NATO

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organization

• The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
• NATO's Chicago Summit Declaration
• Chicago Host Committee
• The United States & NATO (PDF, 1Mb)

NATO News

17 January 2013 Panetta Urges New Focus for NATO   As the International Security Assistance Force transitions to a sustaining role in Afghanistan by the end of 2014, will NATO retreat from its responsibilities, or innovate to develop and share the capabilities needed to meet growing, global security challenges?   Defense Secretary Panetta delivered a speech at King's College here today, built around that question.

15 January 2013 In Europe Remarks, Panetta Stresses NATO Commitment  In a joint news conference here with Spanish Defense Minister Pedro Morenes Eulate, and in an earlier event today with Portuguese Defense Minister Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco, the secretary praised NATO allies’ resolve over the past 10-plus years of war, and urged their continued commitment to the transatlantic alliance.

 2012

05 December 2012 Clinton Applauds NATO for Global Security Cooperation  Secretary of State Clinton and her counterparts from the NATO alliance discussed a wide range of global economic, security and political issues during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels.  The meeting of the NATO-Russia Council covered the group’s extensive cooperation with Russia in places like Afghanistan. Clinton said members also spoke frankly about areas of disagreement between NATO and Russia, including Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and the need for a political transition in Syria

11 October 2012 Panetta at NATO Cites Significant Progress in Afghanistan  Speaking at a NATO defense ministers conference Panetta said a surge of U.S. and International Security Assistance Force forces has concluded and was successful in regaining control of ground under Taliban insurgent control in 2011 and preventing the Taliban from regaining any of those areas. In addition, the surge forces were successful in pushing the Taliban out of even more areas in 2012, he said.

10 October 2012 Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta's Statement to NATO Defense Ministers

03 October 2012 NATO Extends Rasmussen's Term as Secretary General  The North Atlantic Council has extended Anders Fogh Rasmussen’s four-year term as NATO secretary general for another year, until July 31, 2014, the council announced today.

18 September 2012 ISAF clarifies information on partnering with ANSF  (via NATO.int)     Recent media coverage regarding a change in ISAF's model of Security Force Assistance (SFA) to the Afghan National Security Forces is not accurate. ISAF remains absolutely committed to partnering with, training, advising and assisting our ANSF counterparts. The ISAF SFA model is focused at the battalion level and above, with exceptions approved by senior commanders. Partnering occurs at all levels, from Platoon to Corps. This has not changed.

06 July 2012 NATO to Strengthen Ability to Act with Global Partners  NATO seeks to assume a more global perspective, play its part globally and strengthen its ability to act with partners around the globe, says Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.  In a speech at Chatham House, Rasmussen said forging closer links with partners in Asia, Africa and elsewhere is crucial to guaranteeing future security in the Euro-Atlantic area.

24 June 2012 Secretary Clinton on Syrian Shoot-Down of Turkish Aircraft "The United States condemns this brazen and unacceptable act in the strongest possible terms. It is yet another reflection of the Syrian authorities' callous disregard for international norms, human life, and peace and security."

21 May 2102 NATO Announces Interim Missile Defense Capability   NATO members announced that the alliance has achieved an interim ballistic missile defense capability, with plans for it to be fully operational in 2018. The capability is designed to defend NATO’s European populations and territories from a missile attack; the alliance said it is not directed against Russia and will not undermine Russia’s strategic deterrence capabilities.
• White House Fact Sheet on NATO Capabilities
• President Obama on Results of NATO Summit
• NATO's Chicago Summit Declaration

21 May 2102 NATO Allies: Afghan Forces Will Take Security Control in 2013  President Obama and leaders of the United States’ NATO allies have formally agreed to transfer security responsibility across Afghanistan to Afghan forces in 2013, a significant step toward transition as U.S. and international forces prepare to end their combat mission in the country in 2014.
 • White House Fact Sheet on NATO and Afghanistan After 2014
 • NATO Summit Declaration on Afghanistan 

20 May 2102 Panetta Meets With UK Counterpart Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta met with his counterpart from the United Kingdom, Secretary of State of Defense Philip Hammond. The top defense officials met during the first day of the 25th NATO Summit, the largest and broadest in the alliance’s history.

20 May 2012 Obama at Opening of North Atlantic Council Meeting    "I look forward to our meeting with NATO’s neighbors and our partners around the world who have been so critical to NATO operations as in Afghanistan and Libya. It will be another reminder that NATO is truly a hub of a network of global security partners. There is nothing else like it on Earth."

20 May 2012 Obama, NATO Secretary-General Rasmussen Before Meeting at 2012 Summit 

14 May 2012 NATO Summit to Focus on Afghanistan, Missile Defense   Afghanistan will top the agenda items at the upcoming NATO Summit in Chicago as coalition members consider an agreement on a long-term strategic partnership that promotes security and stability there, said Navy Admiral James Stavridis, NATO’s supreme allied commander for Europe.

10 May 2012 NATO Summit to Reaffirm Afghan Transition Plan  The May 20–21 NATO Summit in Chicago will focus on the alliance’s mission in Afghanistan, including its shift from a combat role to a supporting role for Afghan security forces, as well as defense capabilities and partnerships among member nations to meet the security challenges of the 21st century.

18 April 2012 Secretaries Clinton, Panetta at NATO Headquarters in Brussels  Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta discuss Afghanistan and Syria during a press briefing at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

03 April 2012 Remarks of Secretary Clinton to the World Affairs Council 2012 NATO Conference 

21 March 2012 Fact Sheet on May NATO Summit in Chicago  The United States will host the NATO Summit May 20-21, in Chicago, Illinois. President Obama looks forward to welcoming leaders from NATO member and partner nations to his hometown for the Summit of the world’s most successful Alliance. At the NATO Summit, leaders will discuss the next major phase of transition in Afghanistan, agree to further steps to ensure NATO has the capabilities necessary to meet the challenges of the 21st century, and further broaden and deepen its relationships with non-NATO partners.

12 March 2012 Obama: 2012 G8 and NATO Summits Scheduled for May  President Obama says he will host the 2012 Group of Eight (G8) summit of advanced economies outside Washington at the Maryland presidential retreat of Camp David to discuss long-term global economic recovery. He will also host the 28-member NATO Summit in Chicago this spring for talks on defense and security cooperation.  When the two summits were first announced, the White House had said it would host both events back-to-back in Chicago, the president’s hometown. But the president said during a news conference recently that splitting the two summits was an idea proposed to him after the initial announcement.

02 February 2012 Panetta Describes U.S. Military Transition in Afghanistan  Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says the United States is aiming to draw down combat forces from Afghanistan starting this year and end its combat role by late 2013, with a measured transition throughout 2014 to one of training and advising local security forces.

01 February 2012 Panetta to Meet With NATO Leaders in Brussels  Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said today he will stress during this week’s NATO defense ministers conference that ongoing coalition commitment is essential to success in Afghanistan.   “One of the pillars of our strategy is to build on successful partnerships, and NATO is, without question, one of the most successful military alliances in history,” the secretary told reporters traveling with him to Brussels.

2011

08 November 2011 Obama, NATO Chief Discuss Libya, Afghanistan  President Obama and NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen met to discuss NATO’s just-ended mission to support Libya and to discuss goals for the 2012 Chicago summit, which will feature discussions on Afghanistan.  A significant part of their meeting in the Oval Office was focused on NATO’s defense capabilities to meet future security threats, which is expected to be a dominant theme at the next summit. Obama is hosting the 25th NATO summit May 20–21 in Chicago.

07 October 2011 Panetta Cites Progress, Gaps in NATO Defense  Countries of the NATO alliance must work together to defend common security interests now and in the future, said Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. At his final press conference of the NATO defense ministerial, Panetta summarized key issues, praised the alliance and its success in Afghanistan and Libya, and detailed work that is needed to fill gaps in the alliance’s military capabilities. 

06 October 2011 Panetta Details Guidelines for Ending Libya Mission  Consensus exists among NATO members about how to decide when to end Operation Unified Protector in Libya, based on guidelines that can be used to evaluate conditions on the ground there.

05 October 2011 Defense Secretary Panetta Cites Need for Greater Investment in NATO  Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told Europeans that NATO members need to take this moment to make the case for a greater investment in the alliance so it remains relevant to the security challenges of the future. Many on both sides of the Atlantic have recognized that NATO nations are at a critical moment, he said.
 • Remarks by Defense Secretary Panetta at Carnegie Europe  

03 October 2011 Panetta Visits Middle East, NATO to Reaffirm Relationships  In his first visit as defense secretary, Leon Panetta will meet with Israeli, Palestinian and Egyptian leaders and will travel to NATO headquarters this week to reaffirm the Defense Department’s security relationships.

10 June 2011 Gates Says NATO Security Gains in Afghanistan Can Be Sustained  Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the gains made in Afghanistan by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force  over the past two years can take root and be sustained over time with proper allied support.   “Far too much has been accomplished, at far too great a cost, to let the momentum slip away just as the enemy is on its back foot,” Gates said in a speech to the Security and Defense Agenda conference in Brussels. His remarks came at the end of nearly three days of meetings by the NATO defense ministers.

10 June 2011 Reflections on the status and future of the transatlantic alliance  Secretary Gates said that "NATO has turned into a two-tiered alliance of members who consume security and those who produce it.  This is no longer a hypothetical worry.  We are there today.  And it is unacceptable.”

13 May 2011 Summary of Obama's Meeting with NATO Secretary General  The President and the Secretary General discussed Libya, where NATO and five partner nations are implementing the mandate of UN Security Council Resolution 1973 and are enforcing the no-fly zone, implementing the arms embargo, and protecting civilians from the violence inflicted on them by the Qadhafi regime.

07 March 2011 Readout of the North Atlantic Council Meetings on Libya  Special Briefing with Ivo Daalder, Permanent Representative to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Washington, DC.

13 January 2011 Gates Urges Support for Peace on Korean Peninsula  Peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula are in the common interest of China, Japan, South Korea and the United States, Defense Secretary Robert Gates says.  “This requires that [North Korea] cease its belligerent behavior and its provocations that have killed innocent victims, both military and civilian, in Korea,” Gates said at a January 13 press conference in Tokyo with Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa. Gates is meeting with political and defense leaders in China, Japan and South Korea during a five-day mission across Northeast Asia.

20 November 2010 Obama, NATO Sign Afghan Power Transfer Plan  President Obama has joined NATO allies in a formal agreement to transfer security control of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces to Afghan forces starting in 2011.  Speaking to reporters November 20 in Lisbon, Portugal, at the end of the 2010 NATO Summit, Obama said the transition of security forces would begin in July, with a target of completion by the end of 2014. He said the plan, proposed by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, was endorsed by NATO partners.

20 November 2010 NATO Agrees on a Missile Defense Shield   President Obama says that NATO alliance leaders, for the first time, agreed to develop a missile defense capability that will cover all NATO European territory and populations, as well as the United States. Obama said that missile defense was part of the agenda at the NATO-Russia Council meeting, recognizing that the alliance and Russia share many of the same threats. Russia was asked to participate in the international missile defense system, which has been under discussion for more than a year.

20 November 2010 Obama's Press Conference After NATO Summit in Lisbon

18 November 2010 NATO, European Summits to Seek Answers to Global Challenges   President Obama arrives in Lisbon, Portugal, for two days of meetings starting November 19, with an agenda that includes demonstrating the central role of the United States’ relationship with Europe and the U.S.-European capability to meet global challenges.  Obama will be attending the 2010 NATO Summit and the U.S.–European Union Summit in Lisbon November 19–20.

16 November 2010 United States, NATO to Announce Afghan Power Transfer Plan   The United States and its NATO partners are preparing to announce plans to transfer security control of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces to the Afghans by the end of 2014, according to senior U.S. officials.  President Obama’s special assistant for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Doug Lute, said during a White House briefing November 16 that the military transfer will begin early in 2011 with plans for completion by the end of 2014. Lute said the transition was possible “based on conditions on the ground and as a result of the surge in international resources.”

14 October 2010 Clinton, Gates Urge NATO Reform to Meet 21st-Century Threats   Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates urged members of  NATO to individually and collectively focus on 21st-century threats such as cyberattacks and ballistic missiles and expressed support for a proposed Strategic Concept that was presented to alliance members in Brussels by NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
 • Secretaries Clinton, Gates Speak at NATO Headquarters in Brussels

14 October 2010 Clinton’s Interview on Afghanistan, NATO, Middle East

12 October 2010 NATO Ministers to Consider New Strategic Concept   When NATO foreign and defense ministers meet together for the first time in decades October 14 in Brussels, Belgium, they will discuss the future vision of the trans-Atlantic alliance, re-evaluate its command structure, assess reform efforts to keep it affordable and decide if NATO should build a missile defense for Europe, says a senior Defense Department official.

08 October 2010 Secretary Clinton Travels to Balkans, NATO Meetings    Secretary of State Hillary  Clinton is making a three-nation swing through the Balkans to show continuing U.S. support as the Balkan countries work to build democratic and prosperous nations and integrate into the European Union, says a senior U.S. diplomat.

22 February 2010 Secretary Clinton's Remarks on the Future of NATO   Speaking at the NATO Strategic Concept Seminar Secretary Clinton outlined some of the basic goals she hopes will define the new Strategic Concept.

27 January 2010 NATO Statement on Progress Before London Conference (from www.nato.int)

19 January 2010 NATO and Europe : The Power Of Partnership  Remarks by Deputy Chief of Mission Richard LeBaron at the Higher Command and Staff Course at the Joint Services Command and Staff College in Shrivenham.

04 December 2009 NATO Allies to Send 7,000 More Troops to Afghanistan  Additional military forces, enhanced support for training Afghan security forces, and added civilian assistance will help keep Afghanistan from ever again becoming a terrorist safe haven and reverse the Taliban’s momentum, says Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

01 December 2009 Secretary of State Clinton to Travel to Brussels  Secretary of State Clinton will travel to Brussels on 04 December 2009 to attend a meeting of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) at the level of Foreign Ministers to be held at NATO Headquarters. On the agenda will also be a meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers with Non-NATO ISAF contributing nations and a NATO-Russia Council working lunch. She will also meet with NATO Secretary General Rasmussen, as well as with newly appointed Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme and Foreign Minister Steven Vanackere, and EU leaders.

23 October 2009 NATO Looks at Boosting Afghanistan Support, Defense’s Gates Says  Defense Secretary Robert Gates said NATO allies are considering sending more military forces and civilian aid to Afghanistan as President Obama also is considering what course the United States will take there. Gates attended an informal meeting of NATO defense ministers in Bratislava, Slovakia, October 22–23, and Afghanistan was a featured topic on the ministers’ agenda.

19 October 2009 Biden to Visit Poland, Romania and Czech Republic  Vice President Biden will travel to Poland, Romania and the Czech Republic to discuss a range of issues at a critical time for East European nations that are transitioning from local agendas to a broader global security environment. All three nations are NATO members, all are involved in security operations in Afghanistan, and all are involved in the advancement of democracy, Tony Blinken, national security adviser to the vice president, said in a briefing with reporters before Biden leaves for Europe October 20. Biden will consult with leaders in Warsaw, Bucharest and Prague October 20–23.

29 September 2009 Obama, Rasmussen Consult on Afghanistan Strategy  President Obama and new NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen agreed at a White House meeting that the important thing to do in Afghanistan is first determine the best strategic approach, and then develop the resources to support it. "The first thing is not numbers. It is to find and fine-tune the right approach to implement the strategy already laid down, and all NATO allies are right now looking at [Army General Stanley] McChrystal’s review," said Rasmussen at a brief press conference.

08 June 2009 U.S. Ambassador Daalder’s Speech on NATO’s Agenda in 21st Century  Outlines a new opportunity for a new alliance.

15 April 2009 Partnerships Hold Key to Success in Europe, Beyond, General Says  Army Gen. Carter F. Ham, commander of U.S. Army Europe, emphasized international partnerships as being a key element in military operations.

06 April 2009 Youtube video of the original signing session of the North Atlantic Treaty (1949) including speech from President Truman

01 April 2009 North Atlantic Treaty Travels for First Time to Europe  The treaty that brought the North Atlantic Treaty Organization into being on April 4, 1949, has left the United States for the first time to be featured at the 60^th anniversary NATO Summit. The North Atlantic Treaty, also known as the Washington Treaty, is a 14-article text that pledges its members to maintain international peace and security and promote stability and well-being in the North Atlantic area.

26 March 2009 Obama Urges Renewed NATO Effort in Afghanistan  As NATO prepares to celebrate its 60th birthday, President Obama calls for a renewed commitment to Afghanistan and other shared security challenges facing the 26-nation alliance.

23 March 2009 NATO Faces Growing Challenges as 60th Anniversary Approaches  Members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization will gather in France and Germany in April to celebrate the alliance's 60^th birthday. The adjacent French and German cities of Strasbourg and Kehl on either side of the Rhine River will host the April 3–4 summit. Officials will welcome France back into the alliance as a full member, select a new secretary-general and forge a way ahead in Afghanistan.
 • Obama Welcomes France's Full Return to NATO

05 March 2009 NATO Agrees to Resume High-Level Ties with Russia  NATO must find ways to manage differences with Russia and work constructively in areas of common interest, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says. "It's time to explore a fresh start. We can and must find ways to work constructively with Russia where we share areas of common interest, including helping the people of Afghanistan, arms control and nonproliferation, counterpiracy and counternarcotics and addressing threats posed by Iran and North Korea," Clinton said at an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels.

February 2009

19 February 2009 Defense Secretary Gates Reflects on the Changing Nature of NATO  The U.S. believes that its NATO allies can make a significant, longer-term contribution in Afghanistan on the civilian side while U.S. forces work on strengthening the military side, Defense Secretary Robert Gates says.

05 February 2009 The United States and France Pledge Continued Transatlantic Alliance  Remarks by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner after their meeting.