BY KYLE D. CLAPHAM NATO declared the first phase of its ballistic-missile defense operational at the alliance’s summit in Chicago in May. The organization also affirmed the timetable for European Phased Adaptive Approach (EPAA), which includes the deployment of interceptor missiles on land in Romania by 2015 and in Poland by 2018. But the United … Continue reading
BY KYLE D. CLAPHAM NATO declared limited operational capability of its European ballistic missile defense and affirmed a timetable for future deployments during the alliance’s gathering in Chicago this month, but the organization failed to address key concerns about the system’s radars and antimissile development. “It is the first step towards our long-term goal of … Continue reading
NATO’s future ballistic missile defense passed its first significant operational test in early April, raising questions about how aggressively the alliance now will pursue the U.S.-led European missile shield that continues to elicit vehement opposition from Russia. Continue reading
The Gulf of Aden is one of the busiest maritime routes in the world. It is also one of the most dangerous. For several years, Somali pirates have been capturing the world’s attention, along with its commercial ships, which they hold for ransoms of millions of dollars. NATO reacted in 2008, by launching its anti-piracy effort with the mission to escort UN and World Food Programme shipping, and protect merchant shipping in the Gulf of Aden. Continue reading
Less than a year since the completion of NATO’s successful but still controversial Libya mission, the Chicago summit may serve as a venue to discuss both its accomplishments and shortcomings and what they mean for the future of the alliance. “It is clear that Libya is a precedent for how missions will be carried out in the future and how NATO defines its role as a military organization,” said Graham Paul, the French Consul in Chicago. Continue reading
The EuroZone crisis heightens NATO’s urge to take immediate effective measures to prevent members’ economic problems from turning into a general, more dangerous security crisis. NATO relies on contributions from member countries to fund its initiatives. As European countries undergo severe austerity cuts, including massive cuts to defense budgets, their capacity to fulfill those financial obligations diminishes. Continue reading
The “in together, out together” approach that has guided NATO’s decade-plus Afghanistan operations will encounter a serious test at the summit in Chicago, with some experts Continue reading
