Nato’s defence ministers are meeting in London today to discuss how to deliver a more efficient and effective NATO security force for the 21st century.
Ministers will meet to discuss how Nato can produce quicker response forces and more efficient mobile capabilities and then set out a roadmap on how to go about achieving this, ahead of the Alliance’s 60th anniversary summit in Strasbourg and Kehl in April next year.
Secretary of State for Defence, Des Browne said that Nato needed to renew its efforts to deliver the capabilities needed for current and future operations.
“Nato is the cornerstone of our Euro-Atlantic security, and it has bound North America and Europe in common purpose for nearly sixty years. That unity of purpose has been displayed in Nato’s response to recent events in the Caucasus,” Browne said.
“However there remains a mismatch between our aspirations and what we actually deliver. The NATO response force is not getting the forces or capabilities that it needs and we are lacking sufficient capabilities in key areas like intra-theatre air lift.” said Browne.
“This meeting today is about transforming NATO to address all these points, and more, and to ensure that operations are central to NATO’s purpose,” Browne said.
Nato Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, is expected to call on Nato Ministers to join him in giving clear political leadership to Nato’s transformation, committing to break down obstacles to faster progress and in ensuring that resources are better targeted.
By Daniel Garrun.
