Category: NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

Defense ministers from 27 nations to hold meeting on anti-Daesh campaign in fall

News selected on topics and regions – oil and gas, business, politics, IT, the South Caucasus, the Caspian Sea region, Central Asia Ranking of the Azerbaijani banking sector The defense ministers from 27 countries participating in the counter-Daesh campaign agreed to meet once again in the fall of 2017 to discuss the state of the campaign, US Secretary of Defense Spokesperson Cmdr. Sarah Higgins said, Sputnik reported.

Australia open to doing more in war on Islamic State

Defence Minister Marise Payne has left open the possibility of bolstering Australia’s commitment to the fight the Islamic State group. The United States wants to “accelerate” the campaign to crush the terrorist organisation and there have been reports that could mean more foreign soldiers and military assets deployed in the Middle East.

NATO poised to open new Naples anti-terrorism hub

NATO was set to approve a plan Wednesday for a new anti-terrorism hub in Naples, Italy, which will serve as a focal point for monitoring threats growing along the alliance’s southern doorstep, NATO’s top official said. “This will help us to coordinate information on crisis countries such as Libya and Iraq, and help us address terrorism and other challenges stemming from the region,” Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said at the start of two days talks with NATO defense ministers.

Nervous NATO allies put on brave face for Trump era

Nervous European allies put a brave face on the troubled debut of President Donald Trump’s administration, expressing confidence in U.S. engagement with NATO as they prepared to hear from Trump’s defence chief at talks in Brussels on Wednesday. The meeting at NATO headquarters is seen as an opportunity for Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to reaffirm U.S. commitment to European security after an election campaign in which Trump appeared to question the value of the alliance.

Five big, unanswered questions about Trump and Russia

Attorney General Jeff Sessions told senators at his confirmation hearings that he “did not have communications with the Russians,” but it now seems that he did have contact with the Russian ambassador during the 2016 presidential campaign. That unexpected revelation has forced him to cede responsibility for overseeing any and all investigations into President Trump’s campaign.

British defence ministry denies NATO spending target shortfall

Britain’s Defence Ministry has denied reports from a think tank that the country failed to meet its 2 per cent NATO defence spending target in 2016. Britain fell short of the target, spending 1.98 per cent of GDP on defence, according to calculations from the Military Balance report from the International Institute for Strategic Studies .

Bethenny Frankel lists SoHo apartment for $5.25m

Justice for Etan Patz after 37 years: Killer Pedro Hernandez is found GUILTY of kidnapping and murdering six-year-old boy, more than three decades after he vanished on his walk to school in NYC Trump focuses on ‘illegal leaks’ in the wake of Flynn’s resignation – but doesn’t say if he’ll prosecute – as White House buzzes about ‘the enemy within’ What did the president know – and when did he know it? Mounting questions in Washington over EXACTLY when Trump knew Flynn lied about Russia Mike Flynn was paid to party with Putin and the acting attorney-general said he was ‘vulnerable to blackmail’: So what exactly does the Kremlin strongman have on one-time general? Kim Jong-Un’s half-brother ‘is assassinated on the orders of the North Korean dictator by two female killers who attacked the playboy from behind with poison at Kuala Lumpur airport’ Revealed: The truth about that liquid floating … (more)

The Latest: Trump press need for tougher immigration checks

President Donald Trump is pressing the need for more stringent screening while his immigration order is on hold by the courts. Trump says in remarks at the U.S. Central Command at the MacDill Air Force base in Florida that, “We need strong programs” so that “people that love us and want to love our country and will end up loving our country are allowed in” and those who “want to destroy us and destroy our country” are kept out.

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Trump has been burning up White House telephone lines calling his world counterparts and, during those talks, has committed to several trans-Atlantic trips. He spoke Sunday with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and agreed to attend a NATO leaders’ meeting in Brussels in late May. Trump once dismissed the trans-Atlantic military alliance as “obsolete.”

Trump will attend NATO meeting in May

President Trump spoke with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Sunday evening and agreed to join a meeting of NATO leaders in May in Europe. Trump and Stoltenberg discussed “how to encourage all NATO allies to meet their defense spending commitments,” according to a readout of the call provided by the White House.

On call with Trump, Italy’s leader discusses NATO, migrants

Italy’s premier emphasized the significance of NATO and outlined a new agreement between Italy and Libya to fight human trafficking during a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump. Italian Premier Paolo Gentiloni’s office says Sunday that the call Saturday evening focused on “bilateral relations between Italy and the USA, united by a historic friendship and collaboration.”

Trudeau, Theresa May discuss trade, security amid fallout from Trump’s immigration ban

British Prime Minister Theresa May called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Saturday to express condolences about the Quebec City shooting and update him on her recent visit with U.S. President Donald Trump. Ms. May “began by telling [Mr. Trudeau] that Britain’s thoughts remain with the people of Canada and those affected by the shooting at the Islamic Cultural Centre in Quebec City,” said a Downing Street spokesperson, “and they agreed on the importance of working to tackle violent extremism in our societies.”

Platform of French far-right candidate “made in France”

Far-right leader and candidate for next spring presidential elections Marine le Pen, center left, shakes hands as she visits the Entrepreneur Fair, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017 in Paris, France. Far-right leader and candidate for next spring presidential elections Marine le Pen, center left, shakes hands as she visits the Entrepreneur Fair, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017 in Paris, France.

The Russians are coming – and targeting UK and European infrastructure, claims Sir Michael Fallon

The UK and Europe are under regular cyber attack from Russia, which is seeking to disrupt critical infrastructure, according to UK defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon. Speaking at St Andrews University, Fallon said that it was clear that Russia was becoming increasingly belligerent in its actions against the west, both in terms of troops on the ground, as well as in the digital sphere.

Trump White House issues muted response to renewed violence in Ukraine

The Trump administration on Wednesday maintained a low-key approach to the latest flare-up of violence in eastern Ukraine, where the government accuses Russian-backed forces of stepping up attacks. The restrained tone may reflect the start of a new U.S. approach to dealing with Russia’s cross-border activity, even as top U.S. officials are pledging to support Ukraine’s sovereignty.

How Powerful Is France’s President?

France’s outgoing President Sarkozy and his wife leave the Elysee Palace after the handover ceremony with President Hollande, May 15, 2012. French presidents have more power than the leaders of most other advanced democracies, including Germany, the United Kingdom, and, arguably, the United States.

European Union president declares Trump as ‘threat’

The European Union declared the Trump administration a “threat” on Tuesday, laying bare what many Europeans think privately and setting the stage for increased tension between the US and EU. European Union President Donald Tusk’s diplomatic bombshell listed the Trump administration as a threat alongside China, Russia, terrorism and radical Islam, adding that “worrying declarations by the new American administration all make our future highly unpredictable.”

EU chief sees Trump announcements as threats

The leader of the European Union put longtime ally the United States in a “threat” category on Tuesday, insisting that President Donald Trump is contributing to the “highly unpredictable” outlook for the bloc. In a letter to 27 EU leaders before Friday’s summit in Malta, EU President Donald Tusk mentioned the Trump administration as part of an external “threat” together with China, Russia, radical Islam, war and terror.

Leonid Bershidsky:

Russia, a country not known for strict constitutionalism, has offered Syria’s warring sides a draft constitution that will probably get rejected. But the document sheds light on Russia’s goals in the war-torn Middle Eastern nation.

British PM May visits Turkey, reaches $125M fighter jet deal

Turkey and Britain signed a deal to jointly build fighter jets during Prime Minister Theresa May’s visit to Ankara on Saturday, even as the British leader called on Turkey’s government to uphold democracy and abide by human rights standards. Britain’s BAE Systems and Turkish aerospace industries signed the nearly $125.5 million agreement for the development of Turkey’s fighter jet program after May met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other Turkish officials about boosting trade between the countries once Britain leaves the European Union.

Officials tell conference US will remain a Pacific power

The United States will stay committed to remaining a Pacific power despite potential policy changes under President Donald Trump’s new administration, officials told a conference Monday on U.S. alliances with Australia and Japan. The U.S. Embassy to Australia’s political counselor John Hennessey-Niland said U.S. allies in the Asia-Pacific region can be reassured that the Pacific will remain key to U.S. interests under the new administration.

Germany’s Merkel, Trump agree on importance of NATO in call

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine on Saturday and agreed on the importance of NATO during their first call since Trump’s inauguration, according to joint statement by Merkel’s office. The two leaders had an “extensive phone conversation” in which they also talked about relations with Russia, said Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert.

May’s mission to woo Trump a success, but makes some uneasy

May left Washington after a 24-hour visit as Saturday’s British newspapers splashed front-page photos of the two leaders touching hands as they walked at the White House before a strikingly collegial news conference. May wanted her meeting, Trump’s first as president with a foreign leader, to revitalize the trans-Atlantic “special relationship.”

Trump, May affirm special relationship between US, UK

President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May appeared chummy as they faced a curious world together for the first time Friday, pledging allegiance to the special relationship between their countries while trying to mask stark differences on some major issues. US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May speak during a press conference at the White House January 27, 2017 in Washington, DC.

Trump, UK prime minister emphasize ‘special relationship’ at White House

In his first official meeting with a foreign leader, President Trump prepared Friday to welcome British Prime Minister Theresa May to the White House for talks that center on trade, the British withdrawal from the European Union, and the future of the NATO military alliance. Trump, UK prime minister emphasize ‘special relationship’ at White House In his first official meeting with a foreign leader, President Trump prepared Friday to welcome British Prime Minister Theresa May to the White House for talks that center on trade, the British withdrawal from the European Union, and the future of the NATO military alliance.

Trump poised to seek new military options for defeating IS

President Donald Trump is expected to ask the Pentagon for ways to accelerate the fight against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria, and officials said the options probably would include steps the Obama administration considered but never acted on, from adding significantly more U.S. troops to boosting military aid to Kurdish fighters Trump’s visit Friday to the Defense Department’s headquarters will start the conversation over how to fulfill his inauguration address pledge to eradicate radical Islamic terrorism “completely from the face of the Earth.”

Russia: We want to normalize relations with US, Europe

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has called for the “re-establishment of normal relations” between Russia and the United States under the Trump administration. His desire for better US-Russian relations on Wednesday echoes previous statements by US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

The Latest: Trump says refugee crackdown ‘not a Muslim ban’

President Donald Trump bars all refugees from entering the United States for four months _ and those from war-ravaged Syria indefinitely _ declaring the ban necessary to prevent “radical Islamic terrorists” from… Confusion, worry and outrage are growing as President Donald Trump’s crackdown on refugees and citizens from seven majority-Muslim country takes effect President Donald Trump’s first conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin since taking office is sparking concern among European allies and fellow Republicans about the future of U.S. sanctions on Moscow.

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President Donald Trump bars all refugees from entering the United States for four months _ and those from war-ravaged Syria indefinitely _ declaring the ban necessary to prevent “radical Islamic terrorists” from… A federal judge in New York has issued an emergency order temporarily barring the U.S. from deporting people from nations subject to President Donald Trump’s travel ban President Donald Trump’s first conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin since taking office is sparking concern among European allies and fellow Republicans about the future of U.S. sanctions on Moscow.

Canada pauses peacekeeping plan to better co-ordinate with…

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan plans to talk to his American counterpart before he pursues Canada’s plan to send peacekeepers to Africa, saying co-ordination with the U.S. is essential. The government announced in August that Canada would deploy up to 600 troops on future UN peacekeeping missions, though it stopped short of saying exactly where they would go.

NATO, Pentagon Chiefs Discuss Military Budgets, Terrorism

NATO’s chief and new U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis have discussed military spending and combating terrorism, the source of criticism of the alliance by President Donald Trump. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg’s office said Tuesday that the two men “agreed on the fundamental and enduring value of NATO for the security of both Europe and North America.”

Pentagon chief vows ‘unshakeable commitment’ to NATO:spokesman28 min ago

New US Secretary of Defence James Mattis reassured his British counterpart that Washington has an “unshakeable commitment” to NATO, despite President Donald Trump previously casting the military alliance as obsolete. During a phone call with Michael Fallon on his first full day in office, Mattis “emphasized the United States’ unshakeable commitment to NATO,” Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said in a statement.