Category Archives: NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is an intergovernmental military alliance. It currently hosts 29 members in Europe and North America. It is responsible for the implementation of the 1949 North Atlantic Treaty that provides for a system of collective defense in response to attacks by external parties or countries.

NATOs headquarters are in Brussels, Belgium. There were originally 12 member states of this treaty. Montenegro became the latest to join, with its acceptance granted in June 2017. There are another 21 countries that participate in the Partnership for Peace program run through the organization, with 15 more involved with institutionalized dialogues.

The combined spending for all NATO members represents 70% of the global total, but the vast majority of that figure comes from the United States. Americans spend more on defense than then next nine top-spending nations combined.

1. NATO offers a long-term collective defense of strategic developed countries.Since 2014, NATO has been responsible for the implementation of the largest increase in collective defense since the Cold War. When one ally gets attacked, then it is treated as an attack on everyone. When terrorists hijacked the airplanes in 2001 to bring down the Twin Towers and hit the Pentagon, all parties stood with the American government because of the treaty.

There are four multinational battlegrounds deployed because of this advantage today. Poland, Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania each have one. Their presence serves as a deterrent to a possible attack from other parties.

2. NATO helps to manage crisis situations around the world.NATO forces went into Bosnia and Kosovo in the 1990s to stop the conflicts that were happening in the region. It is working in Afghanistan to prevent terrorist organizations from having a safe haven to train and strategize. The group of countries is even working to combat problems with privacy that happen around the Horn of Africa.

The issues that NATO addresses arent always combat-related. Since 2016, the group has worked to address the refugee crisis that unfolded in Europe when 2.2 million people sought political asylum. It also works with migrants to help them with home placement, visa applications, and more.

3. NATO works to fight terrorism around the world.Over 13,000 NATO troops have worked to train local forces in Afghanistan so that terrorism cant gain a foothold in the region. The organization is a full member of the coalition working to defeat ISIS. Surveillance aircraft work to pinpoint the location of camps or strongholds so that military forces can eliminate the threat. It is training Iraqi forces to provide more security at home, and a new intelligence division is working to anticipate new threats so that proactive responses become possible. There is even a new hub for allies to use to stop terrorism that recently became part of the infrastructure in Naples, Italy.

4. NATO works with partner countries that are not part of the pact of mutual defense.Modern threats include cyber warfare, piracy, and terrorism that go beyond specific borders. NATO works with global partners outside of the primary alliance to help create a more secure world for everyone. There are also partnerships with the European Union, the United Nations, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. By creating a network of cooperation that encompasses every permanently inhabited continent, there are fewer places for terrorists to hide.

5. NATO offers a clear command structure.When there are so many different countries working together, it is vital to have a clear chain of command to follow. Civilian and military personnel from each member state works within the internal guidelines to make sure an adequate level of protection is available each day. This advantage includes two top-level strategic commands. One is based in Mons, Belgium, and the other is in Norfolk, VA. It is a way to ensure that modern technology and approaches receive implementation on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

6. NATO provides options for cyber defense within the structure of its treaty.Cyberattacks are becoming more common each year. The activities of hackers are becoming more sophisticated, creating damage in unique ways that were never envisioned in the 1940s. Adjusting to this new reality has become one of the first priorities for NATO as it helps the allies to keep boosting their defenses through information sharing, education investments, and ongoing training. Cyber defense experts work with the organization that can mobilize at a moments notice to help any country in the network to survive an attack.

The structure NATO provides allows for coordination and cost-sharing, but it also creates better logistics for Europe, Canada, and the United States. Allies can share best practices in numerous fields of protection, ranging from rapid response to counterterrorism. When everyone works together, the North Atlantic Treaty is a serious force that most governments avoid confronting because of the resources it wields.

7. NATO offers an open door policy.The open door policy with NATO is one of its founding principles. It allows any country in the European-Atlantic region to join the group of allies if the country is prepared to meet the obligations and standards of membership. That includes contributions that lead to the security of the alliance, including values like democracy, rule of law, and reform. There have been 17 new countries that have made this commitment since 1949 when the original 12 came together to prevent future conflicts.

8. NATO provides a cost-effective way to provide for mutual defense.Even with some member nations not coming close to the agreed-upon 2% GDP funding mandate from their 2014 Wales meeting yet, the combination of funds from the member countries does create a sharing mechanism that makes defending one another easier. NATO only has a fleet of surveillance aircraft under its control, with a squad of drones coming in the near future. That means the equipment and manpower all come from the member nations of the alliance.

The United States might pay more than its fair share for the privilege of being in this organization, but it has much to gain from the experience. If Europe is peaceful, then there are fewer issues to worry about on the continent. When saber-rattling becomes loud because the Americans arent involved, then thats when the threats of the past try to start rearing their ugly heads once again.

9. NATO still serves as a deterrent to Russian aggression.As part of the original North Atlantic Treaty, Article 5 is what binds together all of the member states that join NATO. When an attack occurs on one of them, then that is treated as an attack on everyone. This philosophy was put into the agreement as a way for there to be a deterrent against Soviet aggression. It is a benefit that still applies today if the actions of Vladimir Putin are indicative of a desire to reunite the old USSR. Lithuania, Estonia, and other previous states are now NATO allies and part of the agreement. Thats why incursions into Ukraine and Georgia occurred before there was a chance to extend full membership.

10. NATO stops other countries from developing nuclear weapons.NATO plays a critical and underrated role in the disarmament of nuclear weapons around the world. If member nations were not under the umbrella of protection that comes from the United States, the UK, and others that hold these weapons, then individual nations would be more likely to produce them domestically as a way to stop future attacks. Europe would likely be entirely nuclearized by now if the North Atlantic Treaty hadnt been signed.

Russia would be more willing to intervene in allied member states if the agreement werent in place. Their nuclear capabilities are a strong stick that they can wield to make governments surrender their freedoms. By eliminating the existing cooperation that exists between the member countries of NATO, the risk of suffering a nuclear attack during times of conflict would rise dramatically.

11. NATO provides a permanent diplomatic forum.Diplomacy is easier to accomplish when there are platforms and forums in place that encourage those actions. NATO is one such destination. It might focus on communication to reduce the threat of potential security issues, but the relationships formed serve multiple purposes worth taking into consideration. Military and political representatives to the organized specialize in responding to the most pressing issues in the world at any time, taking into account the time-sensitive nature of many incidents.

The United Nations might be a stronger organization than NATO, but the sheer size of it also creates a slow response time. Under the security umbrella of the North Atlantic Treaty, allies can divide the labor and diffuse costs when crisis situations develop. That makes it much easier to create a place where diplomacy can stop situations from escalating into a full-blown conflict.

1. Only five nations fulfill their funding requirements for NATO.The United States is the primary contributor to NATOs $2.8 billion annual budget. During the 2014 funding round, it contributed 3.61% of its national GDP toward the organization. No one else is above 2.5% GDP for their funding, but the NATO guideline is only 2%. Besides the U.S., just Greece, the United Kingdom, Estonia, and Poland are meeting their funding guidelines. At the other end of the scale, Luxembourg contributes just 0.44% of its national GDP. Canada, Slovenia, Spain, and Belgium are all under 1% GDP.

2. The role of NATO has changed since the collapse of the Warsaw Pact.There were no military operations conducted by NATO during the Cold War. The first operations following the end of that period in history were prompted by the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq. The organization sent early warning aircraft to provide support in southeastern Turkey, and then a fast-reaction force deployed in the region afterward.

The goal of NATO is to provide security in the region against future attacks, but the role has been more of a peacekeeping force since the 1990s. NATO took wartime action in 1994 for the first time by shooting four Bosnian Serb aircraft. Bombing campaigns followed in 1995 with Operation Deliberate Force. It was also part of the effort to end the Serbian-led actions against the KLA and Albanian civilians in Kosovo.

3. The United States has paved the way for NATO over most of its life.One of the issues with NATOs funding structure is that the United States is a majority provider of money and equipment to the alliance. Calls from the Trump Administration are reflective of 2014 conversations from John Kerry that ask Europe to step up their funding efforts. Proposals since then have included procurement, training, and research that extends to the nuclear umbrella that France supplies to a European army. The second idea was recently endorsed by Germany and France.

4. NATO isnt requiring current members to maintain their democratic status.One of NATOs members (Turkey) has already become a full-fledged autocracy instead of being a democratically-elected government. Poland and Hungary are both moving toward an authoritarian approach. This issue has happened before for the treaty, with the dictatorship in Portugal and the colonels regime in Greece as a testament to those actions. The issue is that the world faces more than one enemy, and there is a lack of common values developing in the alliance that makes implementing a shared strategic few almost impossible.

Hungary often criticizes Ukraine, which makes its rhetoric closer to that of Russia than NATO. Although the other members are dismayed by that conduct, it hasnt led to a change in the alliances structure as of yet.

5. The expansion of NATO creates more risk for every other member.When one member nation is attacked under the structure of NATO, then everyone responds in the same way. Since the number of countries joining the coalition continues to increase, that means there is more risk of a potential conflict starting. Although Montenegro might not be the best target of regimes that have conquering on the mind, weve already seen what Russia is capable of doing with their work on the Crimean Peninsula. Are the new members ready to stand up to their obligation to defend and protect when their borders arent on the line?

6. NATO members have an over-reliance on the United States.The NATO alliance currently depends on the wealth of the United States for it to meets all of its obligations. That over-reliance on funds put some countries into a difficult position. What if Americans decide to proactively attack someone under the guise of it being a national security issue? Do the other members follow along to help since there is the mutual defense treaty in place, or is it possible to stand alone under the threat of the U.S. denying future funds?

The reality of NATO is that some nations might decide to take actions that the others dont agree with from an outside perspective. Turkey went into Syria without support from the alliance. If you have an agreement for the mutual defense of one another, there may be times when your morality gets tried.

7. Article 5 has only been invoked once in the lifetime of the agreement.The events of September 11, 2001, are the only time that the critical Article 5 has been invoked for NATO. Some might say that this is indicative of the fact that it is an effective deterrent against aggression, but the fact is that even that tragic day in American history wasnt an attack by another country. It was from an organized group of terrorists working independently. Thats one of the reasons why there is some talk, especially in conservative circles in the United States, that it might be time to leave NATO.

Conclusion

NATO was a necessary alliance that came together in the aftermath of World War II. As the United Nations began to form, the history from the League of Nations showed allied forces that a backup plan was necessary for the greater good. This treaty would become the foundation of a pact of mutual defense that would become an effective deterrent over its 70 years of existence.

Although NATO has expanded by 17 member nations and counting since its original dozen, almost all of the new members started coming in during the 1990s. The modernization of the organization is only now taking place. That means many of the capabilities offered are more theoretical than practical because theyve never been tried.

When we look at the deterrent effect on Russia, the interventions in Kosovo, and the other actions taken to protect the region, NATO has provided many benefits. It can continue to do so if it receives the funding it requires.

Continued here:
18 Biggest Pros and Cons of NATO ConnectUS

1. We observe with increasing concern that cyber threats to the security of the Alliance are complex, destructive, coercive, and becoming ever more frequent. This has been recently illustrated by ransomware incidents and other malicious cyber activity, targeting our critical infrastructure and democratic institutions, as well as exploiting weaknesses in hardware and software supply chains.

2. We condemn such malicious cyber activities which are designed to destabilize and harm Euro-Atlantic security and disrupt the daily lives of our citizens. We use NATO as a platform for political consultations, to share concerns about malicious cyber activities, to exchange national approaches and responses, as well as to consider possible collective responses. Reaffirming NATOs defensive mandate, the Alliance is determined to employ the full range of capabilities, as applicable, at all times to actively deter, defend against, and counter the full spectrum of cyber threats, in accordance with international law. NATO will continue to adapt to the evolving cyber threat landscape, which is affected by both state and non-state actors, including state-sponsored. We remain committed to uphold strong national cyber defences, including through full implementation of NATOs Cyber Defence Pledge.

3. We stand in solidarity with all those who have been affected by recent malicious cyber activities including the Microsoft Exchange Server compromise. Such malicious cyber activities undermine security, confidence and stability in cyberspace. We acknowledge national statements by Allies, such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, attributing responsibility for the Microsoft Exchange Server compromise to the Peoples Republic of China. In line with our recent Brussels Summit Communiqu, we call on all States, including China, to uphold their international commitments and obligations and to act responsibly in the international system, including in cyberspace. We also reiterate our willingness to maintain a constructive dialogue with China based on our interests, on areas of relevance to the Alliance such as cyber threats, and on common challenges.

4. We promote a free, open, peaceful and secure cyberspace, and pursue efforts to enhance stability and reduce the risk of conflict by promoting respect for international law and the voluntary norms of responsible state behaviour in cyberspace, as recognized by all member states of the United Nations. We are working together as an Alliance and with like-minded partners to address these challenges. All States have an important role to play in promoting and upholding these voluntary norms of responsible state behaviour.

Excerpt from:
Statement by the North Atlantic Council in solidarity with those affected by recent malicious cyber activities including the Microsoft Exchange Server...

MELBOURNE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX), with a team of leading international defense and technology companies, is developing surveillance concepts for NATO to replace the organizations aging Airborne Warning and Control System fleet by 2035.

The team is developing system of systems options for surveillance and control capabilities for NATOs Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) program.

Led by L3Harris Technologies, the team unifies the expertise across the international stage sharing a vision of a data-centric, platform-agnostic approach. International team members will be announced at a future date.

L3Harris has the skill and experience to address AFSC program complexities across all domains air, land, sea, space and cyber, said Charles R. CR Davis, Vice President International, L3Harris. The team has approached the Risk Reduction Feasibility Study phase with an open mind towards the platforms and digital architectures that will best achieve NATOs objectives. It is critical to give NATO and the member nations as much flexibility as possible in developing an advanced technology, highly adaptive, cost-effective AFSC concept shaped to meet evolving hybrid challenges.

The international team will analyze the risks and feasibility of candidate components within its systems of systems to enhance the NATO Alliances military advantage to 2035 and beyond. The L3Harris team harnesses the strengths of multiple global defense companies to offer engineering innovation, battle-winning capability experience, and a shared vision to increase the effectiveness of future NATO military operations.

NATO has made it very clear that its objective is to ensure data and information are placed at the heart of all future AFSC capabilities, said Dave Johnson, Vice President, Strategy, Integrated Mission Systems, L3Harris. With our data-centric, platform-agnostic architecture approach and experience building JADC2 capabilities, the L3Harris team is committed to working with NATO, studying all aspects of its flagship program and developing a concept for joint all-domain surveillance and control for the AFSC program.

L3Harris and international teammates previously delivered a High Level Technical Concept (HLTC) study to NATO in 2020 as one of six suppliers, with detailed support across all business segments focused on data-centric architecture. The HLTC covered all aspects of multidomain surveillance and control over the full spectrum of benign, permissive, contested and denied operational environments.

About L3Harris Technologies

L3Harris Technologies is an agile global aerospace and defense technology innovator, delivering end-to-end solutions that meet customers mission-critical needs. The company provides advanced defense and commercial technologies across air, land, sea, space and cyber domains. L3Harris has approximately $18 billion in annual revenue and 48,000 employees, with customers in more than 100 countries. L3Harris.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect management's current expectations, assumptions and estimates of future performance and economic conditions. Such statements are made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results and future trends to differ materially from those matters expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Statements about system capabilities and future performance and anticipated contract awards are forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties. L3Harris disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

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L3Harris Technologies Developing Future NATO Surveillance Concepts with International Team - Business Wire

NATO officials welcomed Mr. Kyung-Hyup Kim, Chairman of the Intelligence Committee of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, to NATO Headquarters on Thursday (22 July 2021) for talks on common security challenges and NATOs partnership with Seoul.

Stian Jenssen, Director of the Private Office of the Secretary General, praised the Republic of Koreas long-standing political and practical support for Afghanistan. He noted that NATO will continue to support Afghanistan by providing training and financial support for the Afghan security forces, a continued civilian presence in Kabul and funding to ensure the continued functioning of the international airport.

The talks also addressed the situation on the Korean peninsula, Chinas rise, as well as opportunities for stronger cooperation between NATO and the Republic of Korea, including in the areas of cyber defence and arms control.

NATO is committed to working with partners to build and preserve international peace. As part of the NATO 2030 agenda, Allied leaders agreed at the Brussels Summit to strengthen NATOs global cooperation with like-minded partners, including in the Asia-Pacific, to defend the rules-based international order.

Read more from the original source:
NATO welcomes stronger cooperation with the Republic of Korea - NATO HQ

In this screenshot from a Russian Defense Ministry Facebook post, a Russian Su-30SM fighter follows a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon over the Black Sea, July 6, 2021, during NATO's Sea Breeze exercise. (Facebook)

NAPLES, Italy Russian military actions in the Black Sea during a multinational exercise reflect an increasingly aggressive effort to control the region, said a top U.S. admiral and analysts calling for an assertive response from the U.S. and NATO allies.

The Kremlin has long objected to the annual Sea Breeze drills, which this year included 32 nations maneuvering in what the Russians, as one of six nations bordering the Black Sea, consider their backyard.

The difference during this years two-week exercise, which ended earlier this month, was the intensity of Russias moves, the targeting of non-U.S. NATO allies and the outspokenness of high-ranking officials, analysts said.

The Russians fired warning shots at a British destroyer before Sea Breeze began and closely tailed a U.S. Navy aircraft during the exercise. The Russian military also effectively closed off the western half of the sea for its own use.

U.S. Navy Adm. Robert P. Burke called Russias actions an effort to bully neighbors into accepting the narrative that no other nations have the right to be in the Black Sea.

When a strike aircraft overflies a destroyer at 100 feet altitude and right over top, our (commanding officers) are making a judgement call of whether that strike fighter is on an attack profile or not, Burke, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and Allied Joint Force Command Naples., said Tuesday at a U.S. Navy Memorial livestreamed event.

... There is a tactical risk involved here, that tactical risk could turn into a strategic issue and thats a big concern with this increasing aggression.

Burke said Russian efforts to control the Black Sea must be met with a U.S. and NATO strategic presence.

We need to challenge that (Russian government) narrative and not let that become the norm, Burke said.

Moscows protests of the Sea Breeze drills have intensified in recent years, in line with its claim to Ukraines Crimean Peninsula, which it annexed in 2014. Most of the world does not accept that claim.

The Russian Defense Ministry is increasingly using social media to amplify its message. It posted on its Facebook page earlier this month a video of its fighters escorting a U.S. Navy Boeing P-8 Poseidon over the Black Sea.

The fighters did not allow the U.S. plane to violate the state border of the Russian Federation, the post said, describing the July 6 encounter.

The U.S. maintains the right to fly over the sea in accordance with international law.

In this screenshot from a Russian Defense Ministry Facebook post, a Russian Su-30SM fighter pilot's helmet is reflected in the plane's cockpit as it follows a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon over the Black Sea, July 6, 2021. Russian military actions in response to NATO's annual Sea Breeze exercise were more frequent, hostile and aggressive than in years past, some analysts said. (Facebook)

The video followed a similar post of a June 24 encounter with a Dutch ship in the Black Sea. Russia said it launched fighters and bombers to prevent the ship from entering its territorial waters.

Foreign ships do have the right to innocent passage in territorial waters under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, which Russia has ratified.

The Dutch Defense Ministry said the Russian warplanes repeatedly flew low over their frigate, carrying out mock attacks, according to news reports.

The escalation of Russian military aggression against U.S. and NATO ships shows that Russia believes it should control access to the Black Sea and intimidate NATO navies and commercial shipping away whenever Moscow chooses, said Jorge Benitez, an expert on European security with the Atlantic Council think tank.

Unless NATO and the U.S. raise the costs to Russia for this dangerous behavior, we should expect that future Russian behavior will take greater risks, added Benitez, who characterized Russias actions during Sea Breeze as simulated attacks.

Russia also used traditional media to suggest that the exercise was provocative and justified a military response.

President Vladimir Putin discussed it during his annual call-in show and suggested the U.S. was involved in the incident with the British warship, said Dmitry Gorenburg, a senior research scientist with CNA, a think tank based in Arlington, Va.

But Gorenburg doubted that Russia was prepared to engage NATO forces in an armed confrontation, characterizing Moscows actions as a finely tuned effort to sow concern in the West.

For example, Russian video of the confrontation with HMS Defender showed that warning shots were fired but also includes audio of a Russian commander clearly and repeatedly telling the crew to make sure they didnt hit the British ship, Gorenburg wrote in an analysis piece for Russia Matters.

The U.S. should continue to support partners in the Black Sea and to maintain freedom of navigation without increasing presence beyond what has been the case in the last few years, Gorenburg said.

Russia recognizes that it cant control the entire Black Sea, but it does want to be the dominant naval power there, he said.

Retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, who led U.S. Army Europe, said the U.S. and NATO should take more initiative.

The U.S. and NATO need a strategy for the greater Black Sea region that integrates efforts in all domains, including diplomatic/political, information and economy as well as military, said Hodges, who holds the Pershing Chair at the Center for European Policy Analysis.

That effort would require NATO ships in the Black Sea every day of the year, he said.

Everything that Russia hopes to do in the eastern Mediterranean or in North Africa emanates from the Black Sea region, Hodges said. That is their launching pad for everything to their south.

Hodges said he anticipated that Moscow will continue those efforts.

Its going to be a long, hot summer in and around Ukraine because of Russias military posture, Hodges said. We are only in a pause they will only stop when they are stopped.

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Russian actions in Black Sea show 'increasing aggression,' says top US admiral in the region - Stars and Stripes

Active talks about compulsory Covid-19 vaccination continued in Latvia this week. Many opposed this idea. Some suggested paying vaccinated people EUR 300 to motivate people.

Meanwhile, Minister of Education and Science Anita Muiniece estimates that up to 1 000 teachers may leave the education system because of Covid-19 vaccination.

This week also came along with the decision by Minister of the Interior Marija Golubeva commenced disciplinary action against the chief of the ministrys Information Centre Lga Lapia for violations committed in a procurement procedure.

NATO, meanwhile, is looking for a new secretary general. Among the candidates could be the two strong women from Latvias neighbouring countries Kersti Kaljulaid and Dalia Grybauskait.

BNN gives you a summery of the most relevant events of the past week in the following topics: Elections; Education System; Fraudsters; Disciplinary Action; Unemployment; NATO; Restrictions in Estonia.

Photo: Evija Trifanova/LETA

On Thursday, 22 July, political party Harmony was the first to submit and register its list of candidates in Rezekne for the upcoming municipal elections, as confirmed by the chairman of the local Central Election Commission Ilona Turka.

She said Harmonys submitted list with 21 deputies was accepted. Currently it is unknown when other political parties could submit their candidate lists. Varaklani Central Election Commission has yet to receive any candidate list, said the head of the local office Aija ucka.

As it is known, submission of candidate lists for 11 September municipal elections in Varaklani and Rezekne will continue until 28 July.

Photo: Pexels

In the next academic year, when it is planned to request teachers to have Covid-19 vaccination certificates on them to work, we might see about 1 000 teachers leave the education system, said Latvian Minister of Education Anita Muiniece, voicing her concerns in an interview to TV3.

According to data from the Ministry of Education and Science, in 2020/2021 academic year there were about 56 000 teachers in Latvia. Most of them near 30 000 were teachers in general and special education, 12 000 were kindergarten teachers, and 5 600 university teachers.

Muiniece believes the Saeima will make up its mind in August and will support the governments position on compulsory Covid-19 vaccination certificate requirement for teachers. This means some of the teachers may leave the education system.

Photo: Unsplash

Last week, Latvian State Police received information about EUR 203 000 having been defrauded from residents. The biggest amount EUR 20 000 was defrauded from a woman in Ogre. The biggest amount defrauded from residents in Riga was EUR 18 000 and the biggest amount in Latgale EUR 8 500, police report.

Fraudsters often pretend to be workers of Latvian banks and other financial specialists. They present misleading information to residents in an attempt to gain access to their bank accounts.

Latvian Minister of the Interior Marija Golubeva. Photo: Paula urkste/LETA

Latvian Minister of the Interior Marija Golubeva has initiated disciplinary action against the chief of the ministrys Information Centre Lga Lapia for major violations committed in procurements, as reported by the ministry.

The Ministry of the Interior has completed Golubevas initiated disciplinary inspection in relation to two procurement procedures organized by the Information Centre: procurement of and installation of video cameras and development of secure technologies and solutions.

The ministry notes that the inspection revealed multiple violations. Following the report of findings from the inspection, the minister decided to ask the Procurement Monitoring Bureau to commence an administrative violation case based on possible violations of sections 84 and 86 of the Public Procurement Law.

Photo: Elizabete Meule

In June 2021 actual unemployment rate comprised 7.8 %, which is 0.1 percentage points less than in May.

The unemployment rate for females increased by 0.1 percentage points to 7.4 % in June, but for males it remained unchanged at 8.3 %. Unemployment rate registered by the State Employment Agency (SEA) accounted for 7.4 % which is 0.2 percentage points less than in May. Unemployment rate decrease may be observed when comparing the data to the June of the previous year of 0.8 percentage points in actual unemployment rate and 1.2 percentage points in registered unemployment rate, according to data from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) conducted by the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia (CSB).

Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid and Lithuanian Dalia Grybauskait. Photo: REUTERS/SCANPIX

As the NATO military alliance plans to replace its Secretary-General in 2022, news portal Politico.eu reports of unofficial criteria of selection, which point to the chances of former Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskait and current Estonian leader Kersti Kaljulaid.

Former pacifist Prime Minister of Norway, Jens Stoltenberg, has held the top civilian post in the military organisation since 2014. The 30 allied countries have now extended his duties until September 2022, leaving little more than a year to install a replacement. At the Brussels headquarters, formal discussions have just begun, and Stoltenbergs successor is expected to be introduced at a NATO leaders summit in Madrid in spring or early summer 2022.

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. Photo: Postimees Grupp/EestiMeedia/SCANPIX Baltics

With new Covid-19 cases rising in Estonia again, the government has this week discussed possible new restrictions to limit the spread of the dangerous disease. This time, only restrictions to unvaccinated people are under discussion, Estonian public broadcaster ERR reports.

The Estonian government considered possible directions of action in a sitting on Thursday, July 23. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stated in a Facebook post: Since everyone in Estonia has the opportunity to get vaccinated, as long as any new strains are covered by vaccines, we will not generally close down society.

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BNN summary of the week: Disciplinary action at Ministry of the Interior. In search of NATO secretary general. Teachers at risk - bnn-news.com

WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following after the U.S., European Union, and NATO allies and partners publicly attributed the Microsoft hack <https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2021/03/02/new-nation-state-cyberattacks/> to Chinese state-sponsored actors:

Todays news makes clear: state-sponsored cyberattacks that threaten our national security and economic stability will be traced and found. Cyberattacks arent a uniquely American problem; our allies are also grappling with a barrage of cyberattacks coming from our foreign adversaries. Its why I have long called for building international cyber norms to confront our shared cyber vulnerabilities and why Im pleased to see joint recognition from our NATO and EU allies about this threat. I applaud the Biden administration for publicly exposing the actions of these Chinese state-sponsored actors, pursuing diplomatic cooperation on these threats and for taking additional steps to bolster our cyber defenses. As we take these first steps in an international effort to confront these challenges, theres still more work to do to address our cyber vulnerabilities.

Excerpt from:
Statement of Senate Intel Chair Mark R. Warner on U.S., NATO, and EU allies and partners publicly attributing Microsoft hack to Chinese...

The confrontation between Russia and the West is coming to a head, experts say. In consequence, the Associated Trio Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova has declared its aims to step up cooperation to strengthen security in the Black Sea region.

If the Black Sea countries and NATO members plus Ukraine, Georgia and a place for Moldova can be found in that mechanism as well do not team up, Russia will turn the Black Sea into its inner lake, split it into two halves and start to dominate its zone completely, Ukraines foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said after leaders of the three Associated Trio countries met in Batumi on Monday (19 July).

Kuleba added that Russia has followed a similar strategic playbook in all three countries, which is why they should aim to work together to counter Moscows intentions in the region.

His comments came as 2,000 forces and 30 ships from 14 NATO members and partners took part in a Bulgaria-led maritime exercise, dubbed Sea Breeze 2021, exercised in the Black Sea on Monday.

The exercise followed a rise in tensions between NATO and Russia, which In June had fired warning shots and dropped bombs in the path of the British destroyer HMS Defender to chase it out of Black Sea waters off the coast of Crimea.

Russia traditionally claims political and military sovereignty in the Black Sea region and considers the territorial waters of the annexed Crimea as its own, unlike the Western countries.

Moscow is also worried that large parts of European Russia would be exposed to the danger of Western sea- and land-based medium-range missiles if NATO were to increase their presence in the region.

Last months incident was the first time since the end of the Cold War that Russia deliberately used armed force against a NATO asset.

The Black Sea is of strategic importance to NATO. The Alliance remains strongly committed to Black Sea security, NATO deputy spokesperson, Piers Cazalet, said.

Since Russias illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, NATO has gradually increased its presence in the Black Sea. NATO ships regularly operate in the Black Sea, patrolling the waters for around two-thirds of the year.

However, according to the Montreux Treaty, which, among other things, regulates the free movement of ships through the waters, ships from non-bordering countries are allowed to stay in the Black Sea for a maximum of 21 days.

NATO maritime manoeuvres thus have been intended to send a clear signal towards Moscow against Russias claim to Crimea or its attempted supremacy in the Black Sea region.

We need to think seriously about what the NATO role is in the Black Sea, especially as weve seen the recent provocative actions by Russia, Philip Breedlove, former Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) of NATO Allied Command Operations, told an audience in Batumi.

Breedlove called the alliances aim to update its decade-old Strategic Concept, a master strategy document which after the revamp will outline NATOs objectives and key security tasks with an eye toward 2030, a positive development in this context.

NATO has been fairly soft on what Russia is doing in the Black Sea region, thats the bad news. The good news is, that you see these attitudes changing, he said, adding that especially the US-led freedom of navigation exercises and others have proven that.

Security experts worry that the range of Russias S-400 air defence systems stationed in Crimea makes not only the south of Ukraine but also the coast of Romania vulnerable.

As our current military engagements are beginning to wind down, so we need to develop the next series of enduring military engagements between the United States in Georgia, and between NATO and Georgia () as well as what the next step in our military engagement with Ukraine is to help it be more able to defend itself, the former NATO general said.

Breedlove said alliance members like Turkey and Romania, which recently stepped up in bringing more military capabilities to the region, could lead the way into such a new strategy.

However, of Russias Black Sea neighbours, only the Turkish Navy can counter Russia. The Ukrainian navy lost most of its ships after the annexation of Crimea, Georgia has limited its navy to the coast guard for financial reasons, and Romania and especially Bulgaria have so far little to offer as deterrent against Russia.

In turn, speaking about EU and NATO approaches to the Black Sea region, Bruno Lt, senior fellow of security and defence at the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMFUS) in Brussels, said he is most concerned about the internal unity of Europeans and NATO in this regard.

According to him, EU institutions in Brussels have finally understood that the Black Sea is an area of priority, more and more than ever before.

However, we still see and we have to be honest about that that not all EU countries think alike when it comes to the importance of the Black Sea as a region where we need to increase efforts and be presence, Lt said.

Eastern Europeans, especially in the framework of the US-led Three Seas Initiative, have for long made attempts the Black Sea doesnt become a geopolitical black hole. One idea is to extend the initiative to non-EU members like Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova.

This, however, according to Lt does not mean there should be a military solution.

The strategy here should be more about avoiding incidents and risk management while doing deterrence, I think those are two pillars of how security should be addressed in the Black Sea region, Lt added.

[Edited by Georgi Gotev]

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Associated Trio to ramp up cooperation on Black Sea security - EURACTIV

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the Deputy Chairperson of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Bisera Turkovi, and the Minister of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Sifet Podi, to NATO headquarters on Wednesday (14 July 2021), to discuss how to further enhance NATOs relationship with Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider region.

Following their bilateral meeting, the Ministers will participate in a meeting of the North Atlantic Council chaired by the Secretary General, where the Reform Programme and future political dialogue will be discussed with Allies. Mr Stoltenberg said that Allies are interested in learning about the Reform Programmes implementation, and that he looks forward to a constructive and informative debate. He also said that NATO continues to stand ready to support Bosnia and Herzegovinas reform efforts.

In their meeting, the Secretary General thanked Bosnia and Herzegovina for their contribution to the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan. He also said that he was pleased that the regions COVID-19 situation has improved, and was glad that NATO was able to support Bosnia and Herzegovina in combatting the pandemic, through the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Coordination Centre.

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NATO Secretary General discusses cooperation with Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina - NATO HQ

On 13 July 2021, the Director General of the NATO International Military Staff (IMS), Lieutenant Hans-Werner Wiermann under the auspice of the Cooperative Security Division hosted the first in-person meeting with NATO Partners at NATO HQ since the start of pandemic. The meeting provided an opportunity to present the outcomes of the NATO Summit and explore ways to enhance existing partnerships.

Lieutenant General Wiermann extended a warm welcome to the 32 participating partner military representatives attending the in-person meeting at NATO HQ and thanked them for their additional support during the pandemic. The ongoing health crisis has illustrated once more the benefits of partnerships between NATO, NATO Allies and non-NATO Nations. Many Nations, including Allies and Partners, have been able to receive support through Operation Allied Hand with medical equipment and/or funds to acquire additional supplies. Although many Partners have benefitted from NATO and bilateral support throughout the pandemic, this would have not been possible without the contributions of other countless partners. Allies and Partners alike have exemplified the concept of solidarity to not only help each other but ultimately try and save lives, highlighted the Director General in his opening remarks.

The participants then turned their attention to the NATO 2030 agenda. Last month, at the Summit, Allied Heads of State and Government acknowledged the need to enhance existing relations with Partners as well as develop new partnerships around the world, including in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Todays meeting set the scene to foster dialogue between NATO and existing Partners, exchange ideas and build on the Summit decisions. We face many of the same security challenges, so it makes sense to tackle them together. And the more we cooperate to tackle them, the more we will all benefit. At the Summit, in June, Allies agreed that we need to do more with Partners and we are looking to deliver on that request. To project peace and stability even further, emphasised the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Bauer at the reception.

Over more than 25 years, the Alliance has developed a network of partnerships that contribute to improved security for the broader international community. NATO partners have made and continue to make substantial contributions to NATO operations, missions, and practical cooperation activities. Through different frameworks, NATO pursues dialogue and practical cooperation across on land, sea and in the air as well as in the cyber domain.

The IMS by means of its Cooperative Security Division holds regular meetings with NATO Partners to assess these ongoing partnerships. All partners from the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, the Mediterranean Dialogue, the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative and the Partners across the globe framework were invited to this meeting with the exception of Russia and Belarus.

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NATO Partners are invaluable assets to our security and our Alliance, underscores director of the NATO International Military Staff - NATO HQ