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NATO Approves New Reaction Force for Eastern Europe NATO Approves New Reaction Force for Eastern Europe
(about 2 hours later)
NEWPORT, Wales — NATO on Friday approved plans for a 4,000-person rapid reaction force headquartered in eastern Europe, aimed at reassuring members near Russia unnerved by its military actions in the Ukraine conflict that the principle of collective defense remains sacrosanct. NEWPORT, Wales — NATO leaders approved plans on Friday for a 4,000-person rapid reaction force to be based in Eastern Europe, and meant to reassure members of the alliance unnerved by events in Ukraine, where Russia has seized and annexed the Crimean peninsula and backed separatist rebels in the east.
The NATO secretary general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, said the force, a “spearhead” for a larger reaction force, would send a clear message to potential aggressors, namely Russia, and represent “a continuous presence.” The NATO secretary general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, said that the force, a “spearhead” for a larger reaction force, would send a clear message to potential aggressors, namely Russia, and would represent “a continuous presence.”
“Should you even think of attacking one ally, you will be facing the whole alliance,” he declared at the close of the two-day NATO summit in southern Wales.“Should you even think of attacking one ally, you will be facing the whole alliance,” he declared at the close of the two-day NATO summit in southern Wales.
In a news conference after the summit, President Obama said that the principle of collective defense was “nonnegotiable” and that NATO “will defend every ally.”
Mr. Obama said the leaders had agreed to a “new readiness action plan,” including the creation of the new force, the stationing of more equipment in Central and Eastern Europe, more rotations of forces into the area and more training exercises there. He said that all 28 allies would contribute to the effort “as long as necessary,” and that members who were not already meeting the alliance’s goal of spending 2 percent of gross domestic product on defense would increase their military budgets.
“NATO will not be complacent,” Mr. Obama said.
Though Ukraine is not a member of the alliance, the president said, NATO was committed to upholding the country’s “sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and right to defend itself.” He said that all 28 allies would provide security assistance to Ukraine, including help with logistics and with command and control, and that NATO’s resolve would send “a strong message to Russia.”
Mr. Obama said that the door to NATO membership “remains open to nations that can meet our high standards,” and that the alliance would reinforce its cooperation with other countries as well. He specifically mentioned two, Georgia and Moldova, where Russian-backed separatist rebels have broken off chunks of territory from government control, as well as Jordan and Libya.
Earlier Friday, the Obama administration said it had formed a coalition of countries to oppose Sunni militants with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, unveiling a military and political campaign that officials said could eventually serve as a model for fighting extremist groups around the world.Earlier Friday, the Obama administration said it had formed a coalition of countries to oppose Sunni militants with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, unveiling a military and political campaign that officials said could eventually serve as a model for fighting extremist groups around the world.
But Ukraine remained the most important issue for the alliance, even as a cease-fire was announced at peace talks in Minsk, Belarus, with Ukraine, Russia and pro-Russian rebels. The durability of that cease-fire remained unclear. But Ukraine remained the most important issue for the alliance, even as a cease-fire was announced on Friday in Minsk, Belarus, by representatives of Ukraine, the pro-Russian rebels, Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
The United States and European Union have expressed skepticism about a cease-fire in the Ukraine conflict and said they were preparing further coordinated economic sanctions on Russia. The United States and the European Union have expressed skepticism about a cease-fire in the Ukraine conflict and said they were preparing further coordinated economic sanctions against Russia. Asked at the news conference whether those sanctions would go ahead if the cease-fire took hold, Mr. Obama gave a guarded answer. Though “the only reason we are seeing a cease-fire is the sanctions” against Russia, he said, European leaders were still discussing how and when to proceed with a new round.
Britain also said it would supply 1,000 personnel, including a brigade headquarters, for the new NATO rapid reaction force. In addition. 3,500 British troops will take part in NATO exercises in eastern Europe through 2015 – though there may be some overlap between the two commitments. “The path for Russia to rejoin the community of nations that respects international law is still there,” Mr. Obama said.
Britain said it would supply 1,000 troops, including a brigade headquarters, for the new NATO rapid reaction force, and that 3,500 British troops will take part in NATO exercises in Eastern Europe through 2015 — though there may be some overlap between the two commitments.
NATO also announced that its next summit, in 2016, will be held in Warsaw, the Polish capital, where “the Warsaw Pact was created and overthrown,” said President Bronislaw Komorowski of Poland.NATO also announced that its next summit, in 2016, will be held in Warsaw, the Polish capital, where “the Warsaw Pact was created and overthrown,” said President Bronislaw Komorowski of Poland.