Nato Chief

NATO chief Stoltenberg eyes bigger defence budgets, hard spending target

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday urged the 30 member countries to commit to spending at least 2 per cent of their gross domestic product on defense by a set date, as Russia's war on Ukraine and other threats eat into military spending. NATO allies agreed in 2014, after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, to halt the spending cuts they had made after the Cold War and move toward spending 2 per cent of GDP on their defence budgets by 2024. That pledge expires next year, and NATO is working on a new target. What is obvious is that if it was right to commit to spend 2 per cent in 2014, it is even more right now because we live in a more dangerous world, Stoltenberg told reporters, after chairing a meeting of NATO defence ministers, where a first high-level discussion on the issue was held. There is a full-fledged war going on in in Ukraine, in Europe, and then we see the persistent threat of terrorism, and we see also the challenges that China is forcing to o

NATO chief Stoltenberg warns Russia not to cross 'very important line'

Russian President Vladimir Putin would be crossing a very important line if he were to order the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned Thursday, with the military alliance and Russia both due to hold nuclear exercises in coming days. NATO is holding its exercise, dubbed Steadfast Noon, next week. The long-planned maneuvers are conducted around the same time every year and run for about one week. They involve fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear warheads, but do not involve any live bombs. Russia usually holds its own maneuvers around the same time, and NATO is expecting Moscow's exercise of its nuclear forces sometime this month. Stoltenberg said NATO will closely monitor what Russia is up to. Asked what NATO would do if Russia launched a nuclear attack, Stoltenberg said: We will not go into exactly how we will respond, but of course this will fundamentally change the nature of the conflict. It will mean that a very important line has

NATO chief warns of civil unrest in Europe sparked by energy crisis

Stoltenberg warned that Putin could carry out further aggression against Russia's neighbours and even attack NATO allies if he is emboldened by success in Ukraine

NATO summit in Madrid concludes amid criticisms of bloc's aggression

NATO leaders agreed to strengthen the alliance's forward defenses, enhance the bloc's battlegroups on its eastern flank and increase the number of high readiness forces to more than 300,000

Sweden ready to address Turkish security fears, says NATO Secy General

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he was glad that the Swedish government has confirmed its readiness to address Turkey's concerns as part of assuming the obligations of NATO membership.

Finnish president confirms country will apply to join NATO alliance

Finland will be applying for NATO alliance in the near future, Finnish President confirmed recently. With increasing pressure from Russia, Finland is edging closer towards US and NATO's umbrella

NATO extends Jens Stoltenberg's term for a year due to Russia's war

Stoltenberg, 63, has described Russia's war on Ukraine as the most serious security situation we have been in for decades

NATO chief Stoltenberg stresses diplomatic efforts to solve Ukraine crisis

Visiting Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Jens Stoltenberg has stressed diplomatic efforts to solve the ongoing Ukraine crisis.

Taliban ambush kills 25 Afghan security personnel, derailing peace talks

As violence keeps rising, Nato says won't leave until conditions allow

We don't want a new Cold War with Russia: Nato chief

Romanian and Bulgarian pilots have conducted air exercises in the Black Sea in recent months