RPT: REVIEW - NATO Ministers Discuss Post-INF World, Approve Maritime Measures Targeting Russia
WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 05th April, 2019) NATO wrapped up its two-day ministerial in Washington where foreign ministers approved new measures to counter Russia in the Black Sea and discussed strategies for boosting collective security.
The ministerial marked the transatlantic treaty organization's 70th anniversary. Originally established by 12 states in 1949, NATO over the past seven decades has expanded into a 29-member alliance.
Moscow has repeatedly condemned NATO's military buildup near Russia's borders, warning that the alliance's aggressive moves could provoke an escalation into a full-fledged confrontation. NATO has several times throughout its history intervened in other countries without the consent of the UN Security Council.
The NATO foreign ministers during two plenary sessions at the State Department on Thursday discussed the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty and new spending on weapons.
Russia and the United States have long accused each other of violating the INF treaty, and both sides have denied the accusations. On February 1, the United States announced it was suspending its obligations under the 1987 INF Treaty and launched the withdrawal process. Washington said the withdrawal process will be completed within six months unless Russia remedies its alleged treaty violations.
The foreign ministers of the NATO member states discussed potential steps they can take against Russia after the treaty's termination, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said at a press conference on Thursday.
"We all believe that Russia continues to be in violation if the [INF] Treaty," Stoltenberg said. "Today, we discussed the way forward, and what potential measures we can take should Russia not return into compliance."
However, the NATO chief claimed that the alliance has no plans to deploy ground-based nuclear weapons throughout Europe if the INF Treaty falls apart.
Stoltenberg in an address to Congress on Wednesday said NATO must be prepared for a world without the INF Treaty and all its member states must boost defense spending.
"NATO allies must spend more on defense," Stoltenberg said. "Those funds will allow us to invest in new capabilities our armed forces need, including advanced fighter aircraft, attack helicopters, missile defense and surveillance drones."
In the last two years, Stoltenberg observed, European allies and Canada have spent an additional $41 billion on defense and by the end of next year that number will hit $100 billion.
On Wednesday, throughout most of Stoltenberg's speech to Congress, he outlined a series of military measures to counter Russia's alleged assertiveness, but he also claimed he did not want to isolate Moscow.
Stoltenberg said he underscored it is necessary to have dialogue with Russia regarding arms control issues.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said the NATO states increasingly use nuclear components in their military drills in the region.
Ministers of the NATO alliance agreed on Thursday to a package of measures aimed at enhancing their support for Georgia and Ukraine especially in the area of maritime defense, Stoltenberg said.
"We agreed on a package of measures to improve our situation awareness and to step up our support for both Georgia and Ukraine in areas such as training of maritime forces and coast guards, port visits and exercises and sharing information," Stoltenberg told reporters.
Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz told Sputnik later in the day that the decision to boost NATO activity in the Black Sea is still at the stage of a political decision and the details have yet to be worked out.
Regarding NATO's support for Ukraine and Georgia, Stoltenberg said the alliance invitations for both countries to become members should not been see as provocations against Russia.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said during remarks on Thursday that NATO must adapt to face new global security threats including Russian aggression and Chinese strategic competition.
However, ministers at the ministerial did not bring up any discussions on the issue of expanding NATO activity in the Baltic region, Pompeo added.
Russia has repeatedly accused the US-led bloc of illegally expanding eastward in Europe in violation of its promises. NATO has been building up its military on Russia's eastern flank, deploying troops to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland while US warships have been routinely calling on Black Sea ports.
One "sideshow" issue that seemed to get more attention than other core NATO topics during the two days was the US-Turkish dispute over the Russia S-400 missile defense system.
The Pentagon announced on Monday that the United States halted its deliveries and activities with Turkey on F-35 operational capabilities over Ankara's decision to buy the S-400s.
The NATO Secretary-General said during a press conference on Thursday that he is hopeful the United States and Turkey will resolve their intensifying dispute over Ankara's purchase of Russia's S-400 defense systems.
Other critical security issues the NATO foreign ministers discussed on Thursday included Afghanistan and counterterrorism operations in the middle East.
Stoltenberg also said the ministers in the NATO ministerial discussed the Afghan peace talks, maintaining pressure on the Islamic State terrorist group (banned in Russia) to ensure its defeat and enhancing training with Iraqi security forces to stabilize the country.
He also noted that NATO is working with Jordan on countering improvised explosive devices.
Pompeo in his remarks on Thursday said NATO ministers addressed concerns over Russia sending military personnel to Venezuela amid its ongoing political crises.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said NATO's actions near Russia's borders were aimed at "undermining a military parity that has formed over decades." The Russian Foreign Ministry believes that strengthening NATO's military potential near Russia's borders threatens stability and security in Europe.