Category Archives: NATO

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Monday he would cut the number of U.S. troops in Germany to 25,000, faulting the close U.S. ally for failing to meet NATOs defense spending target and accusing it of taking advantage of America on trade.

The reduction of about 9,500 troops would be a remarkable rebuke to one of the closest U.S. trading partners and could erode faith in a pillar of postwar European security: that U.S. forces would defend alliance members against Russian aggression.

It was not clear whether Trumps stated intent, which first emerged in media reports on June 5, would actually come to pass given criticism from some of the presidents fellow Republicans in Congress who have argued a cut would be a gift to Russia.

Speaking to reporters, Trump accused Germany of being delinquent in its payments to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and vowed to stick with the plan unless Berlin changed course.

So were protecting Germany and theyre delinquent. That doesnt make sense. So I said, were going to bring down the count to 25,000 soldiers, Trump said, adding that they treat us very badly on trade but providing no details.

NATO in 2014 set a target that each of its 30 members should spend 2% of GDP on defense. Most, including Germany, do not.

Trumps remarks were the first official confirmation of the planned troop cut, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal and later confirmed to Reuters by a senior U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

That official said it stemmed from months of work by the U.S. military and had nothing to do with tensions between Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who thwarted his plan to host an in-person Group of Seven (G7) summit.

Asked about Trumps statement, German Ambassador to the United States Emily Haber said U.S. troops were in Europe to defend transatlantic security and to help the United States project its power in Africa and Asia.

This is about transatlantic security but also about American security, she told a virtual think tank audience, saying U.S.-German security cooperation would remain strong and that her government had been informed of the decision.

Last week, sources told Reuters that German officials as well a number of U.S. officials at the White House, State Department and Pentagon were surprised by the Wall Street Journal report and they offered explanations ranging from Trumps pique over the G7 to the influence of Richard Grenell, the former U.S. ambassador to Germany and a Trump loyalist.

There is sure to be significant bipartisan opposition to this move in Congress, so it is possible any actual moves are significantly delayed or even never implemented, said Phil Gordon of the Council on Foreign Relations think tank,

This move will further erode allies faith in NATO and U.S. defense guarantees, Gordon added, saying it may also weaken the deterrence of Russia or anyone else who might threaten a NATO member.

Reporting by Jeff Mason; Additional reporting by Eric Beech, David Brunnstrom and Humeyra Pamuk; Writing by Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Chris Reese and Peter Cooney

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Trump says U.S. to pull some troops from Germany over NATO spending feud - Reuters

President Vladimir Putin approved a strategic document on the fundamentals of Russias nuclear deterrence policy on Tuesday (2 June), naming the creation and deployment of anti-missile and strike weapons in space as one of the main military threats to Russia.

The document outlining Russias policy on its nuclear deterrent was published online amid arms control tensions between Moscow and Washington over the future of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), the last major pact regulating their nuclear arsenals.

According to the new strategy, Russias nuclear weapons policy is described as being defensive in nature and designed to safeguard the countrys sovereignty against potential adversaries.

However, in line with Russian military doctrine, it outlines four scenarios in which Moscow would order the use of nuclear weapons, two of them new and involving potential instances of nuclear first-use scenarios.

The two established protocols permit nuclear use when an enemy uses nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction on Russia or its allies, and in situations when conventional weapons threaten the very existence of the country.

In reverse, the two new provisions include cases in which the government receives reliable information that a ballistic missile attack is imminent or in the case of enemy impact on critically important government or military facilities of the Russian Federation, the incapacitation of which could result in the failure of retaliatory action of nuclear forces.

The main threats for Russia are described as follows: the increase of the potential of NATO in territories and waters close to the country, bringing new weaponry close to Russia, including new anti-missile systems, deployingstrike weapons in space and deploying nuclear weapons in non-nuclear countries.

Some US officials are eyeing Poland as a new home to the US nuclear arsenal in Europe, after German Social Democrats reopened the debate about whether the country should remain under Washingtons protective nuclear umbrella. And the latest twist has already displeased Russia, Polands mighty eastern neighbour.

The publication comes only a week after an US decision to to exit theOpen Skies Treaty, allows its signatories to conduct short-notice unarmed surveillance flights to gather information on each others military forces and installations, thereby contributing to inspections of conventional arms control and strategic offensive weapons and reducing the risk of conflict.

Open Skies is the third major security agreement, after the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), a landmark 1987 pact with Russia banning a whole class of medium-range ground-launched nuclear-capable missiles of 500 to 5,500 kilometres,and the Iran nuclear deal, which Washington decided to scrap in recent years.

Both, the US exit and Russias new strategy, come at a time as the last remaining major nuclear arms control treaty between the United States and Russia, New START, is due to expire in February 2021 and Moscow has already warned there is not enough time left to negotiate a full-fledged replacement.

The Trump administration has pushed for a new arms control pact that would also include China, but while Moscow has deemed such a solution unfeasible, arms control experts believe it would be too difficult to achieve.

Exercise tensions

At the same time, the Russian military on Monday (1 June) had accused the US and its NATO allies of conducting provocative military drills near the nations borders, according to statement that reflected simmering Russia-NATO tensions.

Russia will not conduct major military exercises near the borders with NATO member countries this year, Sergei Rudskoy, chief of the main operational department for Russias General Staff, said according to Interfax.

Rudskoy alsosaid NATO has stonewalled Russias written proposal to scale down each others military activities.

He said Russia has moved large-scale drills scheduled for September, Kavkaz-2020, deeper inside the country and is ready to adjust the locations of exercises on a parity basis with the Western military bloc.

He pointed torecent NATO drills in the Barents Sea that he called first since the Cold War, as well as increasing nuclear-capable strategic bomber flights near Russian borders and US intelligence flights near Russian bases in Syria.

NATO had called off its planned exercises amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before the health crisis, Europe was preparing for what security officials have called the most extensive transfer of US soldiers to Europe in the past 25 years, with around 37,000 soldiers taking part in the US-led military exercise Defender Europe 2020 for the transfer of troops to Germany, Poland and the Baltic states.

[Edited by Georgi Gotev]

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Russia revamps its nuclear policy amid simmering tensions with NATO - EURACTIV

The Capitals brings you the latest news from across Europe, through on-the-ground reporting by EURACTIVs media network. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.

Before you start reading todays edition of the Capitals, feel free to have a look at the article Russia revamps its nuclear policy amid simmering tensions with NATO.

We would like to remind you that everyone at EURACTIV is keen to continue delivering top-quality content that covers the EU in a clear and unbiased way, despite being heavily impacted by the current crisis. As we, at EURACTIV, firmly believe that our readers should not have to access content via a paywall, we are asking you to consider making a contribution and thank all of you who already have. If you are interested in making a one-time or recurring donation, all you need to do is followthis link.

Now that many European countries have started lifting lockdown measures and opening borders, make sure you stay up to date with EURACTIVs comprehensive overview, which is regularly updated with the help of our network of offices and media partners. Also, check our country update pages, such as the ones for Austria and Croatia.

THE HAGUE

TheDutch government is unlikely to fulfill its NATO defence spending obligationswithin the next four years. The news comes after parliamentarians called Dutch defence minister Ank Bijleveld in for questioning on the so-called recalibration of the defence memorandum.Alexandra Brzozowski has the story.

Travel restrictions will be eased, meanwhile. From 15 June, the Netherlands is set to relax its advice on travel to most European countries in the Schengen area. The scale will go from code orange (only necessary journeys) to code yellow (security risks). The Dutch government is set to announce more details later on Wednesday.

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BERLIN

US Ambassador resigns. After weeks of speculation, US Ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, has formally resigned from his position. During his two-year tenure in Berlin, he had been the subject of ire for many in the country for his approach, described as unconventional and undiplomatic. He particularly focused on German defence spending and NATO commitments, and recently accused the country of eroding NATO solidarity. There is speculation that Grenell will join President Trumps 2020 reelection campaign. (Sarah Lawton | EURACTIV.de)

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PARIS

Forbidden demonstration against discrimination. Thousands of demonstrators gathered on Tuesday evening (2 June) in front of the Paris courthouse following a call for mobilisation by the Justice for Adama collective, and despite the protest being banned due to the COVID-19 health crisis.

24-year-old Adama Traor was found dead in the gendarmeries courtyard in Beaumont-sur-Oise following his arrest in July 2016. While the conclusions of the latest medical report, sent at the end of May to the judges investigating the case, exonerate the police, Traors family questioned the violent methods of the gendarmes. The movement reflects a distrust of the police, particularly in the Parisian suburbs, where there are many incidents and complaints of discrimination, and as American cities flare up after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. (EURACTIV.FR)

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BRUSSELS

Last deconfinement phase under discussion. Belgiums National Security Council is set to discuss the implementation of Phase 3 of the deconfinement process, which could start from next Monday (8 June). Alexandra Brzozowski has the details.

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LONDON

Parliament ends remote working. MPs faced the bizarre spectacle of queuing for over 40 minutes in socially-distanced lines outside the House of Commons to vote for an end to voting from home on Tuesday (2 June). Benjamin Fox reports from London.

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VIENNA

Government finally promotes COVID-19 tracing app. Austrias COVID-19 tracing app known as Stop-Corona developed by the Austrian Red Cross was again endorsed by the government after being one of the first of its kind in Europe on Tuesday (2 June). However, during a press conference, Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (Greens) said discussions about mandatory use are off the table, but nevertheless emphasised the apps importance for opening up the country further.

Although the app had got off to a good start, an increasing number of people began to have concerns about their privacy, particularly after conservative VP-politicians showed support for the apps mandatory use in early April. Since then, the app has vanished from the governments official information and Gerry Foitik, federal commander of the Austrian Red Cross, has repeatedly voiced frustration with the political communication surrounding the app. (Philipp Grll | EURACTIV.de)

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HELSINKI

Refugee camp returnees open political trenches. Three Finnish women and their nine children landed in Helsinki after escaping from the Syrian al-Hol refugee camp, according to a statement by Finlands foreign affairs ministry on Sunday evening (31 May). Although these women were presumed to be married to ISIS fighters and may pose a future security risk according to the Finnish Intelligence and Security Service (SUPO), they could not, as Finnish citizens, be legally denied entry into the country. Pekka Vnttinen has more.

EUROPES SOUTH

ROME

Opposition protests on Republic Day. Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Rome in an anti-government protest organised by the right-wing Lega, the far-right Fratelli dItalia and the centre-right Forza Italia on Republic Day yesterday (2 June), for the first time since Italians celebrated the birth of the Italian Republic in 1946. Protesters defied social distancing rules marching next to each other. EURACTIV Italys Valentina Iorio has more.

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MADRID

Zero coronavirus-related deaths since Sunday. On Tuesday (2 June), Spain reported zero COVID-19-related deaths in the last 48 hours for the first time since March, as well as 71 new coronavirus infections, according to the health ministrys reports. In other words, it has been two consecutive days since the new infection rate has been below 100 for the first time since the outbreak.EURACTIVs partner EuroEFE reports.

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ATHENS

US, EU condemn Turkey but sanctions off the table for now. Both Washington and Brussels condemned Tuesday (2 June) Turkeys announcement that in three months it will start gas drilling activities in territories which are part of Greeces Exclusive Economic Zone.

EU spokesperson Peter Stano said that while sanctions were still on the table, it was premature to have such a discussion now. Meanwhile, Enlargement Commissioner Olivr Vrhelyi has confirmed that Ankara will join the club of EU-hopeful countries that will receive EU funds under the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA). Why does Europe hesitate?

VISEGRAD

BRATISLAVA

Getting ahead of the Trianon centenary. Trianon cannot become a burden that would prevent Slovaks and Hungarians to look to the future, Slovak Foreign Minister Ivan Korok said during his visit to Budapest, where he met his Hungarian counterpart, Foreign Minister Pter Szijjrt, according to the TASR agency.

The approaching centenary of the Trianon Peace Treaty (June 4) from 1920 through which Hungary lost substantial territories after the WWI, including those that now form Slovakia is a sensitive issue on both sides of the border. EURACTIV Slovakias Zuzana Gabriov looks into what the two ministers had to say.

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WARSAW

Poland to open borders within days, maybe weeks. It is a matter of days, maybe weeks, until Poland reopens borders between the countries of the region, foreign minister, Jacek Czaputowicz, said on Tuesday (2 June) during a summit of foreign ministers with the Baltic states in Estonia. Alexandra Brzozowski has the details.

NEWS FROM THE BALKANS

SOFIA

Anti-Bulgarian election campaign in Skopje under fire. The anti-Bulgarian campaign in Northern Macedonia in recent days is due to the upcoming elections there, Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva has said.

Part of the reason for the anti-Bulgarian speech in Macedonia is the nationalist approach, which they think still works during elections. But when you aspire to be part of the European family, it should not occur to any politician to say so. This rhetoric, aimed at a neighbouring and friendly country, is full of fake news and hate speech, Zaharieva told national television (BNT). (Krassen Nikolov | EURACTIV.bg)

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BUCHAREST

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ZAGREB

Post-lockdown migrant pressure. The pressure of illegal migrants along the border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia in the northwestern Bosnian canton Una-Sana is rising as lockdown measures are being loosened, the local police authorities said on Tuesday (2 May). EURACTIV Croatias Karla Junicic takes a closer look.

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In other news, a grant agreement for the Early Warning and Crisis Management System project worth HRK63 million (8.3 million), of which 85% will be drawn from EU funds, was signed on Tuesday (2 June) by the countrys interior ministry.

The crisis management system should facilitate the process of informing citizens, via mobile phone, about threats and measures that must be taken to reduce casualties and material damage, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic and Environment and Energy Minister Tomislav Coric, who signed the agreement. (Karla Junicic, EURACTIV.hr)

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LJUBLJANA

Is Austria dragging its feet on reopening Slovenia border? Slovenes in Austrias Carinthia region, united in the Slovenian Consensus for Constitutional Rights (SKUP) initiative, demand that Austria opens its border with Slovenia, writes the leading newspaper Delo.

Austria has already announced the reopening of borders with Germany, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia, Delo has said, adding that there is no official announcement yet for Slovenia, while Austrian media say this is expected to happen on 15 June. EURACTIVs Zoran Radosavljevi looks into it.

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BELGRADE

Varhelyi heralds major investments in Western Balkans.EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi said on Tuesday (2 June) that major investments in economic growth linked to the COVID-19 recovery would be made to support the Western Balkans.

Along with increasing EU guarantees up to 130 billion for investments in southern and eastern EU neighbours and the West Balkan region, he said that an additional 10.5 billion would be set aside through the EU Development Fund to support the neighbourhood. EURACTIV Serbia reports.

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In other news, Serbia has only partially implemented two of recommendations of the Council of Europes Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), according to ECRIs press release published Tuesday (2 June). The two recommendations are linked to prohibiting the use of hate speech by government officials and MPs and to hiring a proportionate number of Roma in the public administration. Read more.

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US Ambassador to Serbia Anthony Godfrey has commented on the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed African-American man who died at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. Read more.

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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Benjamin Fox]

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The Netherlands likely to scrap NATO spending target - EURACTIV

By calling for the withdrawal of Germany from NATO nuclear sharing, Rolf Mtzenich, parliamentary group leader for the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), has put into the public square what has been simmering away quietly in Berlin for months: an important debate over Germanys participation in NATO nuclear sharing. Mr. Mtzenich believes policies of the current U.S. administration make the use of nuclear weapons much more likely, leading him to call for Germany to leave NATOs nuclear sharing arrangement. No longer limited to German think tank monographs or twitter debates among specialists, the German role in shoring up nuclear deterrence in defense of NATO is now open for debate.

As Americans with over 60 years of experience working with Germany on defense and security issues, we knew this debate was coming long before the current U.S. administration fueled it. Because Germany's fleet of Tornado aircraft, which are capable of delivering a nuclear bomb on NATO command, needs replacement, German defense experts began to discuss whether the country should continue to participate in the NATO nuclear mission and so bear the extra expense of their aircraft being "nuclear capable. Now that the nuclear issue is being debated outside the small circle of experts, some Germans are asking whether the nation is still comfortable with pilots flying nuclear missions that could make German cities vulnerable to nuclear retaliation.

As U.S. defense experts, we know well the technical issues that are part of this debate, from deterrence theory to the practicalities of delivering a nuclear device on target. But as Americans, this debate is about much more than technical specifications.

The U.S. and NATO member states - including Germany made a solemn vow that in return for the U.S. extending its nuclear shield over Europe, allies would share in the burden and risk of carrying that nuclear shield. In making that vow, the U.S. consciously accepted the risk that this guarantee to Europe also made U.S. cities vulnerable to attack. Sharing this nuclear risk together strengthened trust and solidarity among the allies and cemented the nuclear coupling of the U.S. to Europe. A Russian nuclear threat aimed solely at Europe would not split off the U.S., but would be answered with U.S. nuclear weapons in Europe delivered by Europeans. The Russians would never be able to blackmail Europe alone with nuclear weapons, without Europe having a NATO nuclear response.

To Americans this is a solemn undertaking. Germany walking away from this vow to share the nuclear burden, this expression of solidarity and risk sharing, strikes at the heart of the trans-Atlantic bargain. If other NATO members who share the nuclear burden and risks were to follow Germanys example, the bargain sustaining U.S. extended nuclear deterrence to Europe would collapse and the U.S. umbrella would essentially be decoupled from Europe. For a nation that prides itself on its multilateralism, undermining this multilateral effort at NATO would be a significant break with German tradition.

While some might argue that this arrangement is a relic of the Cold War, the return of a more revisionist Russia that actively seeks to undermine trans-Atlantic unity is investing heavily in modernizing its nuclear arsenal (including weapons aimed at Europe), and whose military doctrine calls for "escalating to de-escalate - that is, using nuclear threats early in a conflict to try to break an adversarys resolve makes this debate highly relevant to todays security environment.

Having a public discussion about Germanys military role in NATO, encompassing everything from nuclear policy to the rationale for even having a military, is important for Germany to have not just to educate politicians and the public on military and defense issues, but also to help rebuild a "strategic mindset within German consciousness about geopolitics and Germanys place in the world.

As a result of German history in the last century, Germanys willingness to think strategically atrophied because it shied away from geopolitics and focused instead on being the best European in the EU and a model NATO member. But time and events have thrust the mantel of European leadership on Germany. It is no longer good enough for Germany to simply strive to be "the best European, it must now lead the nations of Europe as well as be a global player to protect German and European interests abroad. And being the leader in Europe in a time of geopolitical upheaval means sharing the heavy burden of security and defense.

There is also a significant benefit to Germanys participation in NATO nuclear sharing: Because Germany plays such an active role in nuclear sharing, it has a strong voice in shaping NATO nuclear policy and in the deployment of nuclear weapons in Europe. Germany has a seat at a very exclusive table in Brussels and plays a strong role in deciding what happens at that table. Should Germany walk away from its nuclear role, its voice would be significantly weakened. NATO nuclear consultation with Germany would become pro forma as Germany would join the ranks of just a handful of allies who do not actively participate in the nuclear mission hardly a position befitting the leading nation of Europe.

Germans rightly proud of their NATO heritage should be alarmed too at the signal that would be sent by shedding its critical role in nuclear burden-sharing. Already criticized by allies for not making greater strides toward increasing defense spending despite its prosperity, if Germany were to cast off another NATO obligation, and a critical one at that, it would only fuel a narrative that Germany does not take its NATO obligations seriously.

Germans should be well aware that Russia is on an aggressive path. NATO deterrence - nuclear and non-nuclear must make Russian President Vladimir Putin stop and think about the costs and risks of any further Russian adventurism, potentially on Germanys border with Poland or the Baltic states.

If Germany was to leave the nuclear sharing arrangement, other allies would have to pick up the additional missions dumped on them by Germany. That would lead allies to doubt Germanys reliability when it comes to their defense, especially those allies in the east. The trust among allies and the unity of the alliance would be dealt a critical blow, which would weaken Europes defense, for it is NATO unity that is its greatest deterrent. It would also give Putin a big win without him having to lift a finger.

Allies debated whether to bring Germany into NATO in 1955 but eventually agreed that the German people would bring strength and fortitude with them into the alliance. Considering all that Germany has done for NATO since then, it was a good decision. Should Germany now choose to walk away from its nuclear responsibilities, not only would NATO lose its strong partner in nuclear sharing, but Germany would lose much more the esteem of its allies, and especially of that ally who has championed Germany in NATO from the beginning and who willingly puts itself at risk for Germanys defense.

Before this debate goes much further in Germany, Mr. Mtzenich should be aware that the U.S. presidential election will take place in November, and his negative view of working with an American administration in NATO on nuclear sharing may change.

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Biden Advisers on Nuclear Sharing: Striking at the Heart of the Trans-Atlantic Bargain - DER SPIEGEL

Alliance fleets aren't getting bigger to match Moscow's moves in the region, so it's time to think differently.

Its been six years since Russia annexed Crimea, the first time since 1945 that European borders were changed through military force. The annexation halved Ukraines coastline and, along with the subsequent deployment of anti-ship and anti-air missiles, advanced Moscows big geostrategic goal of turning the Black Sea into a Russian-controlledlake.

This is a direct threat to U.S. and NATO security interests. The Black Sea has long been a geopolitically and economically important crossroads between Europe, Asia, and the Caucasus. Today, the seas floor is crisscrossed with oil and gas pipelines and fiber optic cables. Three of the six Black Sea countries Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania are in NATO. Another two alliance partners and aspiring members Ukraine and Georgia have suffered the direct impact of Russian aggression. Ukrainian solders die fighting for their country every week. One-fifth of Georgias internationally recognized territory is under Russian occupation, including a sizeable amount of Georgias Black Seacoastline.

Soon after Russias invasion of Ukraine, the United States and several other NATO members stepped up their presence in the Black Sea. But that presence waned, and notwithstanding Secretary-General Jens Stoltenbergs 2017 pledge to send more alliance ships to the region, it remainsinsufficient.

Part of the problem is the 1936 Montreux Convention, which limits the number, transit time, and tonnage of naval ships from non-Black Sea countries that may operate in the Bosphorus. For example, non-Black Sea state warships in the strait must not displace more than 15,000 tons apiece. No more than nine non-Black Sea state warships, with a total aggregate tonnage of no more than 45,000 tons, may pass at any one time, and they are permitted to stay for no longer than 21 days. To be sure, NATO navies have shrunk since the Cold War, reducing the number available for Black Sea operations. Yet the limits remain a problemnonetheless.

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There are four creative ways that the Alliance should consider to get around these restrictions and increase its presence in the BlackSea:

1. Establish a Black Sea Maritime Patrol mission modeled on the successful Baltic Air Policing mission, in which non-Black Sea members would commit to a regular and rotational maritime presence in the Black Sea. This would be the fastest and most effective way to increase NATOs presence there, but a lack of political will, coupled with the reduced size of Europeans navies, makes itunlikely.

2. Germanys Danube option. According to Article 30 of the 1948 Convention Regarding the Regime of Navigation on the Danube, only Danubian countries can operate naval vessels in the Danube River. However, if a Danubian country wants to enter a stretch of the Danube River falling outside its territorial jurisdiction, then it must first get the permission of the relevant Danubianstate.

As the Romanians routinely show with their three frigates, warships of 8,000 tons or less can travel 50 miles upriver to the port of Braila. The only Danubian country that is not on the Black Sea, but still has a navy, is Germany. Therefore, by Romania inviting Germany into its section of the Danube River, it would allow the German Navy reset the clock on the 21-daylimit.

Last year, Germany sent just one ship a 3,500-ton Elbe-class tender into the Black Sea for a total of only 18 days. This Danube option, unique to Germany because it is a Danubian state, would allow it to step up the plate in a way other members of the Alliance cannot in the BlackSea.

3. The Danube-Black Sea Canal option. This man-made canal in Romania might offer an opportunity for non-Danubian and non-Black Sea states to reset the clock on the 21-day limit in the Black Sea in a similar way that Germany could do so using the Danube River. However, the canal is relatively small at 90 meters wide and can only handle ships up to 5,000tons.

In 2019, a total of 13 naval vessels displacing less than 5,000 tons from Canada, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, the U.S. and the UK entered the Black Sea in ships that could, in theory, operate in the canal. However, this option would likely require money to modernize and adapt the canal for duel civilian-military use. Also, force protection measures such as air defense capabilities would need to be considered. NATO should work with Romania to conduct a feasibility assessment on the possibility of using thecanal.

4. A NATO-certified Center of Excellence on Black Sea Security in Georgia. There is no precedent for such a center in a non-NATO country, but there is nothing practically or legally preventing it from happening. Establishing one could improve NATO-Georgia relations while demonstrating how important the Black Sea region has become for Europes overall security. The Center would provide an opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue and training in how to address the challenges associated with Black Sea security. It was also serve as another way to fly the NATO flag inGeorgia.

Some of these proposals are easier than others. Some would require only additional political will. Some are unconventional and would require a change in traditional thinking. Some might require additionalfunding.

All of these proposals require full involvement and consultation with Turkey, the NATO member with sovereign control of the straits. It should be explained to Ankara that nothing NATO will do in the Black Sea is meant to undermine this control. The goal is to increase NATOs presence in the Black Sea to deter, and if required defeat, Russianaggression.

One might reasonably ask about the feasibility of placing a very expensive warship into a narrow canal or river. There are three reasons why this is not anissue.

First, any ship entering the Black Sea has to travel through a very narrow body of water anyway. At its narrowest point, the Bosphorus Strait is 700 meters wide. This strait is also very congested, with civilian maritime traffic reducing maneuverability evenmore.

Secondly, ships using the Bosphorus are prohibited from launching aircraft while transiting. This makes air defense and other force protections measures that are routine when a warship transits through a narrow body of water more difficult. This would not be a problem on the Danube River or the Black Sea-DanubeCanal.

Finally, the use of the Danube River or the canal would only be done during peacetime. After all, during a time of war Turkey has even more control over the entry and exit of the BlackSea.

While NATOs interest in Black Sea security is increasing, the overall presence of non-Black Sea NATO warships is not keeping up the pace. Something needs to change. The economic, security, and political importance of the Black Sea and the broader region is only becoming more important. NATO members need to be protected. The Alliance needs to chart a path to membership for Georgia and Ukraine. NATO must be prepared for any contingency withRussia.

The Alliance is required to defend Sofia and Bucharest in the same way it must defend Seville and Brussels. Just because the geo-political circumstances of the Black Sea make NATOs mission there harder, does not mean the region can be ignored. With Russia increasing its military capability in the region, now is not the time for NATO to growcomplacent.

Until NATO starts thinking creatively about complex challenges like increasing its presence in the Black Sea, Russia will continue to have the upperhand.

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To Boost NATO's Presence in the Black Sea, Get Creative - Defense One

Moray air crews deployed to Eastern Europe to protect Nato airspace from enemy intruders have been scrambled for the first time.

Typhoons from RAF Lossiemouth have been based in Lithuania on a mission to defend allies in the region for more than a month.

The crews have now been scrambled for the first time to respond to an unidentified aircraft that was approaching the airspace.

Once within visual range the plane was identified as a Russian intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft.

The Typhoon pilots shadowed the intruder as it approached Nato airspace before it changed course.

The 6 Squadron pilot who responded to the call said: The initial scramble was a real shot of adrenaline, but once airborne it was important to remain calm and professional and make the intercept as expeditious as possible to ensure we maintained both the safety and integrity of Nato airspace.

This is what all of our training is designed to prepare us for however, at the end of the day its just my job.

The Russian aircraft was also not responding to calls from air traffic control in the area posing a potential risk to other planes flying in the region.

About 150 RAF personnel from bases across the UK have been deployed to Lithuania as part of the mission with 135 Expeditionary Air Wing.

The intercept is part of Natos air policing mission, which involves allies taking turns to protect the sky for nations that do not have the capabilities to do it themselves. Jets from the Spanish Air Force are also operating in the area at the moment.

Crews are tasked with being ready to scramble to intruders at any time, similar to the Quick Reaction Alert mission run from RAF Lossiemouth.

While in Lithuania UK crews have also participated in simulated attacks on Nato warships to test their defences.

Wing Commander Stu Gwinnutt, 135 EAW commander, praised the work done by crews in response to Tuesdays scramble.

He said: It is great to see all of the training come together in a timely response and a successful NATO Baltic Quick Reaction Alert Air Policing mission.

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WATCH: Moray air crews deployed to Lithuania for defence mission are scrambled for first time - Press and Journal

The global struggle to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerability of global societies to natural and manmade biological threats, prompting experts to warn of a potential increase in the use of biological weapons, like viruses or bacteria, in a post-coronavirus world.

The Council of Europes Committee on Counter-Terrorism (CDCT) was among the first to warn that the global coronavirus outbreak could increase the use of biological weapons by terrorists.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how vulnerable modern society is to viral infections and their potential for disruption, the body said in a statement in late May. adding that the deliberate use of disease-causing agents as an act of terrorism could prove to be extremely effective.

As damage to humans and economies could be significantly higher than that of a traditional terrorist attack, the body urged its 47 member states to do training exercises and prepare to tackle a potential biological weapons attack.

But it added that it currently has no concrete evidence of a heightened risk of bioterrorist attack due to the pandemic.

All countries are vulnerable to bioterrorism, its damage is rapid and potentially global, a CoE spokesman told EURACTIV when asked about lessons learned from the current crisis.

However, according to a new report authored by Pool Re, a UK government-backed terrorism insurance company, and Cranfield Universitys Professor Andrew Silke, the COVID-19 pandemic is already having a significant impact on terrorism around the world.

One genuine concern is that COVID-19 may lead to a resurgence in interest among terrorists for using chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons, Silke said in a statement.

According to him, a range of terrorist movements have been interested in bioterrorism but there have been very few successful terrorist attacks using biological weapons.

The report said the huge impact of COVID-19 may re-ignite some interest in biological weapons as the pandemic has left government and security resources being severely stretched.

As a result, the ability of government, intelligence and law enforcement agencies to focus on traditional priorities such as counter-terrorism has been undermined, the report concluded.

Need for more coordination

We recognise that there is a growing concern in many sectors about a possible increase in threats of this kind, Mike Catchpole, chief scientist at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), told EURACTIV.

Since its creation in 2005, one of the bodys purposes has been to assess the danger of deliberate release of biological agents.

Catchpole told EURACTIV such dangers require a coherent community response but stressed that deliberate release events are unlikely to be of the same scale in terms of geographical impact as we are seeing with the current pandemic of a new respiratory virus.

Asked about lessons learned from the current pandemic, Catchpole said that the experience with COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of preparedness plans, particularly thinking about scenarios that might develop and what kinds of capacities will be needed.

According to Catchpole, health authorities will need to be better prepared, not just for the next pandemic, but also against bioterrorism and other public health threats.

This really requires early alerting sometimes those alerts dont turn into major threats but an important principle of preparedness is early alerting on what could be potential threats, not waiting until its clearly a known threat that could overwhelm the system, he said.

One of the areas would be the availability of intensive care units and of appropriate protective personal protective equipment.

The other thing is just the need to continue to strengthen the operational and strategic collaboration between the health sector, public health, clinical sector and other sectors, particularly in security and law enforcement, he added.

NATOs threat preparedness

In an earlier stage of the pandemic, as Europe was grappling to find a response to the pandemic, Bulgarias Prime Minister Boyko Borissov criticised Europes lack of preparedness against biological threats.

Asked by EURACTIV what preparedness NATO has in place to counter chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats, NATO officials pointed towards the 2009 strategic policy on preventing the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and CBRN threats, which was reaffirmed at the July 2018 Summit.

As Europe is grappling to find a response to the coronavirus pandemic, Bulgarias Prime Minister Boyko Borissov has criticised Europes lack of preparedness against biological threats.

Speaking at a press briefing on Saturday (28 March), Borissov criticised, amongst others, NATO for

However, according to experts, NATOs preparedness in the field has received less attention than other threats in the past years, although the Alliance has a CBRN Defence Battalion, specifically trained and equipped to deal with CBRN events and/or attacks

The body trains not only for armed conflicts but also for deployment in crisis situations such as natural disasters and industrial accidents.

Meanwhile, only a few NATO countries have made training for such threats as a priority, either in civil defence or military settings. At the moment, the Czech Republic has the only live-agent chemical weapons training facility in NATO.

[Edited by Zoran Radosavljevic]

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Has COVID-19 increased the threat of bioterrorism in Europe? - EURACTIV

At least four F-35s and three F-16s from the Norwegian Air Force were flying up north wing-by-wing with the huge American long-range strategic bomber, the Norwegian Armed Forces informs.

The exercise comes just two weeks after both Swedish and Norwegian fighter jets were flying together with a B-1B strategic bomber from the U.S. Air Force over Scandinavia.

The joint exercise on Wednesday this week went much further north.

US is our closest ally. This deployment demonstrates US commitment to the defence of Europe. US forces need to conduct exercises in Europe with its allies to be able to defend Allied territories, including our national area of responsibility. Through this kind of integrated training between close allies, both our forces increase our ability to operate together seamlessly, said Norways Chief of Defence, Haakon Bruun-Hansen, in a prepared statement.

In early May, a group of British and U.S. navy surface ships for the first time since the mid-1980s sailed east of North Cape into the Barents Sea following the same route as the B-52 and the Norwegian fighter jets. Like the navy warships, the aircraft operated over the waters which is Norwegian Economical Zone.

Last fall, three B-52s were flying further east over the Barents Sea in international air space, but closer to Russian territory, both near Novaya Zemlya and the Kola Peninsula, as reported by the Barents Observer.

In a short note about long duration strategic bomber task mission throughout Europe and the Arctic region June 3, the U.S. Air Force in Europe writes The Arctic is a strategic region with growing geopolitical and global importance, the U.S. Department of Defense is working with our Arctic nations and multinational and interagency public and private partners to maintain a secure and stable region where nations work cooperatively to address challenges.

On Monday this week, the Commander of Russias powerful Northern Fleet, Vice-Admiral Aleksandr Moiseyev, said a group of 30 surface ships, some submarines and support vessels and about 20 aircraft later in June will conduct a large-scale exercise in the Barents- and Norwegian Sea.

Both Russian navy exercises west of North Cape in the Norwegian Sea and American long-range bombers flying inside the Arctic Circle in Europe seems to be the new normal for the developing geopolitical game in areas around Norway in the north.

On June 1st, Chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Colonel-General Sergei Rudskoy, had a briefing were he assured his forces are constantly monitoring and records the high level of military activity of the United States and its NATO allies near our borders.

Col. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy stressed that the focus of the exercise is clearly anti-Russian.

On a big screen, the powerful Russian General showed a map detailing the U.S. and British navy group that sailed into the Barents Sea in early May. The map showed how the NATO ships, colored blue, stayed in the Norwegian economix sector of the Barents Sea, while the Russian navy ships, marked with red color, were following the NATO ships.

The Russian map also indicated two Norwegian intelligence ships, the Marjata and Sverdrup II, both sailing outside the Kola Peninsula where the Russian Northern Fleet has its strategically important bases for the nuclear-powered submarines.

According to Col. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy, also an American nuclear-powered submarine sailed the Barents Sea at the time.

During the exercise, the tasks of hitting objects on the territory of the Russian Federation and intercepting Russian ballistic missiles were worked out, Rukskoy said at the briefing.

Elaborating on the American anti-ballistic missile (ABM) capabilities, Rudskoy pointed to the new Globus-3 radar under construction in the town of Vard on Norways northerneastern coast to the Barents Sea.

Work continues to build up the ABM infrastructure in Poland in addition to the US-deployed facility in Romania. All concerns regarding the possible deployment of Tomahawk cruise missiles at these bases remain. In addition, the Globus-3 radar station in Northern Norway, in the village of Vard, is continuing to modernize its missile defence capabilities and expand its capabilities to monitor the interior of the Russian territory, Colonel General Sergi Rudskoy said according to the Defense Ministrys transcripts from the briefing.

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B-52 on Arctic mission with Norwegian fighter jets - The Independent Barents Observer

Participants of the NATO Maritime Unmanned Systems (MUS) initiative decided to create a new Innovation Advisory Board to address multiple challenges for developing unmanned solutions operating below, above and on the water. The NATO MUS initiative was originally launched in October 2018 by 13 Allied Defence Ministers with an ambitious agenda.

The goal of NATOs Maritime Unmanned Systems initiative is to accelerate the introduction of innovative unmanned solutions in the maritime domain to help maintain NATOs technological edge stressed the NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Defence Investment Skip Davis.

Members of the Innovation Advisory Board will bring together a diverse set of backgrounds and areas of expertise from the public and private sectors, adding an important element to the MUS initiatives work. The newly created MUS Innovation Advisory Board is a highly promising contribution to the NATO effort, meant to leverage fresh perspectives and creative thinking from outside the defence establishment. This is a very exciting and practical example of NATO innovation in practice. adds Skip Davis in his role as the NATO representative on the Innovation Advisory Board. The first meeting of the Innovation Advisory Board in early June will focus on how unmanned systems can most effectively be integrated across the entire spectrum of the maritime domain.

At the Brussels Summit in 2018 NATO leaders reaffirmed the strategic importance of the maritime domain and the criticality of investing in new unmanned capabilities. They can complement conventional ships and serve as a force multiplier to expand the area of coverage and number of tasks Allied navies can address. Equally they offer the ability to remove military personnel from dangerous tasks such as mine clearing.

Excerpt from:
New Innovation Advisory Board to boost NATO Maritime Unmanned Systems initiative - NATO HQ

Georgette Mosbacher/Twitter

US Ambassador to Poland Georgette Mosbacher declared on Monday that the USA was ready to defend Poland and NATO. She made the statement referring to the Polish MoD's tweet regarding the flight of a US bomber being escorted by Polish fighter jets.

"Minister @mblaszczak, our commitment to Poland's security is ironclad, and that will never change. Polish and U.S. forces train together regardless of obstacles - we are always ready, if the need arises, to defend Poland and NATO," Ambassador Mosbacher wrote on Twitter.

Earlier, Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak wrote on Twitter about the flight, stating: "We are once again escorting the American B-1B bomber as part of the Bomber Task Force mission. This proves that the US is serious about its commitments to support allies in the event of an emergency. The Polish Army is carrying out its tasks despite #covid."

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Ambassador declares USA ready to defend Poland and NATO - The First News