09 October 2003
NATO Defense Ministers Invigorated by Discussion in Colorado
Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia top ministers' geographic focus
By Jacquelyn S. Porth
Washington File Security Affairs Writer
Colorado Springs --- NATO defense ministers, chiefs of defense, ambassadors and special invited guests -- including representatives from the seven new "de facto" alliance members -- wrapped up two jam-packed days of group and bilateral meetings and briefings October 9, with the U.S. ambassador to NATO noting that it was the most successful collective meeting he had seen in two years.
Ambassador Nicholas Burns told reporters that the informal NATO defense ministerial was very successful in large measure because so much was accomplished on the military side. He said strong support was expressed for ongoing military operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and that a small step had been taken toward deciding what to do about transitioning NATO's eight-year-old peacekeeping operation in Bosnia.
While the European Union has offered to take over the mission there, the ambassador said the decision depends on what the Bosnian government wants to happen next. Consultations will now begin with Bosnian officials, and while no decision is likely this year the issue may be high on NATO's agenda by spring, he suggested.
Burns' enthusiasm was also reflected in comments made by French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie who described, for example, the crisis management study seminar --- "Dynamic Response ‘07" --- as "a great success" because everyone was so involved. It worked well, she said, because there was no prepared manuscript. NATO Secretary General George Robertson had long been urging his colleagues to be more spontaneous in their discussions, the minister said, and that finally happened in Colorado Springs.
The purpose of the classified session was to expose the defense ministers to issues and situations that might arise should the new NATO Response Force (NRF) be called into military action with a requirement to respond to multiple and possibly simultaneous contingencies, according to a senior U.S. defense official. Future threats, he suggested, would force ministers to assert control in a situation very quickly, leaving less time for the kind of leisurely deliberations they have had in the past. The study seminar also sought to highlight future problems of having to deal with terrorism and working in "ungoverned areas," according to the official, as well as the ongoing requirement for comprehensive transformation within the alliance.
The fictitious scenario involved a non-combatant evacuation in a country nowhere near NATO's base of operation. To add to the complexity of the situation, a cruise and ballistic missile threat was introduced from a freighter-type ship sitting off the coast. Events transpired in a tightly compressed timeframe, according to the defense official, who observed that the exercise stimulated a very animated discussion among the ministers. He also noted that NATO is now eager "to do more of this kind of thing."
Besides the seminar, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov held a working lunch with his defense colleagues on October 9, and there was a NATO-Russia Council meeting as well as Russian bilateral meetings. Russian defense reforms and ongoing operations inside Russia were on the agenda.
As the defense officials return to their capitals, some issues have been identified for follow-up at the formal NATO defense ministerial in December. One issue, which Robertson has sought to elevate, is the usability of NATO troops. As he said in his October 8 press conference, the secretary general wants to find ways to make NATO forces both more deployable and survivable. He pointed out that of the 1.4 million non-U.S. soldiers under arms, the 18 non-American allies have some 55,000 deployed in places like the Balkans and Afghanistan, and yet they still report being overstretched. He also made reference to the challenges of expanding the International Security Assistance Force, for which NATO currently has responsibility, outside Kabul and into the provinces of Afghanistan.
A senior U.S. defense official said most of NATO's forces have the legacy of being "fight in place" units and are not really suited for global missions. Only three percent of NATO's available forces can realistically be deployed in combat situations outside of the European theater, according to Robertson's assessment.
After repeatedly lecturing attendees on the need to deliver on their NATO commitments, Robertson also said several new offers had been made in Colorado Springs to fill in existing military gaps.
Many questions were posed to the various NATO officials over the two-day period about the possibility of NATO pursuing a policy of pre-emption. Robertson appeared to put the issue to rest when he said NATO already has acted pre-emptively in Kosovo in 1999. There is nothing new about pre-emption, he said, it has always been a part of NATO's deterrence package. But he also said no one should really be worried about this issue because NATO continues to act only by unanimous decision.
During the two-day NATO session, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld held bilateral meetings with at least a dozen of his counterparts, including ministers from Poland, Russia, the Netherlands, Norway, France, the Czech Republic, Germany, Turkey, Italy and Norway. Aside from the bilaterals, a senior U.S. administration official said there were plenty of opportunities to talk to everyone.
A senior U.S. defense official said the U.S.-Russian bilateral included a review of the working list of objectives generated by the recent Bush-Putin Camp David Summit. Missile defense cooperation and finding ways to expand joint exercises was high on the agenda. A working group on this subject followed the bilateral with participation by Missile Defense Agency Director Lieutenant General Ron Kadish.
Rumsfeld and Ivanov also discussed how they might bring more transparency to their strategic nuclear weapons reduction process. There will be follow-up meeting on this subject as well in Geneva in November at a lower level.
The two defense officials also discussed a technical defense agreement that they are pursuing to help facilitate a range of future military-to-military projects. A senior U.S. defense official who was privy to their discussions said it is typical to have such an agreement with NATO members, but it will be new for Russia. He described it as "an enabling agreement" that will allow the exchange of classified information, for example.
Burns, meanwhile, described the NATO-Russia relationship as strong, solid and improving. Russia and NATO have been working together on counterterrorism and counterproliferation issues, he said, as well as a feasibility study relating to theater missile defense. The whole trend is positive, he added.
On the subject of the European Union, one senior U.S. defense official said the issue is to avoid duplication. "We don't need a duplicate set of structures on the EU side," he said. And a senior U.S. administration official noted that the United States wants to support the EU when NATO is not engaged in a security question, but at the same time it wants to maintain support for NATO's integrity.
Another subject on the agenda for the future is the evolving nature of the NRF, which will have its first element stand up in a few days time in the Netherlands. A senior U.S. defense official said some of the questions that have to be addressed include: How will it deploy? What are its strengths and weaknesses? And, how can the NRF be used more effectively?
As the informal ministerial concluded, one senior administration official observed that following a long transition, the alliance is now in very good shape. Today, he said, "NATO is a stronger organization."
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
This page printed from: http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2003&m=October&x=20031009190833awajuka0.8171045&t=usinfo/wf-latest.html
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