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Foreign Ministers agreed on Thursday
(19 May 2016) that NATO should do more to project stability beyond the
Alliance’s borders. While stressing that NATO must retain the ability to
deploy combat forces when needed, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
said “we must also do more to train up local forces, to secure their own
territory, and push back against extremist groups.” He underlined that
such efforts are important for “preserving security here at home”.
Ministers reviewed the Alliance’s support for partners to
the south and the east, and considered how to expand NATO’s efforts.
Ongoing initiatives include training for hundreds of Iraqi officers in
Jordan; cyber defence projects with Jordan; and help developing special
forces training and a national intelligence centre for Tunisia. To the
east, NATO provides capacity-building help to Georgia and Moldova, and
helps support Ukraine with its ongoing reforms.
The Secretary General announced that he would send “an assessment team to Iraq as soon as possible,” following a request by Prime Minister Al-Abadi to expand NATO training into Iraq. Ministers also discussed how the Alliance could further support the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL, including with AWACS surveillance planes.
Ministers also decided to continue preparatory work with a view to assisting Libya strengthen its defence and security institutions, provided the Libyans so request.
“We also agreed that the Alliance can do more in the Mediterranean Sea, in cooperation with the European Union and other actors,” said the Secretary General. He explained that NATO’s Operation Active Endeavour in the Mediterranean will become a broader maritime security operation, including tasks such as upholding freedom of navigation, interdiction, and supporting maritime counter-terrorism.
NATO has a long history of projecting stability, through operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo, military training missions such as in Iraq, and capacity-building for over 40 partners. “But we can and should do more,” concluded Mr. Stoltenberg.
The Secretary General announced that he would send “an assessment team to Iraq as soon as possible,” following a request by Prime Minister Al-Abadi to expand NATO training into Iraq. Ministers also discussed how the Alliance could further support the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL, including with AWACS surveillance planes.
Ministers also decided to continue preparatory work with a view to assisting Libya strengthen its defence and security institutions, provided the Libyans so request.
“We also agreed that the Alliance can do more in the Mediterranean Sea, in cooperation with the European Union and other actors,” said the Secretary General. He explained that NATO’s Operation Active Endeavour in the Mediterranean will become a broader maritime security operation, including tasks such as upholding freedom of navigation, interdiction, and supporting maritime counter-terrorism.
NATO has a long history of projecting stability, through operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo, military training missions such as in Iraq, and capacity-building for over 40 partners. “But we can and should do more,” concluded Mr. Stoltenberg.
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