second World War.

The following year the agreement was expanded to include Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg and became the Western Union, also known as the he Brussels Treaty Organisation.

The North Atlantic Treaty was then signed on 4 April 1949, which formed an alliance between the Western Union nations, the United States, Canada, Portugal, Italy, Norway, Denmark and Iceland.

Natos military structure was created in 1952, in response to the Korean War.

The organisation changed significantly in the early 1990s, with East Germany joining the Federal Republic of Germany and the Soviet Union dissolving, effectively removing Natos two main adversaries.

This resulted in reduced military spending and efforts being re-targeted towards political and humanitarian matters. In the 90s and 2000s several central and Eastern European nations joined, including Poland, Hungary and former Soviet states such as Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

Nato has only exercised Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which demands member states to come to the aid of any member state subject to an armed attack, after the 9/11 attacks on the US.

Natos stated purpose is to guarantee the freedom and security of its members through political and military means.

Politically, it aims to promote democratic values, and enables members to consult and co-operate on defence and security-related issues to solve problems, build trust and, in the long run, prevent conflict.

Regarding military action, Nato says it is committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes.

If diplomatic efforts fail, it has the military power to undertake crisis-management operations.

It uses a system of collective security, whereby its independent member states agree to mutual defence in response to an attack by any external party. It may also ally with external forces.

Ukraine has yet to be formally admitted to Nato, but is one of the bodys enhanced opportunity partners.

This status is afforded to non-member nations that have made significant contributions to Nato-led operations and missions, such as Australia and Sweden.

Russia vehemently opposes Natos expansion to include Ukraine, and has demanded a formal veto on it ever becoming a member.

President Putin has made clear that he sees the countrys aspirations to join the group as a threat to Russias borders and its sphere of influence.

Five Nato countries currently border Russia after former Soviet states Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania became members.

Following a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron over the Ukraine crisis, Mr Putin warned the West of a full-scale war if Ukraine joined Nato and the West did not roll back its forces from Eastern Europe.

Do you want France to fight with Russia? he said. Thats what will happen. And there will be no winners.

Originally posted here:
What does Otan stand for? Meaning of alternative name for Nato explained and the countries that use it - iNews

On Wednesday, 23 February 2022, the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, and the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mr. Mark Rutte, will open a seminar on NATOs future Strategic Concept, titled Stronger Together NATOs Partnerships in the Hague.

The event is hosted by the Netherlands and Germany and co-sponsored by Canada, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, together with Finland and Sweden. This is the third of four Allied-hosted seminars that inform the preparation of NATOs next Strategic Concept.

The Secretary General and Prime Minister will deliver speeches and answer questions from an audience of foreign policy practitioners and students.

The seminar will continue with a session of in-depth discussions among experts, including former NATO Secretary General Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, the Director of the Transatlantic Defense and Security Center for European Policy Analysis Ms. Lauren Speranza, the Director and Senior Fellowof the Macdonald Laurier Institute Mr. Jonathan Berkshire Miller, and the Chair of the Strategic Initiatives Department at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies Ms. Valbona Zeneli.

Media advisory

16:45 17:00 (CET) Speech by Prime Minister Rutte17:00 17:10Speech by the NATO Secretary General17:10 17:30Questions and answers

Media coverage

Contact points

Overall coordinationMs. Irina NovakovaTelephone: +32 (0)2 707 1003natomediaoperations@hq.nato.int

General queriesTel: +32 (0)2 707 50 41MOC@hq.nato.int

Follow us on Twitter (@NATO,@jensstoltenberg and@NATOPress)

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The Netherlands and Germany host seminar on NATO's future Strategic Concept - NATO HQ