NATO defense ministers agree on downsizing rapid reaction force
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Berlin, Oct 25, IRNA
Germany-NATO-Response Force
NATO defense ministers meeting in the Dutch seaside resort of Noordwijk agreed on downsizing the NATO Response Force (NRF), news reports said here Thursday.
As part of the plan, only a small "core" of NRF troops will be dispatched to any part of the world within five days, NATO spokesman James Appathurai was quoted saying.
The downsizing of the NRF is only temporary, the NATO official added.
The actual size of the "core" force will have to be worked out by military.
The latest decision comes in the wake of a failed plan to build up a 25,000-strong Response Force.
The present NRF is comprised of only 18,000 soldiers since many NATO member states are overburdened by other global military missions, especially in Afghanistan.
Informal discussions among the NATO defense ministers were also to dwell on a shortage of troops and military equipment in Afghanistan as well as the controversial US anti-missile shield.
OT/1430/141
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