NATO News
Reports on NATO’s role in global defense, Europe, and U.S. foreign policy. Conservative opinion and commentary from The Daily Signal accompany the news.
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A Lesson for NATO From Ukraine: In a War With Russia, Smartphones Might Be the Safest Way to Communicate
KYIV, Ukraine—After four years of constant combat against Russia and its separatist proxies in eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian troops have learned the value of creativity in warfare. The battlefield innovations in technology and tactics that Ukrainian troops have made on the fly in eastern Ukraine reflect the sort of forward thinking, flexible mindset needed by NATO…Nolan Peterson -
Major NATO Exercise With Sweden Highlights Ability to Deter Russian Aggression
Sweden, a country with a close defense relationship with the U.S. and NATO, hosted its largest military exercise in 23 years this September as a demonstration of deterrence against Russian aggression. U.S. forces played an important role and in doing so helped to strengthen the U.S. military position in Europe. Exercises are a key means…James Di Pane -
Watch as Russian Fighter Jet Intercepts US Bombers Over Baltic Sea During NATO Exercise
KRZESINY AIR BASE, Poland—A Russian fighter jet last week intercepted a formation of 11 NATO aircraft, including U.S. bombers, as they flew within international airspace over the Baltic Sea as part of a military exercise. This correspondent for The Daily Signal was onboard a U.S. Air Force KC-135 aerial refueling tanker, part of the formation…Nolan Peterson -
For Bigger Defense Commitments, Bring NATO Finance Ministers to the Table
NATO heads of state will gather Thursday in Brussels for a so-called mini-summit (officially a meeting of the North Atlantic Council at the heads-of-state level). But if the alliance wants to attain real progress on increasing European defense spending, then NATO finance ministers should also make the trip to Belgium. The mini-summit will be the…Daniel Kochis -
What a Middle Eastern NATO Could Accomplish for Trump
With the Middle East experiencing renewed levels of tumult, it begs consideration: Does the region need its own version of NATO? This idea appeared in The Washington Post just this week. Josh Rogin reported that during the president’s stop in Saudi Arabia, he might lay out a proposal for a regional security alliance of Arab…James Carafano -
Trump, NATO Leader to Talk About Allies’ Paying Fair Share
Less than a week after President Donald Trump rallied the world behind ending the violence in Syria, he will meet with the top civilian leader of NATO, an organization he criticized during the campaign as “obsolete.” “For the sake of NATO’s future, it will have to focus on terrorism,” @ARVershbow says. The top issues will…Fred Lucas -
What Trump’s Meeting With Angela Merkel Means for NATO
In his first in-person meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel last week, President Donald Trump conveyed America’s commitment to the transatlantic alliance, stating, “I reiterated to Chancellor Merkel my strong support for NATO.” The president also repeated his call for European members of NATO to increase spending on defense. As I stated last week, Trump…Daniel Kochis -
Are NATO Members Carrying Their Weight? Only 5 of 28 Countries Pay ‘Fair Share’
President Donald Trump alarmed European allies during the campaign when he suggested he might not defend NATO nations if they don’t fulfill their financial obligations, but he is not the first U.S. leader to express concerns that member countries don’t spend enough on their militaries. Currently, only five of NATO’s 28 members—the U.S., Greece, Britain,…Josh Siegel -
Germany to Commit More Troops to NATO in Lithuania
Germany is upping its contribution to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in the Baltic state of Lithuania. This is a welcome development. The initial news came in October when Germany announced its commitment of Bundeswehr forces to Lithuania in 2017 as part of a NATO deterrence mission. Materially, the German deployment will be substantial. Of…Garrett Robinson -
Why the United States Must Continue to Embrace NATO to Answer Aggressive Russia
Sixty-seven years ago yesterday, the U.S. Senate ratified the North Atlantic Treaty, creating NATO. Ravaged by two world wars, and faced with the very real existential threat of the Soviet Union, European democracies allied with the U.S. and Canada created a security pact with collective defense at its core. The United States lost over half…Daniel Kochis -
While NATO Discussed Russian Aggression, Fighting Spiked in Eastern Ukraine
KYIV, Ukraine—Over the weekend, as NATO leaders in Warsaw, Poland, were discussing ways to counter Russian aggression, the conflict in eastern Ukraine concurrently spiked to its worst level in months. “I don’t think it’s a coincidence,” Stephen Blank, senior fellow for Russia at the American Foreign Policy Council, told The Daily Signal. “It makes sense…Nolan Peterson -
US Needs NATO Now as Much as Ever, Student of the Alliance Says
Policy leaders are reflecting on the legacy and future of NATO this week, the anniversary of the alliance’s creation 67 years ago. One of them is Luke Coffey, director of the Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies at The Heritage Foundation. “[U.S.] involvement in NATO means that Europe stays relatively secure and calm. And we’re…Mariana Barillas -
You’d Better Believe NATO Still Matters Today
Recently there have been some who have questioned NATO’s importance in the 21st century. Europe is currently experiencing a belligerent and aggressive Russia with old-school 18th-century imperial ambitions. The answer is—very important. Europe is currently experiencing a belligerent and aggressive Russia with old-school 18th-century imperial ambitions. While Russia’s actions in Ukraine may seem unimportant to…Luke Coffey -
Why Montenegro Was Just Invited to Join the NATO Alliance
On Wednesday, foreign ministers extended an invitation of NATO membership to Montenegro, a small nation in the Balkans. The decision to offer Montenegro membership will strengthen the NATO alliance, improve regional security in the Balkans, and most importantly send a clear signal that NATO remains committed to its open door policy. It also shows other countries…Daniel Kochis -
Can NATO Be Involved in Responding to Paris Attacks? Looking at Article 5
In light of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, which resulted in at least 139 dead and another 350 wounded, there has been significant discussion about what role the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) should have, if any, in a response to the attacks. We asked Luke Coffey, the Margaret Thatcher Fellow at The Heritage…Luke Coffey -
NATO Intercepts Russian Warplanes as US Convoy Enters Poland
WARSAW, Poland— As a U.S. Army Stryker convoy crossed from Lithuania to Poland Tuesday—within about 12 miles of the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad—nearby NATO warplanes scrambled to intercept Russian bombers and fighters over the Baltic Sea. While neither Washington nor Moscow have suggested the parallel timing of the Russian flyby with the U.S. convoy was…Nolan Peterson -
Would a Newly Independent Scotland Be Able to Join NATO, EU?
Scots go to the polls Thursday to decide whether to continue life within the United Kingdom or as an independent country. That is their choice and they have the right to make it without outside interference. But they also have a right to make an educated decision. So how could Scotland’s decision influence its relations…Mike Gonzalez -
A Nuclear-Capable NATO: Requirement for Deterrence
With the recent aggression by Russia in eastern Ukraine, NATO allies, especially those in the Baltic and Eastern Europe, have become increasingly concerned about a Russian occupation. NATO’s ability and will to meet the Russian threat has come under scrutiny from security experts. Former national security advisors Brent Scowcroft, Stephen J. Hadley, and former Defense…Steven Smolinsky -
Heritage at the NATO Summit
Last week, I participated in the Future Leaders Summit at the venue of the NATO summit in Wales, dubbed the most important summit in NATO’s history. The Future Leaders Summit, part of the Atlantic Council’s Young Atlanticist Program, offered young leaders an opportunity to interact with senior representatives from NATO member states and other countries….Michaela Dodge -
NATO Summit 2014: U.S. Leadership Needed More Now Than Ever
This week’s NATO Summit in the United Kingdom couldn’t come at a more important time. Russian aggression is on the rise. NATO’s combat mission in Afghanistan is ending. The Alliance needs focus. The U.S. should use this opportunity to refocus NATO on the basics, with renewed emphasis on collective security and territorial defense as envisioned…Luke Coffey