Category Archives: NATO

Thomas Catenacci

Leaders of the U.K., Germany and other Western nations bemoaned the stunning fall of Afghanistan, while foes such as China and Iran criticized the role the U.S. played in the war-torn Middle Eastern nation.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens StoltenbergsaidTuesday that there were many lessons to be learned from the swift and sudden collapse of Afghanistan. Led by the U.S.,thousandsof NATO service members have fought in Afghanistan since 2001.

We were always aware of the risks that Taliban could regain control. That was stated clearly when we made the decision to end our military presence, Stoltenberg told reporters during a press briefing. But it was a surprise, the speed of the collapse, and how swiftly that happened.

Prior to the briefing, NATO convened an emergency meeting with leaders of several of its 30 member states to discuss the situation in Afghanistan.

On Sunday, the Taliban invaded andcapturedKabul, Afghanistans capital, the culmination of the groupsmulti-week effortto take control of the country. The complete fall of the government, which the U.S.helped put in placein 2002, came mere months after President Joe Bidenannouncedhis administrations plans to pull all of the remaining American troops out of the country by Sept. 11, 2021.

Janez Jansa, the prime minister of NATO member Slovenia, characterized the rapid collapse of Afghanistan as the greatest defeat for NATO in history on Monday,accordingto the Associated Press. Jansa noted themassive handoverof NATO weaponry, equipment and vehicles to the Taliban.

The situation remains very difficult and its clear that there is going to be a new government in Kabul or a new political dispensation, however you want to put it, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnsonsaidin a video statement Sunday. I think its very important that the West collectively should work together to get over to that new government, be it by the Taliban or anybody else, that nobody wants Afghanistan once again to be a breeding ground for terror.

Johnson held calls withStoltenberg,French President Emmanuel MacronandGerman Chancellor Angela Merkelover the last few days. The leaders all agreed the West had a role to play in preventing a humanitarian crisis and facilitating the evacuation of thousands of foreign nationals from Afghanistan.

Afghanistan must not become the haven for terrorists that it once was, Macron told the French public on Monday, Reutersreported. It is a challenge for peace and international stability, against a common enemy.

He added that France would welcome its fair share of Afghan refugees fleeing out of concern for their safety.

Since the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan we have had to watch the Taliban, with breathtaking speed, province for province, town for town, reconquer the entire country, Merkel said Monday in a national address of her own,accordingto Reuters. This is an absolutely bitter development: Bitter, dramatic and awful, especially for the people in Afghanistan.

We need to make sure that the many people who have big worries and concerns, even though they have not worked with German institutions, have a secure stay in countries neighboring Afghanistan, she continued.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau echoed the British, French and German leaders and committed to welcoming thousands of refugees, CTV Newsreported. Trudeau described the situation as extremely dire, saying Canada has already accepted 500 refugees and plans to accept hundreds more.

We take very seriously the situation, Trudeau said.

Biden hasnt discussed Afghanistan with any world leaders yet, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivansaidon Tuesday.

To be honest, people have been shocked by the chaotic scenes at the Kabul airport on television and the internet since yesterday, especially the video clips capturing some unfortunately falling to their deaths after clinging to the landing gear of a U.S. aircraft to evacuate, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunyingtoldreporters Tuesday.

The U.S. launched the Afghan War in the name of counterterrorism, she continued. But has the U.S. won? For 20 years, the number of terrorist organizations in Afghanistan grew to more than 20 from a single digit.

China would respect the Talibans authority and Afghanistans sovereignty, Hua Chunying said.

An editorial published in the Chinese state-controlled media outlet Global Timessaidthe fall of the Afghan government represented a complete failure by the U.S.

A separate articlesuggestedthe U.S. would abandon other global allies like Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory.

The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that the reign of the will of the wronged people of Afghanistan has always created security and stability, Iranian President Ebrahim RaisitoldAl Jazeera on Monday. While consciously monitoring developments in the country, Iran is committed to neighborly relations.

He also said the Talibans victory may revive life, security and lasting peace.

Russia, which recentlyhostedTaliban officials for a peace conference, has stopped short of officially recognizing the Taliban government,accordingto Agence France-Presse. However, senior Russian officials said that the Taliban has been cooperative in recent talks.

They are currently engaged in restoring order in the city and have succeeded in this, Russian ambassador to Afghanistan Dmitry Zhirnov said Tuesday, AFP reported. They behave in a responsible, civilized manner.

China, Iran and Russia said they would keep their Kabul embassies open, according toReutersandFrance 24.

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'Greatest Defeat For NATO In History': Here's How US Allies, Enemies Reacted To The Collapse Of Afghanistan - The Free Press

The accession to the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence will provide Ukraine access to leading research and development projects and help counter cyber threats, including from Russia. NATO will consider the countrys membership application and announce the decision this fall.

Thats according to Natalia Tkachuk, chief of the Information Security Office at the National Security and Defense Council, as reported by Ukrinform.

Membership in the organization will provide Ukraine with the opportunity to exchange experience in detecting and countering modern cyber threats, developing skills in joint response to cyber attacks and conducting defense and deterrence operations in cyberspace. Ukraine will have access to the latest research and development conducted by CCDCOE. All this will allow more effective countering Russias hybrid threats. CCDCOE membership will be yet another important step toward Ukraine's accession to NATO," Tkachuk told Ukrinform in response to a question about the benefits of CCDCOE membership.

The response to the journalist's inquiry says CCDCOE has been operating as NATO's cyber defense center since 2008. The main areas of cooperation and interaction of participants include technology, operations in cyberspace, development of cybersecurity strategies, and legislation. CCDCOE organizes annual large-scale cyber exercises, including Locked Shields, aimed at practicing cyber defense efforts, and Crossed Swords, aiming to work out active cyber operations, as well as a large number of professional training sessions on cyber defense and cyber security.

Asked how complex and lengthy the accession process could be, Tkachuk said joining the organization requires a concerted decision by all members, which is almost 30 countries, most of which are NATO Allies. The decision to add new members is made after it is considered at the CCDCOE Steering Committee meeting, and must be unanimous.

The next meeting of the Committee, which will consider Ukraine's application, is scheduled for November this year. After successful consideration of the application, the applicant for admission shall take a number of practical steps related to choosing the range of activities within the organization, training and sending the relevant professionals, etc. It usually takes about six months from the application filing to the start of active work, Tkachuk said, adding that the outcome of consideration will be announced after a meeting of the CCDCOE Steering Committee in the autumn of this year, after which a meeting is scheduled with the organizations representatives.

At the same time, the National Cyber Security Coordination Center has set up working cooperation with CCDCOE to ensure the preparatory phase of Ukraine's application. Now the parties are able to cooperate at the level of specialists, including in the preparation of cyber exercises, development of cyber ranges, and other issues.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, on August 3, a delegation of the National Cyber Security Coordination Center at the National Security and Defense Council held a series of bilateral meetings during a working visit to Estonia to build up cooperation between Ukraine and Estonia in the field of cybersecurity.

The Ukrainian side has applied to join CCDCOE.

im

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Ukraine's application to join NATOs CCDCOE to be considered this fall - Ukrinform. Ukraine and world news

Finnish authorities have announced that due to the security situation created in Afghanistan, that Afghans and their families working in Afghanistan, for authorities of Finland, the EU, and NATO can obtain their residence permit in Finland.

These people will be taken from Afghanistan to Finland by a charter flight organized by the state, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

This decision was taken in an extraordinary session on August 13, as the underlying assessment is that Afghans and their families may face human rights violations in the future.

According to this decision, 130 people who are or have been employed by the Finnish government, EU institutions, or NATO, can be admitted to Finland, including their families, which are considered the members of the family and adult unmarried children living in the same household.

Furthermore, about 40 people and their families from Afghanistan can also get a residence permit issued by Finland authorities. With this decision, Finland will also allow a maximum of ten persons, including family members, who were previously employed by the Kabul mission and whose employment relationship was still valid on January 1, 2021.

The Finnish government will also permit about 50 people and their families recruited from the European Union Representation in Kabul or the European Union Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) to apply for residence. In addition, Finland may take on a maximum of 30 persons and their families employed by the NATO crisis management operation.

In May, NATO began its final withdrawal from its mission in Afghanistan with about 9,600 soldiers, 2,500 of which were American. Right after, a bomb blast outside a girls school on May 9 left 85 people dead, most of them being pupils.

By mid-May, American soldiers left Afghanistans largest airbases in Kandahar, the second-largest city, which was soon seized by the Taliban forces.

In June, the forces captured several districts in the northern provinces, including the Shir Khan Bandar border crossing with Tajikistan on June 22.

On July 2, all American and NATO troops were withdrawn from Bagram, Afghanistans biggest airbase, after serving its mission for two decades. Two days later, the Taliban captured the key district of Panjwai in Kandahar, and they announced the capture of the border crossing point with Iran, Islam Qala, on July 9.

By the beginning of August, eight people were killed in bomb and gun attacks by the Taliban, targeted at the Afghan defence minister. A few days later, the Taliban shot the head of the Afghan governments media information centre at a mosque in the capital and then captured their first provincial capital, the city of Zaranj.

On the following days, Kunduz, Sheberghan, Sar-e-Pul, Taloqan, Aibak, and Farah also fell under Taliban rule without a fight.

On August 15, Ashraf Ghani, the president of Afghanistan, fled the country and admitted the Taliban had won in a statement.

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Finland to Grant Residence Permits to 220 Afghans Working for Finnish Authorities, NATO & EU Due to Situation in Afghanistan -...

Since Russia illegally annexed Crimea and began an aggression in eastern Ukraine in 2014, Europe's security environment has been tense. NATO's response to Russia's antagonism, especially the measures it has taken to support its geographically vulnerable Baltic Allies, has been robust. At their most recent meeting in Brussels in June this year, NATO heads of state and government again condemned Russia's ongoing military build-up as a threat to security and reaffirmed their determination to continue to enhance their deterrence posture in the eastern part of the Alliance.

NATO combat aircraft have policed Baltic airspace from mari air base since 2014, supplementing air policing from Siauliai, Lithuania, which began in 2004. Since 2015, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have hosted NATO Force Integration Units, tasked with facilitating the deployment to the Baltic states of the Alliance's rapid response forces, which have themselves been expanded and made more ready. The multinational battlegroups that comprise enhanced Forward Presence, NATO's most visible contribution to Baltic security, first deployed to the Baltic states and Poland in 2017.

Standing NATO Maritime Group One and Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One are present in the Baltic Sea for around 300 days each year, and the Alliance conducts exercises in and around Baltic territory, on land, at sea and in the air on a regular basis.

At this week's Opinion Festival, at a panel organized by the ICDS and the British Embassy in Tallinn, we will discuss whether these efforts are sufficient to deter an adversary from taking military action in the Baltic region. Russia is the only country in Europe that could conceivably pose such a military threat to its neighbors.

Deterrence aims to persuade an adversary not to attack either because it believes the defending side will prevent it from achieving its objectives or because it fears the defender will retaliate and impose unacceptable financial, material or human costs known by theorists as deterrence by denial and deterrence by punishment. Either strategy requires the adversary to believe that the defender has enough military capability to deny or punish and the will to use it.

From this, it should be clear that we will certainly not be able to definitively answer whether NATO's deterrence posture is sufficient. NATO can do its best to demonstrate its readiness to respond forcefully to any attack, but in the end, deterrence exists only in the mind of the adversary.

Analysts can, though, look at the various components that make up NATO's deterrence posture, think about their possible impact from a range of expert perspectives (military, political, cultural and so on) and consider what more might be done to enhance their effect. From a military perspective, at least four closely related questions are worth exploring: what capability deters, how much of it is needed, who should provide it and where should it be?

NATO has far greater military power than Russia globally. But in the Baltic region, Russia has a considerable local advantage in the balance of forces. It is not realistic, for practical and political reasons, for NATO to permanently deploy to the region the several army brigades, including some heavily armored, that analysts estimate could deter an attack with a reasonable degree of confidence.

Instead, NATO relies on a "tripwire" strategy (although it does not use this term) in which only small forces are present in the Baltic region local Baltic forces and the enhanced Forward Presence battlegroups whose attack would trigger a much larger NATO reinforcement and defense operation.

In such a strategy, the local forces must be able to deal with smaller-scale contingencies themselves and delay any larger-scale attack for as long as possible to allow reinforcements to arrive. In these circumstances, the "what" and "how much" capability questions relate to being able to provide a balanced local response to a range of contingencies. The focus is on identifying and addressing shortfalls in capabilities that have broad utility in the Baltic region, examples include air defense and maritime assets.

The "who" question has at least two angles. As a collective defense organization, NATO derives credibility from the fact that every ally would respond if one of their number was attacked. Allied unity is thus a vital component of deterrence. It was noticeable that at their summit in June, NATO leaders were eager to demonstrate the cohesion and common purpose that had been so badly damaged by the Trump presidency. But actions on the ground are important too that 23 out of 30 Allies are framework, contributing or host nations to enhanced Forward Presence sends a strong message to a would-be aggressor.

At the same time, it is unavoidable that some allies will produce a higher deterrent effect than others. In NATO, the U.S. is by a considerable margin the most militarily powerful member state. The U.S. has concentrated its NATO-flagged presence in Poland and does not participate in the Enhanced Forward Presence battlegroups in Estonia, Latvia, or Lithuania (although there are small U.S. national units present in each of the Baltic states). It is to ensure the absolute certainty that the U.S. will be engaged in any conflict in the region that Baltic leaders are eager to host a permanent or rotational U.S. military presence.

NATO's tripwire strategy has effectively already settled the "where" question there will only be small, light forces in the region, while the large and heavy forces that provide the bulk of the deterrent effect will be mostly located in their home states. In the Baltic defense scenario, "where" has thus been replaced by "how" how do these reinforcements get to where they need at the right time?

NATO has taken steps to ensure the greater readiness of its forces to be certain that they can deploy quickly. And, alongside the EU, it has worked to ensure that the various legal, physical, and organizational obstacles to military movement across Europe are reduced or removed. These efforts have been brought together in recent years through reinforcement exercises on a scale not seen since the Cold War.

After a long period focusing mostly on expeditionary warfare, NATO is relearning old skills related to deterrence and collective defense and learning how to apply these in new strategic circumstances. It is certainly on the right path, while this process requires continued focus and investment. NATO's new strategic concept the highest-level statement of its environment, purpose, nature, and tasks to be agreed and published in 2022 will be an important marker of how the Alliance understands this challenge and what more needs to be done.

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"Taking security for granted? NATO and the Baltic states" will take place in English, from 6 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. on Friday, August 13 in the Nordic Talks area of the Opinion Festival in Paide, Estonia. It will be livestreamed on ICDS and British Embassy social media channels.

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Taking security for granted? NATO and the Baltic states - ERR News

Afghan police check the cars at the entrance gate of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan August 15, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

Aug 15 (Reuters) - NATO is maintaining its diplomatic presence in Kabul and helping to keep the city's airport running, the military alliance said on Sunday as Taliban insurgents entered the Afghan capital.

"NATO is helping keep Kabul airport open to facilitate and coordinate evacuations," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Twitter.

Stoltenberg said he had discussed the rapidly evolving situation in Afghanistan with Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the foreign ministers of Canada, Denmark and the Netherlands.

Taliban insurgents entered Kabul on Sunday and said they expected to take power within days. read more

A NATO official told Reuters the alliance was maintaining its diplomatic presence in Kabul. The official did not respond to questions on whether NATO planned to hold a crisis meeting to discuss the situation in Afghanistan.

"NATO is constantly assessing developments in Afghanistan," the official said, adding that the security of the alliance's personnel was paramount and NATO would continue to adjust as necessary.

After almost two decades, NATO this summer completed military operations in Afghanistan and withdrew most troops from the country.

The alliance still operates a diplomatic representation in Kabul. A NATO spokesperson on Friday declined to provide details on the representation, citing security concerns, in response to a Reuters request.

Headquartered in Brussels, NATO also serves as a forum to coordinate national measures in Afghanistan, such as the evacuation of citizens that was discussed by NATO ambassadors on Friday.

Reporting by Sabine Siebold; Editing by Kate Abnett and Alison Williams

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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NATO says it is helping keep Kabul airport open for evacuations - Reuters

Norman Nato felt he was driving a rocketship during the second race of the Berlin E-Prix weekend, with the Frenchman securing his maiden ABB FIA Formula E World Championship victory at the Tempelhof Airport Street Circuit.

The ROKiT Venturi Racing driver was almost untouchable when he took over from Stoffel Vandoorne for the lead, with the Frenchman surviving a safety car period and pressure from Oliver Rowland to take the chequered flag first for his maiden win and the second victory of the season for the team.

Nato admitted to being speechless after the race, but he felt it was a tense afternoon behind the wheel, particularly after the safety car restart, and he thanked the team for their support throughout the season.

Today we executed the perfect race and honestly, Im shocked and speechless, said Nato. Ive been hungry for silverware for a very long time after losing my podiums in Rome and Valencia so it was very emotional to finally finish inside the top three.

Every week, we put in a massive amount of work with the hope of achieving results like this so to execute the perfect race is a very special feeling. The car was flawless and it felt like I was driving a rocketship.

From my perspective, the race was very tense, especially after the second Safety Car restart when Ollie [Rowland] tried to overtake but in the end, we came out on top. It feels great to end the season with a win and this is a moment I just want to enjoy.

I would like to thank the entire team for supporting me this season and getting me to the top step. Im proud of them and a result like this means the world.

Team-mate Edoardo Mortara went into the final race of the season with an excellent chance of taking the title, but his chance of taking the crown was over before he even got to turn one after he collected the stationary car of Mitch Evans on the start and finish straight.

Mortara had qualified eleventh on the grid but was unable to avoid the Jaguar Racing driver as he accelerated towards the first turn, and he was taken to the medical centre for his troubles. He was identified to have a small fracture on his fourth vertebrae that will put him out of action for around six weeks.

Despite the disappointment of losing the chance of the title, Mortara was thankful for the response of the marshals and medical team, and he was full of praise for Nato for taking his maiden victory.

After the highs of yesterday, I was looking forward to racing today and I think we had an outside shot at the Drivers Championship, said Mortara. At the start, there was nothing I could do to avoid Mitch [Evans] and by the time he was in my vision, it was too late to react.

It was a heavy impact and Im glad that hes ok. From my side, I have a microfracture of my fourth vertebrae from the crash but Im very grateful that I dont need an operation or have a more serious injury.

I would like to thank the marshals and the medical team for their response to my accident and to congratulate Norman for securing his maiden win in Formula E.

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Norman Nato: To execute the perfect race is a very special feeling - The Checkered Flag

Speaking to Sky News, he said: I think we all saw that and felt a real sense of sadness that first of all the forces that the British and the international community had invested in had melted away in some areas so quickly.

You dont fix things overnight in global issues, you have to manage them when that deal was done a few years ago, what happened was ultimately we undermined the community the deal undermined the Afghan government and left it in a place that ultimately saw the end the river flows fastest towards the end and that is what we saw yesterday and its what were seeing in our pictures today.

He added: My job as as defence secretary is to make sure that we protect not only the UK nationals, but those Afghans we have an obligation to, that is actually why were in the country. For the last few weeks weve been in the country solely to process those people and to make sure we protect our officials doing that job and well continue to do so.

Asked if he acknowledged the Taliban had won the war, he said: I dont know about a win, I think, I acknowledge that the Taliban are in control of the country. You dont have to be a political scientist to spot thats where were at.

Asked if Nato was going to return and take over Kabul, Wallace said: No, look thats not on the cards that were going to go back.

He added: The US have made itself clear that theyre not intending to stay and as the framework nation that leaves us with difficult choices and Ive been pretty much honest about that all the way through this process.

On the airlift of British nationals, he added: The military flights are coming in and out, theyve just brought in more UK soldiers.

Border Force is joining us to make sure that we accelerate the process to get more Afghans out, which is our obligation. We flew out 370 staff and British citizens, eligible personnel yesterday and the day before and well continue to engage those flights.

The next group of Afghans to come out will be 782 and well make sure we get them in the next 24 to 36 hours out of the country and are continuing to process those people.

Wallace said of the Afghanistan evacuation: We will do everything we can to bring as many people out as possible.

Asked if the Taliban had changed, he told Sky News: It does not look like a change The leadership has a responsibility to make sure that it upholds human rights.

Asked about the prospect of the Taliban flag flying over the UK embassy in Kabul, he said: Thats the consequence of the Taliban, its not the embassy anymore, we have left that location, weve drawn down within the airport symbolically its not what any of us wanted.

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Albania, Greece, North Macedonia and Turkey have received support from their NATO Allies in dealing with devastating wildfires faced since July. The assistance provided included the delivery of ground and air assets most needed to help contain the spread of the fires.

The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has responded to Greeces call for assistance and arranged for the deployment of 20 heavy and medium size helicopters with dedicated pilots, crewmembers and mechanics to assist the Hellenic Fire Brigade. NSPA contribution increased the fire extinguishing capacity up to 7 tons of water per drop. Since the beginning of August, the crews have exceeded 1,200 flight hours. The use of two-size categories of helicopters facilitated operations in remote locations, while limiting water refilling requirements and time lapses between successive drops, which are essential to reduce risks of fire spreading. In Turkey, the US European Command has responded to a request for support by providing Chinook helicopters to aid their fight against the fires

In Kosovo, NATOs Kosovo Force has helped the local fire brigade in the Rugova mounting area and Prizren surrounding area. Two helicopters from the KFOR Regional Command East, and one from the KFOR Swiss contingent equipped to collect water and discharge it directly onto the flames, provided immediate intervention.

NATO stands in solidarity with those affected and ready to provide further assistance as needed. NATO and Allies have a long record of responding to natural disasters, as they did against Hurricane Irma in 2017, Kosovo forest fires in 2015, Balkan floods in 2010 and Pakistans earthquake in 2006.

The Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC) is NATOs principal civil emergency response mechanism in the Euro-Atlantic area. It functions as a clearing-house system for coordinating both requests for and offers of international assistance in case of disasters. It is active all year round, operational on a 24/7 basis, and involves all NATO Allies and partner countries.

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News: NATO Allies stand together against wildfires, 12-Aug.-2021 - NATO HQ

Sweden recently hosted and contributed heavily to Exercise Arctic Challenge. One of the largest air-power exercises in Europe, Arctic Challenge 21 brought together warplanes from the United States, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Britain for the full range of air-defense, close air support, air-defense suppression and air-to-ground strike training all in the cold-weather environment of Swedens Arctic skies.

This is just the latest example of Swedens expanding contribution to international security and deepening partnership with the United States and the rest of NATO. With Russia on the march, Swedens emergence as a strong security partner is a welcome development.

Confronting Moscow

Make no mistake: Sweden officially and stubbornly neutral for two centuries is edging toward the U.S.-NATO security umbrella because of Russias actions. Citing Russias attacks on neighboring nations and its rapid military buildup, the Swedish government has reintroduced military conscription, approved a whopping 40 percent increase in defense spending (Swedens largest defense-spending increase in 70 years), unveiled a security doctrine known as Total Defense, and deployed troops to Gotland, a Swedish island in the Baltic Sea. (Gotland would be key to any NATO effort aimed at reinforcing or retaking Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania NATO members all.)

The additional defense spending will increase the size of Swedens military by 67 percent, reorganize the army into mechanized brigades, add new air-defense systems to Swedish warships, expand the size of the navy and deploy a new next-generation fighter-bomber.

Defense Minister Peter Hultquist bluntly explains that the beefed-up defense budget is needed because of the new security situation with Russian aggression toward Georgia, annexation of Crimea, the conflict in Ukraine, activities in Belarus, upgrading of Russian military capability, very complex exercises, activity in the Arctic and in the Baltic Sea area.

Swedens Total Defense security doctrine is a whole-of-society approach that calls on every citizen, business and neighborhood to be ready to resist invasion, with or without direction from the central government. The Total Defense program features a buildup of civil defense, enhanced cyber-security, increased investment in the military, and empowerment of each and every Swedish citizen civilian or uniformed to play a part in defending their nation. As part of the Total Defense initiative, Sweden has disseminated information to every household informing citizens what to do in the event of a military attack. The pamphlet is ominously titled If Crisis or War Comes. As UPI reports, the document provides information on securing food and water and the location of bomb shelters. The world around us has changed, the document concludes, citing threats to our security and independence.

The goal of the effort, as The Wall Street Journal explains, is to equip citizens and companies to fend for themselves in crises.

The Total Defense doctrine is aimed squarely at the kind of gray zone hybrid warfare Russia has conducted so effectively in Ukraine warfare that employs disinformation, psychological operations, cyberattacks, troops scrubbed of insignia, fifth-column groups and the like to paralyze an enemy, confuse political-military authorities, and secure key objectives before a defense can be mounted. Keen to Moscows methods, the Swedish government has disseminated materials to all citizens making clear that If Sweden is attacked by another country, we will never give up All information to the effect that resistance is to cease is false.

A helping hand

To its credit, Sweden is not just hunkering down behind its icy borderlands. Ever since Russias 2014 invasion of Ukraine, the Swedish military has been expanding cooperation with the United States and other NATO members.

In 2016, a package of B-2s and B-52s conducted simultaneous, nonstop flights from the continental United States to the North Sea, Baltic Sea, the North Pole, Alaska and the Pacific Ocean. Swedish fighter-jets participated in the exercise, dubbed Polar Roar. According to the Air Force, Polar Roar demonstrates the ability of the U.S. bomber force to provide a flexible and vigilant long-range global-strike capability and provides unique and valuable opportunities to train and integrate with allies and partners like Sweden.

In 2017, more than 20,000 Swedish and U.S. troops participated in Exercise Aurora, the largest military exercise in Sweden in decades. U.S. commanders know that Sweden's Ranger Battalions which specialize in cold-weather operations have much to offer U.S. personnel when it comes to understanding operations in the Arctic, where Russia is making provocative military moves.

In 2018, Marines deployed to Sweden for joint exercises designed to hone the ability of both nations to conduct amphibious raids from Baltic waters a skill that could prove vital in the event of a Russian invasion of Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania.

In 2019, hundreds of troops from Sweden, Canada, France, Norway and Finland participated in exercises in northern Canada focused on setting up logistics nodes and carving landing strips out of the Arctic ice.

In early 2020, B-1B bombers joined Swedish fighter-bombers in maneuvers over Sweden, marking the first time B-1Bs have ever flown in Swedish airspace. The American bombers also conducted close air support training with Swedish joint terminal attack controllers, as DefenseNews reports.

In late 2020, Swedish and U.S. warships, Swedish JAS-39 fighter-bombers, and U.S. F-15E fighter-bombers carried out simulated surface combat and simulated long-range, deep-land strikes in and above the Baltic Sea, as Naval News reports. (Its worth adding that for years the U.S. Navy has tested itself against Swedens world-class submarines.) This flurry of activity was capped off by the aforementioned Arctic Challenge maneuvers this year, which were centered around bases in Sweden, Norway and Finland.

These exercises and training ops are really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Swedens contributions to transatlantic security.

The Swedish military works closely with neighboring Norway and Denmark on security in and around the Arctic. Moreover, Sweden has been a key military contributor to NATO combat missions in Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Libya, as well as NATOs training mission in Iraq. In fact, Sweden deployed more troops to the NATO-led counterinsurgency and peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan than Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway and Portugal (all founding members of the NATO alliance).

If or when?

Given that resum, it would be fair to conclude that Sweden is a member of the NATO alliance, and an active one at that. But its not at least not yet. Sweden is officially non-aligned. However, Sweden is one of just six non-NATO countries considered as enhanced opportunity partners. It is treated like a de facto member of NATO, as underscored by its cooperation with and contributions to NATO missions. And there are growing indications that Sweden could soon become NATOs 31st member. In December 2020, a sizable majority in the Swedish parliament voted for the so-called NATO option a kind of first step toward NATO membership and called on the government to express readiness to join NATO as a possible security policy option, according to an AP report. National polls reveal a dramatic change in public opinion on NATO membership: In the 1990s, just 15 percent of Swedes supported joining the alliance; today, support for NATO membership and opposition to NATO membership are evenly divided.

For a country that was steadfastly, even defiantly, neutral throughout the Cold War and into the post-Cold War era, this is a stunning turnabout and a striking indication of how serious Swedes perceive the threat from Putins Russia.

If or perhaps more accurately, when Sweden joins NATO, the alliance will gain a strong and committed ally that contributes to security rather than free-riding on others. America will gain a stalwart friend ready and willing to export stability well beyond Europe. And Putin and his generals will gain another headache.

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The Swedish are coming! | The American Legion - The American Legion

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is an intergovernmental military alliance based on the North Atlantic Treaty which was signed in 1949. This article talks about NATO and its importance for the IAS Exam.

International organisations and groupings are an important part of the International Relations section of the General Studies paper-2 in the UPSC Syllabus. International relations is a very dynamic part and is crucial for multiple papers in Prelims and Mains. Students preparing for UPSC 2020 and other Government Exams must be aware of the topic.

Also read, the G20 Summit 2020 and Indias role in it.

The organisation was formed as a means to ensure collective security in western Europe. Even though World War 2 had come to an end, the deteriorating relations between two former allies, the United States and the USSR would eventually lead to the Cold War. The USSR sought to expand its influence in Europe through the spread of communism, while the US saw the ideology of the USSR as a threat to its way of life. Hence it saw the need to form NATO.

NATO has 30 member countries with Montenegro as its newest member. It became a part of NATO in 2017.

NATO:- Download PDF Here

For more UPSC related preparation materials and articles, visit the links given in the table below:

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Consider the following statements

Choose the correct answer from the below-given options

A) All the above statements are true.

B) Only statements 2, 3, and 4 are true.

C) Only statements 1, 3, and 4 are true.

D) None of the above statements are true.

Answer: A

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North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) - Member States ...