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Endovelico
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NATO

Post by Endovelico »

Hagel Warns NATO Faces North-South Split - Southern Members Sick of Talking About Russia
by Jason Ditz, February 05, 2015

Fresh from his last NATO meeting, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel today warned that there is a growing division within the alliance along a north-south axis.

Hagel saw the problem as two-fold, and seemed to blame southern member nations on both counts, saying the north wants to focus on “the growing threat from Russia,” while southern nations are worried about Northern Africa.

That’s a big, obvious division, but Hagel also saw a problem in that many of the nations with less gargantuan militaries believe the alliance can only handle a war with one or the other, while Hagel assured it was a time for unity and heavy military investment so NATO could fight a whole bunch of conflicts at once.

Ultimately, this split reflects the reality that NATO hasn’t had a “unified threat” since the Cold War ended, and keeping the alliance around for the sake of hostility toward whoever the US is riled up against at any given time is making less and less sense.

http://news.antiwar.com/2015/02/05/hage ... uth-split/
As things are, that division will get deeper, and it will not only concern NATO. Northern European countries tend to see foreign relations on a confrontational basis, very much focused on ways to acquire resources and to control markets. Which makes them go along with American imperialism. Southern European countries, although not indifferent to markets and economic opportunities, see this much more in a cooperative form, where all parties have something to gain. And although there are cultural differences with other peoples, there is a lot more tolerance and willingness to accept those differences. When dealing with Africa, the Middle East or Latin America, Southern European countries are a lot less critical or negative than their Northern neighbours. Contrarily to them Southern Europeans do not insist on telling other peoples how they should run their countries. If it was up to us relations with Iran would have long been normalized and the Middle East would be left alone, to find its own equilibrium. These differences - between Northern and Southern Europe - are so big that I don't see any cooperation between the two, beyond a free trade arrangement and a free exchange of information, mostly on the scientific areas.
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Endovelico
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Re: NATO

Post by Endovelico »

Turkey Won't Link Air Defense System to NATO
(Defense News) Military

ANKARA — The Turkish government has announced that it will not integrate its planned long-range air and anti-missile defense system with NATO assets stationed in the country.

In reply to a parliamentary question motion, Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz said Feb. 19 that the system would instead be integrated with the national systems. "It will be used without being integrated with NATO systems," Yilmaz said in a written statement.

He said that the integration of the planned system with the Turkish Armed Forces' command-and-control structure would be done locally by a company authorized by the government.

Yilmaz said that the program would be paid for by foreign financing and that there were no new bids from the contenders.

In September 2013, Turkey selected China Precision Machinery Import-Export Corp. (CPMIEC) for a $3.44 billion offer. About half of Turkey's network-based air defense picture has been paid for by NATO. The country is part of NATO's air defense ground environment. Without NATO's consent, it will be impossible for Turkey to make the planned Chinese system operable with these assets, some analysts say.

NATO and US officials have said any Chinese-built system could not be integrated with Turkey's joint air defense assets with NATO and the United States. They also have warned that any Turkish company that acts as local subcontractor in the program would face serious US sanctions because CPMIEC has been sanctioned under the Iran, North Korea and Syria Nonproliferation Act.

After increased pressure from NATO allies, Ankara opened parallel talks with the second- and third-comers in the bidding — the European Eurosam, maker of the Aster 30, and the US Raytheon/Lockheed Martin, offering the Patriot system.

In September, for a fifth time, Turkey extended the deadline for all three bidders to Dec. 31. The Jan. 7 decision to extend the deadline for another six months is the sixth extension.

The Turkish program consists of radar, launcher and interceptor missiles. It has been designed to counter enemy aircraft and missiles. Turkey has no long-range air defense systems.

http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/2015/02/20/3695
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Endovelico
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Re: NATO

Post by Endovelico »

Finland's anti-NATO parties come on top in general polls
Mon Apr 20, 2015 6:24AM
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2015/04/2 ... n-in-polls

Finland’s Prime Minister Alexander Stubb has conceded defeat in the nation’s general election to the anti-NATO opposition Centre Party, which won 21.1 percent of the vote and secured 49 seats in the parliament.

Following the Sunday vote, Stubb, who is a strong supporter of the European Union (EU), said, “It appears the Centre has won. Congratulations,” according to Finnish broadcaster Yle.

Meanwhile, by capturing only 49 legislative seats, the Centre Party will have to begin forming a ruling coalition as party leader Juha Sipila mentioned to reporters that the election results “will enable several possible coalition combinations.”

Among a number of possible allies that Centre can choose from is the nationalist Finns Party, which came second in the electoral race by winning 17.6 percent of the vote and like Centre is opposed to Finland's NATO membership.

This is while the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which came in fourth by receiving 16.5 percent of the votes, is considered to be another potential member for the next ruling coalition. Similar to Centre and Finns Parties, the Social Democrats are also against NATO membership, with nearly 91 percent of its members expressing opposition to it, according to the report.

Other possible considerations for establishing a ruling coalition include the Greens, the Left party, the pro-minority Swedish People's Party and the Christian Democrats, all of which received less than nine percent of the vote.

Meanwhile, the National Coalition Party (NCP) that supports both NATO membership and closer ties with the EU, came in third by capturing 18.2 percent of the vote.
I guess the chances of Finland joining NATO have just disappeared. Definitely good news. Too bad for those whose single concern is encircling Russia with warmongers...
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Alexis
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Re: NATO

Post by Alexis »

Endovelico wrote:I guess the chances of Finland joining NATO have just disappeared. Definitely good news.
Good news, indeed.

Also a confirmation that Finland is a Mediterranean country. :P
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Parodite
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Re: NATO

Post by Parodite »

Alexis wrote:
Endovelico wrote:I guess the chances of Finland joining NATO have just disappeared. Definitely good news.
Good news, indeed.

Also a confirmation that Finland is a Mediterranean country. :P
It doesn't mean anything substantial if Finland joins NATO or not.
Deep down I'm very superficial
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Endovelico
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Re: NATO

Post by Endovelico »

Russia Just Closed NATO's Land Corridor to Afghanistan
http://russia-insider.com/en/russia-jus ... tan/ri7078

“The graveyard of empires” just got a little bit more graveyardy: Medvedev has‬ canceled the decree that allows ‪NATO‬ forces to use Russian territory as a transit corridor to Afghanistan. The decision comes just as it was revealed that the U.S. plans on extending its already over-extended “stay” in Afghanistan. Hey, somebody has to guard all those delicious poppy fields!

The decree states:

"With regard to the ceasing of actions related to the NATO resolution 1386 (2001), the Russian Federation issues the following decree:

1.To nullify the acts of the Government of the Russian Federation as listed according to the appendix.

2.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation informs the governments of foreign lands and international organisations of the ceasing of terrestrial and combined (rail, auto and air) transit of weapons, military goods and ammunition across the Russian Federation , following the address of the International powers of defence cooperation in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan."


Have fun resupplying your poppy-guarding bases via Pakistan….
Antagonizing Russia was a great idea... :D
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