Nato - Russia News: This chart should terrify Russia's neighbors

June 11, 2015

This chart should terrify Russia's neighbors

Analysts question whether Conservative government’s talk about joining NATO rapid reaction force is election posturing
Thursday June 11th, 2015 at 7:20 PM

Defence Minister Jason Kenney speaks with the media following a ceremony to re-name a government building the Valour Building Monday May 25, 2015 in Ottawa.

THE CANADIAN PRESS

The Harper government is considering joining NATO’s rapid reaction force, but doing so could mean spurning a traditional ally whose been courting Canada to be part of its formation, Murray Brewster of the Canadian Press writes.

Here is the rest of Murray Brewster’s article:

Defence Minister Jason Kenney has acknowledged the government is discussing whether to become part of the alliance’s high-readiness force, meant to deploy quickly in the event of a crisis.

He cast the idea as response to Russian aggression in eastern Europe.

But a series of documents obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act show the idea has been debated for almost two years, before the crisis erupted in Ukraine.

Interest in volunteering for NATO’s rapid reaction unit — expected to be 30,000 strong — or even a smaller very-high-readiness task force has left some analysts wondering how much of it is election posturing.

While they’re not surprised the government is talking about it, analysts say — aside from helping staff a NATO field headquarters in Poland — the actual deployment of troops to the rotating task force could be a couple of years away.

Dave Perry, of the Canadian Foreign Affairs and Defence Institute, said a proposal by Britain to create a joint expeditionary force, or JEF, outside of the alliance is more in keeping with the Harper government’s style and attitude towards international relations.

The Cameron government has been very assertive, proposing prior to last year’s NATO Summit in Wales that Ottawa sign on to establish the 10,000-man force until at least 2018, according to a briefing prepared for former defence minister Rob Nicholson dated July 25, 2014.

Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands and Norway had already signed on.

The formation would not only train together, but participating countries could “respond operationally to a number of contingencies ranging from humanitarian assistance to war fighting.”

Nicholson refused to sign the letter of intent, but said “Canada would like to continue active discussions,” according to a letter sent to Britain’s defence secretary, Michael Fallon, which was also obtained by The Canadian Press.

Given the small size of Canada’s army, Perry said it’s unlikely the Harper government would cough up troops for both NATO and the British venture.

Ever since NATO’s reluctance to reinforce Canada in Kandahar during the Afghan war, the Harper government has shied away from the alliance, pulling out of joint programs and becoming one of the loudest voices for administrative reform, Perry added.

“NATO as a whole has a hard time deciding on doing things, so if there are coalitions of the willing — so to speak — that can use NATO infrastructure, that can sometimes be a better solution,” he said.

“That way you don’t have to get a consensus opinion to go out and do things.”

Steve Saideman, an international affairs professor at Carleton University, said the military’s post-2014 plan — written prior to the war against the Islamic State and the Ukraine crisis — was tilted towards NATO.

“Item No. 1 was to continue commitment to the U.S. and NATO,” said Saideman, an expert on the alliance. “Committing to the (rapid reaction force) is interesting … because it shows the military was thinking down the road about the (force) and sticking with it.”

He suggested actually deploying troops could be even further away than 2016 because other nations have already lined up to take their turns in the rotation and Canada has been tardy in making its decision.

“Canada could be one of the major partners, three, four, five years down the road,” he said. “I think the delay has a lot to do with Harper’s angina with NATO.”

(the above is from the Canadian Press)

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Britain gets cold shoulder with Canada’s talk of joining NATO force
Thursday June 11th, 2015 at 7:20 PM

The Globe And Mail - Politics

The Harper government is considering joining NATO’s rapid reaction force, but doing so could mean spurning a traditional ally who's been courting Canada to be part of its formation.

Defence Minister Jason Kenney has acknowledged the government is discussing whether to become part of the alliance’s high-readiness force, meant to deploy quickly in the event of a crisis.

He cast the idea as response to Russian aggression in eastern Europe.

But a series of documents obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act show the idea has been debated for almost two years, before the crisis erupted in Ukraine.

Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands and Norway had already signed on.

The formation would not only train together, but participating countries could “respond operationally to a number of contingencies ranging from humanitarian assistance to war fighting.”

Given the small size of Canada’s army, Perry said it’s unlikely the Harper government would cough up troops for both NATO and the British venture.

“That way you don’t have to get a consensus opinion to go out and do things.”

“Item No. 1 was to continue commitment to the U.S. and NATO,” said Saideman, an expert on the alliance. “Committing to the (rapid reaction force) is interesting ... because it shows the military was thinking down the road about the (force) and sticking with it.”

“Canada could be one of the major partners, three, four, five years down the road,” he said. “I think the delay has a lot to do with Harper’s angina with NATO.”

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News: Women, Peace and Security agenda in the spotlight at NATO, 01-Jun.-2015
Thursday June 11th, 2015 at 7:19 PM

The participation of women in Allied armed forces has been steadily increasing over the past few decades, and significant strides have been made towards the recruitment and retention of women. However, women continue to be underrepresented and more work is needed to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 and related Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security.

A memorable start to ‘Gender Week’ at NATO HQ

To kick off ‘Gender Week’ at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, the Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme hosted an event on 1 June to present the findings and recommendations of the SPS multi-year research project entitled “UNSCR 1325 Reload”.

The UNSCR 1325 Reload project findings and recommendations are based on an analysis of Annual National Reports published by NATO’s International Military Staff (IMS) Office of the Gender Advisor from 1999 to 2013, and map the integration of women in the armed forces of Allied countries. Recommendations are provided using the Australian Defence Forces as a model for best practices.

This SPS initiative was led by Project Directors from the Rey Juan Carlos University (Madrid, Spain) and the Australian Human Rights Commission, in collaboration with the Chief of the Australian Army and NATO’s IMS Office of the Gender Advisor. The Project Directors worked together to conduct this comprehensive assessment of 14 years of data taken from official documents – a unique and significant undertaking.

“In 15 years time, we moved from 5 to a little above 10 per cent of women in the armed forces. The study presented today – I strongly believe – has the potential to help us making a leap forward and creating new momentum in this agenda which has been moving a bit too slow,” said the NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security, Ambassador Marriёt Schuurman.

More than 120 participants were in attendance, with representation from, Allied delegations, partner missions, NATO International Staff and International Military Staff, as well as civil society.

SPS Programme: beyond scientific cooperation

The Assistant Secretary General of NATO’s Emerging Security Challenges Division, Ambassador Sorin Ducaru, opened the conference by highlighting the efforts undertaken by the SPS Programme to support the implementation of UNSCR 1325.

Traditionally, the Programme aimed to enhance and support dialogue with partner nations by fostering scientific cooperation. Responding to the demands of the time, the SPS Programme has undergone a reform process and now also supports activities beyond purely scientific cooperation.

“Allies have broadened the focus of the SPS Programme to include the UNSCR 1325 agenda, recognising the integral role of women in conflict resolution – not only as peacemakers, but also as peacekeepers and peace-builders,” said Ambassador Ducaru.

The Australian model as a case study for best practices

Recognising that a more diverse military translates into stronger and more capable armed forces, the Australian Defence Forces (ADF) have taken significant steps to increase the participation of women.

“Peace and security applies equally to men and women the world over, and it is absolutely inescapable that military organisations work better, more efficiently, and are more capable if they use all of the talent that is on offer in 100 per cent of the world’s population. And yet, almost every army in the world is making abject use of the talent that rests within 51 per cent of the population – women,” Lt Gen David Morrison, the former Australian Defence Forces Chief of Staff, stated in a passionate address at the event.

In the Australian context, significant cultural change has been achieved in recent years through new policies and reforms under the leadership of Lt Gen David Morrison. These reforms are based on the following key principles outlined in UNSCR 1325 Reload, and can be taken as recommendations for best practices: 1) Strong leadership drives reform; 2) Diversity of leadership increases capability; 3) Increasing numbers requires increasing opportunities; 4) Greater flexibility will strengthen the ADF; and 5) Gender-based harassment and violence ruins lives, divides teams and damages operational effectiveness.

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Georgia's NATO accession to be decided at political level
Thursday June 11th, 2015 at 7:19 PM

By Aynur Karimova

The decision on Georgia's accession to NATO will be adopted at a political level.

This remark was made by General Jean-Paul Paloméros, NATO Supreme Allied Commander for Transformation, on June 9, local Georgian media reported.

“This is not for us to make political decisions you understand but this is very important that military chiefs push the boundaries of the partnership," Paloméros said. "It was demonstrated in Wales and even before and I am sure it will be demonstrated in Warsaw that the Heads of State will make their decision about the future."

"We are here to make sure that we enable the future in terms of military capabilities. When we see the ability of the Georgian Forces to integrate within NATO operations this is a great sign of Georgia getting closer and closer to military standards and military capabilities. If one day at the political level it is decided that Georgia is on the course of the Membership Action Plan that will make things much easier," he added.

He noted NATO has provided Georgia an opportunity to participate in its military operations, which is the aim of any partnership with NATO.

NATO General also highlighted Georgia’s commitments towards NATO.

“Georgia has never failed. Georgia is true to its commitments. So as I said here are the military chiefs who are doing our best to make sure that the Substantial Package, the Enhanced Partnership, the Interoperability Platform – all of that works as much as possible. Our presence here is a great demonstration and I am very pleased that I made this decision almost two years ago that Georgia will be the hosting nation thanks to the great offer of your country to host the Strategic Military Partnership Conference. This is a great mark of our demonstration to work together," the general added.

NATO's Strategic Military Partner Conference 2015 was held in Tbilisi on June 8-10. High-ranking officials of NATO member and partner nations' armed forces and experts attended the annual military forum and discussed the transformation issues and future challenges.

NATO and Georgia enjoy good friendly relations, being intertwined via Tbilisi's irreversible aspiration for an alliance membership and NATO's positive feedback in this regard.

Few countries in the Euro-Atlantic region expressed as much enthusiasm for NATO as Georgia, despite its non-NATO status. Building solid relations with NATO is of great significance for Georgia, the aspirant country that seeks a membership at the military bloc.

Relations started after the end of the Cold War, when newly independent Georgia joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council in 1992 and the Partnership for Peace in 1994.

Georgia has recently implemented major defense reforms to prove it can operate effectively alongside the military alliance's forces.

Georgia's rulers claim that the strong aspirations to join NATO is for ending the long-lasting dispute with Russia rather than gaining a major ally to further stand against the northern giant's policy in the region.

NATO, in turn, attaches a special attention to Georgia viewing the country as one of its future members. Regular mutual visits at top official level serve NATO's interests to ensure a sustainable support to Georgia, to help the country develop its military infrastructure and skills.

At the Wales Summit in September 2014, a package of measures was launched to strengthen Georgia’s ability to defend itself and advance its preparations for membership.

Russia's official approach towards the Georgia-NATO approximation is quite negative as it views the military bloc's active involvement in the regional issues as a serious threat to the stability of the region.

Aynur Karimova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Aynur_Karimova
Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz

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This chart should terrify Russia's neighbors
Thursday June 11th, 2015 at 7:16 PM

Vox - All

The promise of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is written into Article V of the group's charter: an attack on one member, it says, is an attack on them all. This principle, known as collective defense, helped keep the Cold War cold, by pledging that the US, Canada, and Western Europe would band together against any Soviet attack. When the communist empire collapsed, many of its former Eastern European conquests joined NATO. At the time, relations between Russia and the West were improving, so the idea that Western Europe and the US might have to actually defend their new post-Soviet NATO recruits against Russia was not taken particularly seriously.

Today's Russia is much more hostile: it fought a war with Georgia in 2008, invaded Crimea in 2014, and is currently fighting in eastern Ukraine. There is a question that is increasingly asked in military policy circles in Washington and in much of Europe: what if Russia made some provocation in one of the tiny NATO states along its border? Would NATO come to its defense, as it has pledged to do? Or would the promise of Article V turn out to be a lie?

If it were up to European publics, the answer is a resounding "maybe, but maybe not." According to adisturbing new Pew survey, voters in much of Europe are divided over whether they would want their country to fulfill its pledge to defend fellow NATO members along Russia's border:

Pew

This poll seems to confirm what analysts, and particularly Eastern Europeans, have feared for some time: if Vladimir Putin tested NATO's willingness to defend its easternmost members, he might find that they are not.

In reality, things are even worse than they look.

The nation that is least willing to come to the defense of NATO members on Russia's border is Germany, which opposes action by a factor of about three to two. This is crucial because within Europe, Germany is widely seen as the de facto leader on the tensions with Russia — and the deciding vote should an eastern NATO member come under attack. When I traveled to Berlin this week, analysts warned me that though the German public despises Putin, their deep-seated pacifism and desire to seek compromise over confrontation could make them unwilling to uphold Germany's pledge to NATO.

The three NATO members along Russia's border — former Soviet republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania that are known as the Baltic states — have grown increasingly vocal in warning that a Russian attack could really happen. Russian military planes and naval ships are increasingly activealong (or sometimes within) their borders.

To be clear, if Russian tanks simply rolled across the border into Estonia next week, then German Chancellor Angela Merkel would almost certainly override her public's concerns and pledge to come to Estonia's aid. So, naturally, would the United States. But that's not the scenario that analysts fear.

Rather, they warn that Russia could repeat the so-called "hybrid war" provocations it deployed in the early stages of the Ukraine crisis: cyberattacks, propaganda meant to stir up panic or protests, armed "vigilantes," or even unmarked special forces shipped in to provoke small-scale violence. Such measures exist, by design, in a gray area between war and not-war.

In September, Russian security forces stormed into Estonia to kidnap an intelligence official, making clear Moscow does not consider the country off-limits.

The goal of such provocations would be to bully the Baltic states, to let them know Russia can push them around despite NATO. In the most extreme scenario, Putin's goal would be to push the Baltics just hard enough that they formally call on NATO for help, but that Russia would use fuzzy hybrid war measures that leave just enough ambiguity (does this really qualify as an act of war? was Moscow really responsible?) that European leaders don't respond.

Should that happen, should NATO's easternmost states ask for help and be turned down, it would expose NATO's pledge of collective defense as a lie — effectively dissolving the organization and leaving Eastern Europe exposed to Russian aggression once more. It would be, for Putin, a tremendous victory.

That scenario sounded outlandish when it was first suggested last fall by the Russian analyst Andrei Piontkovsky, but it is now taken as a serious possibility by many in the US and in NATO. (I spoke to Piontkovsky and many others in Washington, Moscow, and Berlin on this subject for a forthcoming article.) The more plausible it seems, the more Putin may be tempted into trying it. And indeed, Russian military activity around the Baltics is increasing.

The revelation, in this Pew poll, that so many German voters oppose coming to the Baltics' defenseeven in the case of an overt Russian military attack adds disturbing new credence to the theory. That opposition will surely be much higher should Russia instead launch the sort of hazy, unclaimed "hybrid" provocations that are seen as more likely. At some point, even Merkel will have to listen to her public.

And if Germany declines to fulfill its duty, the rest of Europe — which has taken to following the German lead on Russia — is likely to do the same. Even if the US responds on its own, NATO's supposed unity and pledge of collective defense will have been exposed as empty. Putin will have won.

There is an even greater risk: that Putin will be tempted into testing NATO's resolve to defend the Baltics, but that he will overstep or miscalculate to a degree that forces NATO to counterattack. The potential consequences of such a scenario, of open military conflict between the nuclear powers of Russia and NATO that could easily spiral out of control, are almost too terrible to contemplate.

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Would Russia Really Invade a NATO Country? Ex-US Ambassador to Ukraine Says Maybe
Thursday June 11th, 2015 at 7:13 PM

VICE News

This week, NATO readies itself. On Tuesday the alliance launched the final part of NOBLE JUMP: a 10-day military exercise mostly in Poland which is meant to test the association's new rapid reaction force.

Last September, some six months after Russian forces illegally seized the Crimean peninsula, NATO allies held a summit in Wales. There, they agreed to double their high-impact "NATO Response Force" to 30,000 troops — and to create a 5,000-strong "Very High Readiness Joint Task Force" (VJTF). Exercise NOBLE JUMP will be the VJTF's first deployment.

The drill is also seen as an effort to assuage the fears of NATO allies in the East. In recent months, some have expressed concern that, should they fall pray to a Ukraine-style incursion by Moscow, NATO would fail to come to their defense — or, at least, would fail to do so swiftly enough.

But would Russia be so rash as to invade a NATO country and, thus, risk an Alliance-backed response? If an incursion happened, would it look like a conventional act of aggression, or like Crimea — where so-called "little green men" (Russian soldiers in green army uniforms without insignia) began appearing, quietly, in February 2014?

We asked John Herbst, a former US ambassador to Ukraine, whether Moscow is likely to pursue targets beyond Kiev. Herbst, who is now director of the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center, has been a vocal critic of NATO's response to the Ukraine crisis to date.

VICE News: In the last year, Russia has run a number of snap military drills — and poured a great deal of personnel and weaponry into the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, which sits between Lithuania and Poland. This has obviously fueled fear in the region. But are former Soviet states actually at risk of Russian aggression?John Herbst: We just don't know. But it is true that that no one expected Putin to move into Eastern Ukraine.

Many commentators on this subject, especially those who are more timid, say: "Well, I don't think Putin will move further."

But if you look at what Mr. Putin and other senior Russian officials have actually been saying, from their own mouths, then you shouldn't be surprised if Russia moves into the Baltic countries — or Kazakhstan, or Moldova, or Georgia.

Russian officials have said multiple times that there needs to be a change in the post-Cold War order. They have proclaimed a right and a duty to protect not just ethnic Russians but Russian speakers wherever they live. We know that lots of Russian speakers live in Estonia and Latvia. And a good 6.6 percent of the Lithuanian population is ethnic Russian.

Of course, Mr. Putin has already conducted two wars, one against Georgia and one against Ukraine — changing boundaries by military force, by invasion. Russia also kidnapped an Estonian counter-intelligence official when the last NATO summit ended. And last September, it seized a Lithuanian ship in international waters. So Russia has already committed serious provocations against other countries. As far as I know, NATO has not done anything serious about either incident. So what does Russia learn from this?

I'm not predicting that Russia is going to invade Estonia. But I wouldn't be astonished if it happened. And no one should be astonished.

But Ukraine was never part of NATO — and it would obviously be much more significant for Russia to involve itself in a NATO country. Putin is not an irrational actor. Do you really think he would chance it?I think that we would be foolish to assume otherwise. You know, some time ago I saw an article in Russian that asked the question, "Who is ready to die for Narva [the third largest city in Estonia]?" Well, back in the fall, I asked a senior Western European diplomat: "What would NATO do if little green men appeared in Narva?" And the senior official said, "That's a good question."

Is that a good answer? Does that suggest that we would fight for the Baltic states?

Some in the Baltic States and Poland have expressed doubt that NATO would actually adhere to itstreaty obligations, in the event of a Russian incursion — especially if that incursion were somewhat ambiguous at the start, as it was in Ukraine. Is that a valid fear?NATO officials will say: "Yes of course we will come to their aid." But I'm not certain.

I think if America had a stronger presence in the Baltics right now, that would suggest a seriousness of purpose. What have we put there? A company of Americans. That's a joke of a number. If we put a fully armored brigade there, that would be serious.

I mean, I don't want to be overly critical. We have been willing to send our Air Force there for temporary periods, as shows of strength. So it's not as if we've done nothing, And NATO's decision last September to establish the [VJTF] was not insignificant. It's just too small.

Have you spoken with officials in the Baltics, in Poland? Do they have confidence in NATO?I've had some former prime ministers come through here and I've seen an acting foreign minister or two. By and large, they are skeptical. They don't believe that the West's commitment is as clear as it needs to be.

People say the Ukraine crisis has inspired a kind of re-vamped Cold War. But the situation seems, to me, more World WarII than Cold War — because we're talking about countries building up conventional forces that can move quickly across the continent.Well, you know, we wound up putting a substantial conventional force in Europe early in the Cold War, precisely to deter a Soviet invasion. Today, we don't quite have the clarity necessary to establish a serious deterrent capacity.

Is it possible that NATO military exercises might themselves be perceived as provocative — and thus feed into a loop of mutual provocation and suspicion?I have real impatience with that argument. This may be too provocative for a country that has, in the space of six years, invaded two countries?

I strongly suspect that if we made aggression really painful for Putin, he would stop — because he is not foolish. That means: deterring him in the Baltic states with major deployments, major pre-positioning of equipment in Poland and maybe in Romania too, arming Ukraine and increasing sanctions.

My own theory is that, if anything were to come to a head, it would result from an accident. So, it wouldn't be Russian forces suddenly appearing on the border. Rather, say, a Russian jet would collide with a civilian plane. There would be casualties. And that would spiral into a regional conflict.There have very dangerous incidents lately, where Russian planes fly close to American planes and European planes after turning off their transponders.

In some ways, what you have just said is possible — just as it was possible during the Cold War. One thing that is a bit scarier now is that the lines of communication that existed during the Cold War are not as close or active.

There has been much less communication, over the last year or two, between the Kremlin and the White House. Principally, because of Kremlin preferences.

This transcript has been edited for length and clarity.

Follow Katie Engelhart on Twitter: @katieengehart

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Georgia Questions NATO Ambitions Amid Russia Conflict
Thursday June 11th, 2015 at 7:12 PM

Comments On: After 10 Years And 30 Deaths, Georgia Question It’s NATO Ambitions

After 10 Years And 30 Deaths, Georgia Question It's NATO Ambitions by EurasiaNet

Georgia has paid a high price for its ambition to join NATO.

On June 16, the South Caucasus country will bury the 30th soldier killed in support of the Euro-Atlantic alliance's missions in Afghanistan. Corporal Ramaz Davitaia died on June 8 of grievous wounds suffered in Helmand Province in June 2012.

"He fought on the battlefield heroically and continued to fight after he was wounded to remain among the ranks of committed warriors of Georgia," President Giorgi Margvelashvili said in a condolence message. "At this difficult time, I express my sympathy to his family, as well as to all the military service personnel and citizens of Georgia."

U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Richard Norland issued a statement saying Davitaia was "the exemplar of bravery, strength, and heroism."

The soldier's death is prompting some in Georgia to question whether the country is sacrificing too much for a goal that often seems unattainable.

For the last decade, joining NATO has been a stated priority of the Georgian government, and the country has become the alliance's most reliable nonmember partner. Georgia has participated in NATO operations in Kosovo and Afghanistan, as well as its counterterrorism mission in the Mediterranean.

With about 880 soldiers currently serving in NATO's Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, Georgia is making the second-largest contribution after the United States and more than NATO aspirants like Montenegro, Macedonia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Per capita, the contribution from the nation of 5 million is by far the biggest.

For years, NATO has been assuring Georgia that the door to the alliance is open. Yet the ultimate goal of membership keeps slipping further down the road. In March, the country was shocked when French President Francois Hollande said unambiguously that "France's position for the moment is to refuse any new [NATO] membership."

Former parliament speaker and opposition leader Nino Burjanadze responded by saying flatly: "Those in Georgia who claim we have a chance to become a NATO member state are liars."

An opinion survey conducted about a month later by the U.S. National Democratic Institute found that 68 percent of Georgians approve of the government's stated goal of joining NATO, down from 72 percent in August 2014 and a high of 82 percent in November 2013.

The same poll found that security and territorial integrity are only the fourth most-important issue for Georgians after the meat-and-potatoes matters of jobs, inflation, and poverty.

Advocates of the government's NATO policy are often reduced to arguing that the process of military reform it requires is itself worth pursuing.

"No one in Georgia today is under the illusion that [NATO] membership will be forthcoming in the short term," said Tbilisi-based journalist Zurab Dvali, speaking to RFE/RL's Current Time television. "It is clear that, considering the events in Ukraine, this process is going to be extended. But the main thing for Georgia in this is the process and the blueprint for creating a well-equipped, mobile army in line with NATO's standards."

"That is genuinely valuable for Georgia," Dvali added.

Vakhtang Kapanadze, chief of the joint staff of the Georgian Armed Forces, expressed a similar view.

"People ask what are we doing there [in Afghanistan] when we have so many problems in Georgia?" Kapanadze told Current Time. "I would say that this mission is very important for us. First, because it is a great way of showing the world that we are participating in its collective security. Second, because it is the best way of confronting security challenges and risks far from home rather than in our own country. We understand this. And third, because it is an excellent school for our military."

He said the Defense Ministry's job is to "work, work, and work with our troops to bolster the defense capabilities of the country.

"Then we will be more attractive to NATO than some weak, collapsing state," he said.

And even if Georgia did join NATO, would it provide the security Georgians crave seven years after their country's war with Russia?

In a poll released on June 10 by the U.S.-based Pew Research Center, more than half of those surveyed in Germany, France, and Italy said that if Russia were to get into a "serious military conflict" with one of its neighbors that is a NATO ally, their country should not use military force to defend it.

Although NATO membership remains an official goal of the current Georgian government, there are signs it is less committed to that aim than the government of former President Mikheil Saakashvili.

Moscow's objection to Saakashvili's drive to join the alliance was a contributing cause of the five-day war in which Russian forces pushed deep into Georgia in 2008.

In March, parliament deputy Gogi Topadze, leader of the Industry Will Save Georgia party that is part of the ruling Georgian Dream coalition, said the country should focus on economic development and forget about joining NATO.

"We must achieve neutrality and not be dependent on NATO or Russia," he told the newspaper Versia. "Nobody [in NATO] is saying they will accept us even after 10 years, so we shouldn't lie to the people. We do not support that, my partners and I."

He also said that joining the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union would be economically beneficial for Georgia.

In a June 9 interview with RFE/RL's Georgian Service, Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli downplayed Topadze's remarks, noting that his signature is on the Georgian Dream coalition's founding declaration.

"In this declaration, it is clearly stated that this government is taking office with the goal of making sure Georgia gets clearer prospects for its path toward Euro-Atlantic integration and NATO membership," she said.

Khidasheli also said she is pleased with the "results" achieved by the government and, particularly, the Defense Ministry. She is optimistic that Georgia will receive a positive indication from NATO at the alliance's July 2016 summit in Warsaw.

In the meantime, General Kapanadze says Georgia's contribution to the Afghanistan mission will continue.

"We are satisfied and it is a pleasure for me to hear the praise that our troops receive," he said. "They are really doing very difficult work very far from home."

Written by RFE/RL correspondent Robert Coalson based on reporting by RFE/RL's Georgian Service and Current Time television.

Editor's note:

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· · · · · ·

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ValueWalk After 10 Years And 30 Deaths, Georgia Question It's NATO Ambitions ValueWalk In a poll released on June 10 by the U.S.-based Pew Research Center, more than half of those surveyed in Germany, France, and Italy said that if R...

» Истребители НАТО с базы в Шяуляй вновь сопровождали российский истребитель2 - Postimees
11/06/15 16:09 from нато - Google News
Postimees Истребители НАТО с базы в Шяуляй вновь сопровождали российский истребитель2 Postimees Это пятый подтвержденный случай за эту неделю, когда истребители НАТО поднимались опознать и сопроводить российские военные самолеты. На свое...

» Gurkhas Lead UK Contribution To Latvia NATO Exercise - Forces TV
11/06/15 14:25 from nato - Google News
Forces TV Gurkhas Lead UK Contribution To Latvia NATO Exercise Forces TV UK-based Gurkhas are to join soldiers from over 10 NATO countries in military training in Latvia over the coming month. Exercise Saber Strike, a NATO exercise in it...

» Dempsey urges NATO allies to boost military spending - Stars and Stripes
11/06/15 14:14 from nato - Google News
Stars and Stripes Dempsey urges NATO allies to boost military spending Stars and Stripes Adm. Mark Ferguson, left, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, says goodbye to Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, ...

» Генсек НАТО выразил сожаление о жертвах бомбардировок в Югославии - Взгляд
11/06/15 13:54 from нато - Google News
Взгляд Генсек НАТО выразил сожаление о жертвах бомбардировок в Югославии Взгляд Генеральный секретарь НАТО Йенс Столтенберг во время выступления в черногорской Будве заявил, что сожалеет о страданиях, причиненных бомбардировками в бывшей...

» Would Russia Really Invade a NATO Country? Ex-US Ambassador to Ukraine ... - VICE News
11/06/15 13:42 from Nato Russia - Google News
VICE News Would Russia Really Invade a NATO Country? Ex-US Ambassador to Ukraine ... VICE News This week, NATO readies itself. On Tuesday the alliance launched the final part of NOBLE JUMP: a 10-day military exercise mostly in Poland whi...

» Latvian troops learn to receive NATO support in military exercise - GlobalPost
11/06/15 13:21 from nato - Google News
Latvian troops learn to receive NATO support in military exercise GlobalPost Graube indicated that this year's drill had two significant aspects -- the Baltic Battalion was undergoing certification for participation in the NATO Respo...

» Литва вместе с НАТО получила оплеуху - News Front - новости Новороссии, ЛНР, ДНР
11/06/15 13:18 from нато - Google News
News Front - новости Новороссии, ЛНР, ДНР Литва вместе с НАТО получила оплеуху News Front - новости Новороссии, ЛНР, ДНР Я чуть было не поверил в тот факт, что Запад начал осуществлять свои зловещие планы в отношении России. Как обычно, ...

» After 10 Years and 30 Deaths, Georgians Question Their NATO Ambitions - EurasiaNet
11/06/15 13:17 from nato - Google News
AzerNews After 10 Years and 30 Deaths, Georgians Question Their NATO Ambitions EurasiaNet For the last decade, joining NATO has been a stated priority of the Georgian government, and the country has become the alliance's most reliabl...

» N.D. Guard general takes command of NATO forces in Sarajevo - Military Times
11/06/15 12:46 from nato - Google News
N.D. Guard general takes command of NATO forces in Sarajevo Military Times BISMARCK, N.D. — The first female general in the North Dakota Army National Guard has taken command of NATO forces operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Giselle &q...

» Россияне проникли на лучшую базу НАТО в Прибалтике - klops.ru
11/06/15 11:26 from нато - Google News
klops.ru Россияне проникли на лучшую базу НАТО в Прибалтике klops.ru По словам представителя прокремлевской латвийской организации "Другая Россия", национал-большевика Владимира Линдерманса, нарушители успели снять развевавшийс...

» This chart should terrify Russia's neighbors - Vox
11/06/15 11:00 from Nato Russia - Google News
This chart should terrify Russia's neighbors Vox The nation that is least willing to come to the defense of NATO members on Russia's border is Germany, which opposes action by a factor of about three to two. This is crucial becau...

» Герлинда Неус: На саммите в Варшаве НАТО обсудит стратегию в отношении России - Новости Армении
11/06/15 10:16 from нато Россия - Google News
Новости Армении Герлинда Неус: На саммите в Варшаве НАТО обсудит стратегию в отношении России Новости Армении На предстоящем в Варшаве саммите НАТО будут обсуждены вызовы, угрожающие Североатлантическому Альянсу на востоке и юге. Об этом...

» Европарламент призвал НАТО усилить присутствие в Чёрном море - Пронедра
11/06/15 10:08 from нато Россия - Google News
Европарламент призвал НАТО усилить присутствие в Чёрном море Пронедра ... существует угроза, что Россия разместит на полуострове новейшее оружие. Москва получила важнейший плацдарм, который обращён на все государства региона. Европарламе...

» Столтенберг: НАТО в декабре 2015 года примет решение о приглашении Черногории в альянс - Информационное агентство России ТАСС
11/06/15 09:59 from нато - Google News
Столтенберг: НАТО в декабре 2015 года примет решение о приглашении Черногории в альянс Информационное агентство России ТАСС БЕЛГРАД, 11 июня. /Корр. ТАСС Мария Федорова/. НАТО примет решение относительно приглашения Черногории в Североат...

» Жители Европы не хотят конфликтовать с Россией. И НАТО им не указ - РИА Новости
11/06/15 09:33 from нато - Google News
Газета.Ru Жители Европы не хотят конфликтовать с Россией. И НАТО им не указ РИА Новости Жители европейских стран НАТО не хотят воевать за других. А еще они не хотят воевать с Россией. Поэтому они даже согласны поступиться одной из основн...

» Lithuania army website hack hoax reveals 'NATO plans to annex Russia's ... - RT
11/06/15 08:57 from nato - Google News
RT Lithuania army website hack hoax reveals ' NATO plans to annex Russia's ... RT The information on the army's page alleges that 'Sword-Stroke' – the NATO military drills going on in Poland and the Baltic – are actua...

» Georgians Question Their NATO Ambitions - RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
11/06/15 08:45 from nato - Google News
RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty Georgians Question Their NATO Ambitions RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty Georgia has paid a high price for its ambition to join NATO . On June 16, the South Caucasus country will bury the 30th soldier killed in s...

» НАТО выясняет, как Россия будет защищать Калининград — эксперт - Федеральное агентство новостей No.1
11/06/15 08:24 from нато Россия - Google News
Федеральное агентство новостей No.1 НАТО выясняет, как Россия будет защищать Калининград — эксперт Федеральное агентство новостей No.1 Всплывшую в ходе учений НАТО «Удар меча» информацию о намерениях Литвы захватить Калининград можно счи...

» NATO Secretary General in visit to Montenegro stresses value of Euro-Atlantic ... - NATO HQ (press release)
11/06/15 08:15 from nato - Google News
NATO HQ (press release) NATO Secretary General in visit to Montenegro stresses value of Euro-Atlantic ... NATO HQ (press release) Joining the Euro-Atlantic family would be a win-win for Montenegro and the Alliance, NATO Secretary General...

» NATO Seeks Higher Montenegro Public Support for Membership - ABC News
11/06/15 08:11 from nato - Google News
seattlepi.com NATO Seeks Higher Montenegro Public Support for Membership ABC News Montenegro will have to beef up its public support for NATO and strengthen the rule of law before it can become a member, the alliance's secretary-gene...

» Центру "Патриот", который готовит украинских воинов по стандартам НАТО, нужна помощь. ФОТОрепортаж - Цензор.Нет (Сатира)
11/06/15 08:09 from нато - Google News
Цензор.Нет (Сатира) Центру "Патриот", который готовит украинских воинов по стандартам НАТО , нужна помощь. ФОТОрепортаж Цензор.Нет (Сатира) "Огромное спасибо всем тем, кто своими пожертвованиями помог и помогает Центру &qu...

» NATO Deputy Secretary General to visit Sweden
11/06/15 08:00 from NATO Latest News
NATO Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Alexander Vershbow, will visit Sweden on Friday 12 June 2015.

» Women, Peace and Security agenda in the spotlight at NATO
11/06/15 08:00 from NATO Latest News
The participation of women in Allied armed forces has been steadily increasing over the past few decades, and significant strides have been made towards the recruitment and retention of women. However, women continue to be underrepresent...

» Канадский лидер обвинил Путина... в учениях НАТО - Правда.Ру
11/06/15 07:47 from нато - Google News
Правда.Ру Канадский лидер обвинил Путина... в учениях НАТО Правда.Ру Канадские моряки получили от премьер-министра своей страны Стивена Харпера более чем странное разъяснение причины проведения учений НАТО в Балтийском море. Как оказалос...

» В Украину зашла военная техника НАТО для проведения учений - ГПСУ - ЛІГА.net
11/06/15 07:26 from нато - Google News
ЛІГА.net В Украину зашла военная техника НАТО для проведения учений - ГПСУ ЛІГА.net Для проведения учений в Украину зашла военная техника НАТО . Об этом сегодня на брифинге сообщил помощник главы Государственной пограничной службы Украин...

» Европарламент призывает НАТО обеспечить военное превосходство в Черном море - Интерфакс
11/06/15 07:17 from нато - Google News
Европарламент призывает НАТО обеспечить военное превосходство в Черном море Интерфакс Европейские парламентарии подчеркнули важность сотрудничества ЕС в этом районе с НАТО , прежде всего, с США. Они считают, что " НАТО должна поддер...

» НАТО становится преступной группировкой — Нобелевский лауреат - Федеральное агентство новостей No.1
11/06/15 06:42 from нато - Google News
Федеральное агентство новостей No.1 НАТО становится преступной группировкой — Нобелевский лауреат Федеральное агентство новостей No.1 В последние годы, членство европейских стран в НАТО сделало их сообщникам в американских усилиях по дос...

» Georgia's NATO accession to be decided at political level - AzerNews
11/06/15 06:24 from Nato Russia - Google News
AzerNews Georgia's NATO accession to be decided at political level AzerNews Georgia's rulers claim that the strong aspirations to join NATO is for ending the long-lasting dispute with Russia rather than gaining a major ally to fu...

» Хакеры "отомстили" за Крым: Литва готовится к аннексии Калининграда - Московский комсомолец
11/06/15 06:17 from нато - Google News
Федеральное агентство новостей No.1 Хакеры "отомстили" за Крым: Литва готовится к аннексии Калининграда Московский комсомолец На сайте Объединенного штаба Литовской армии появилось сообщение, что целью учений НАТО "Удар ме...

» After 10 Years And 30 Deaths, Georgians Question Their NATO Ambitions - RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
11/06/15 06:10 from nato - Google News
RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty After 10 Years And 30 Deaths, Georgians Question Their NATO Ambitions RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty Georgia has paid a high price for its ambition to join NATO . On June 16, the South Caucasus country will bur...

» Министр: намерения хакеров - попытка дискредитировать Литву и НАТО - ru.Delfi.lt
11/06/15 05:33 from нато - Google News
ru.Delfi.lt Министр: намерения хакеров - попытка дискредитировать Литву и НАТО ru.Delfi.lt Вставленный хакерами на сайте текст министр обороны Юозас Олекас назвал провокацией, попыткой дискредитировать Литву и НАТО . "Я это расценив...

» Сайт армии Литвы: НАТО готовится к аннексии Калининграда - Московский комсомолец
11/06/15 04:43 from нато - Google News
Московский комсомолец Сайт армии Литвы: НАТО готовится к аннексии Калининграда Московский комсомолец На сайте Объединенного штаба Литовской армии появилось сообщение, что целью учений НАТО "Удар меча", которые проходят в страна...

» Минобороны отчиталось о переходе на стандарты НАТО - Подробности
11/06/15 04:38 from нато - Google News
Mail.Ru Минобороны отчиталось о переходе на стандарты НАТО Подробности Минобороны Украины ввело в действие 50 нормативно-правовых документов на основе 102 стандартов НАТО , говорится в сообщении пресс-службы ведомства. Замминистра оборон...

» Women, Peace and Security agenda in the spotlight at NATO - NATO HQ (press release)
11/06/15 04:11 from nato - Google News
Women, Peace and Security agenda in the spotlight at NATO NATO HQ (press release) To kick off 'Gender Week' at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, the Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme hosted an event on 1 June to present...

» Britain gets cold shoulder with Canada's talk of joining NATO force - The Globe and Mail
11/06/15 03:39 from nato - Google News
The Globe and Mail Britain gets cold shoulder with Canada's talk of joining NATO force The Globe and Mail The Harper government is considering joining NATO's rapid reaction force, but doing so could mean spurning a traditional al...

» Михкельсон: Лукьянов невнимательно читал договор НАТО–Россия - Postimees
11/06/15 03:35 from нато Россия - Google News
Postimees Михкельсон: Лукьянов невнимательно читал договор НАТО – Россия Postimees Ситуация в области безопасности с того момента, как в 1997 году Россия и НАТО заключили «Основополагающий акт о взаимных отношениях, сотрудничестве и безо...

» "Я надеялся отыграть секунды, но получил полчаса процедур, позорный столб в центре города и в заголовках", Юрген Лиги - Postimees
11/06/15 01:16 from нато - Google News
Postimees "Я надеялся отыграть секунды, но получил полчаса процедур, позорный столб в центре города и в заголовках", Юрген Лиги Postimees По словам Лукьянова, во избежание случайных инцидентов логично было бы использовать Совет...

» Премьер Канады заявил, что наблюдал корабли РФ во время учений НАТО - РИА Новости
11/06/15 01:08 from нато - Google News
РБК Премьер Канады заявил, что наблюдал корабли РФ во время учений НАТО РИА Новости НАТО проводит в эти дни масштабные учения в Балтийском море и на земле — на территории Польши, Литвы, Латвии и Эстонии. Представители стран НАТО неоднокр...

» Премьер Канады: НАТО проводит учения в Балтийском море из-за Путина - Взгляд
11/06/15 01:05 from нато - Google News
Взгляд Премьер Канады: НАТО проводит учения в Балтийском море из-за Путина Взгляд Премьер-министр Канады Стивен Харпер заявил канадским морякам, что они оказались на военно-морских учениях НАТО в Балтийском море из-за российского президе...

» Сегодня жители бывшей Югославии вспоминают жертв бомбардировок НАТО - Life News
11/06/15 01:03 from нато - Google News
Life News Сегодня жители бывшей Югославии вспоминают жертв бомбардировок НАТО Life News Но не все прятались в бомбоубежищах. Сербский ракетчик Джордже Аничич прославился на весь мир тем, что его команда сумела уничтожить американский сам...

» Два россиянина на базе НАТО под Ригой заменили знамя США на флаг "цвета георгиевской ленты" - 9 канал Израиль
11/06/15 00:56 from нато - Google News
9 канал Израиль Два россиянина на базе НАТО под Ригой заменили знамя США на флаг "цвета георгиевской ленты" 9 канал Израиль Два российских гражданина были арестованы вчера, 10 июня, за незаконное проникновение на военную базу &...

» Analysts question whether Conservative government's talk about joining NATO ... - Ottawa Citizen
10/06/15 21:11 from nato - Google News
Ottawa Citizen Analysts question whether Conservative government's talk about joining NATO ... Ottawa Citizen The Cameron government has been very assertive, proposing prior to last year's NATO Summit in Wales that Ottawa sign on...

» Britain Gets Cold Shoulder With Canada's Talk Of Joining NATO Force - Huffington Post Canada
10/06/15 20:26 from nato - Google News
Huffington Post Canada Britain Gets Cold Shoulder With Canada's Talk Of Joining NATO Force Huffington Post Canada The Cameron government has been very assertive, proposing prior to last year's NATO Summit in Wales that Ottawa sig...

» NATO Headquarters Sarajevo welcomes first ever female commander - DVIDS (press release)
10/06/15 18:23 from nato - Google News
NATO Headquarters Sarajevo welcomes first ever female commander DVIDS (press release) U.S. Navy Adm. Mark Ferguson, commander of Allied Joint Force Command Naples, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa, passes the flag to U.S. Army Brig. G...

» Support plunges for a Nato counterstrike against Russia - The Times (subscription)
10/06/15 18:11 from Nato Russia - Google News
The Times (subscription) Support plunges for a Nato counterstrike against Russia The Times (subscription) Less than half of people in Britain and Nato's other European members are prepared to back military action against Russia in de...

» Опасная игра НАТО и России в странах Балтии - Postimees
10/06/15 17:03 from нато Россия - Google News
Postimees Опасная игра НАТО и России в странах Балтии Postimees По словам Лукьянова, во избежание случайных инцидентов логично было бы использовать Совет НАТО – Россия : «Не для того, чтобы вести какие-то политические переговоры, в этом ...

» Russian citizens wander into massive NATO exercise - Public broadcasting of Latvia
10/06/15 15:52 from russia nato - Google News
Public broadcasting of Latvia Russian citizens wander into massive NATO exercise Public broadcasting of Latvia Drugaya Rossiya (The Other Russia ), an organization founded by Latvia's radical pro-Kremlin activist and 'National Bo...

» Вражда народов: американцы показали отношения НАТО - Россия – Украина - Обозреватель
10/06/15 15:35 from нато Россия - Google News
Обозреватель Вражда народов: американцы показали отношения НАТО - Россия – Украина Обозреватель Максимум сторонников вступления Украины в НАТО проживает в Канаде, а не хотят видеть эту страну в альянсе главным образом граждане Италии. В ...

» Джеб Буш поддержал расширение присутствия НАТО в Европе - УНИАН
10/06/15 15:23 from нато - Google News
УНИАН Джеб Буш поддержал расширение присутствия НАТО в Европе УНИАН В конфликте с Россией НАТО необходимо продемонстрировать военную мощь, заявил американец, который совершает поездку по Европе. США и другие члены альянса должны подумать...

» Джеб Буш поддержал расширение присутствия НАТО в Европе: необходимо продемонстрировать России военную мощь - NEWSru.ua
10/06/15 15:15 from нато - Google News
Пресса онлайн Джеб Буш поддержал расширение присутствия НАТО в Европе: необходимо продемонстрировать России военную мощь NEWSru.ua Бывший губернатор штата Флорида и возможный кандидат в президенты США от республиканцев Джеб Буш поддержал...

» Богомолец: НАТО усиливает медицинскую помощь по реабилитации украинских военных - bigmir)net
10/06/15 14:51 from нато - Google News
bigmir)net Богомолец: НАТО усиливает медицинскую помощь по реабилитации украинских военных bigmir)net "Проект разработан в рамках программы Украина– НАТО по медицинской реабилитации. Он будет сосредоточен на двух направлениях: быстр...

» Опрос: россияне крайне негативно относятся к США и НАТО - РИА Новости
10/06/15 14:21 from нато - Google News
Опрос: россияне крайне негативно относятся к США и НАТО РИА Новости ВАШИНГТОН, 10 июн — РИА Новости, Дмитрий Злодорев. Большинство россиян крайне негативно относится к США и НАТО , но более высокого мнения о Евросоюзе, в частности, Герма...

» Минобороны утвердило 50 нормативных актов, основанных на стандартах НАТО - Mail.Ru
10/06/15 14:13 from нато - Google News
Mail.Ru Минобороны утвердило 50 нормативных актов, основанных на стандартах НАТО Mail.Ru «В частности, на основании 102 стандартов НАТО в Министерстве обороны уже введено в действие 50 нормативно-правовых документов НАТО , последние два ...

» Бордюжа: НАТО не сотрудничает с ОДКБ в борьбе с наркотрафиком - РИА Новости
10/06/15 13:57 from нато - Google News
Бордюжа: НАТО не сотрудничает с ОДКБ в борьбе с наркотрафиком РИА Новости МОСКВА, 10 июн — РИА Новости. НАТО не идет на сотрудничество с ОДКБ в вопросе борьбы с распространением наркотиков, заявил генсек ОДКБ Николай Бордюжа. "Хотя ...

» Russia: Border tensions - Financial Times
10/06/15 13:47 from Nato Russia - Google News
Financial Times Russia : Border tensions Financial Times Part of that response has been the creation of rapid reaction forces in eastern Europe, a move Russia has decried as confrontational, sparking its own counter-exercises. So far thi...

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