A year ago, was not sure if it was really necessary to gather senior executives from over 60 countries on a luxury estate in Wales. The program is now filled with crises.
Welsh hope this week’s summit will be an opportunity to showcase all they have to offer in terms of beautiful scenery, ancient castles, locally produced foods and new technology. But the question is whether politicians have time for this.
Why have they really summit?
The American NATO ambassador Douglas Lute as recently back on NATO’s 65 -Year history and split it into three phases: the first, from its founding in 1949 until 1989, it was the Cold War it was about. The threat from the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact countries, the existence of NATO. When the Iron Curtain fell, NATO into a transition phase where they tried to figure out what it should do now, when the old enemy was gone. The third phase, from 1994 until today, the Alliance has worked with military operations in places no one had envisioned during the Cold War. The idea behind this year’s summit was to discuss and decide “what now?” When NATO withdraws from Afghanistan from January. A year ago, there was not even sure it was necessary to have such a top-heavy face now. Ukraine crisis has changed that.
Who is participating?
Heads of State and Government for all NATO countries participating, along with their defense and foreign ministers. In addition, the leaders of the 30 so-called partner countries there, including the Ukrainian president. Russia, which have had status as a partner, is not invited. 1,500 journalists and over 4000 delegates, as ministers and defense chiefs and diplomats will be in place. In addition, several thousand protesters announced that they will mobilize and protest against NATO.
What are the key issues?
What NATO should do in Afghanistan after that they pull out at the New Year, will continue to be an important issue. Alliance wants to be there with a small force, but need an “invitation” from the leadership of the country. It has not come. In addition, the top leaders discuss crisis in Ukraine. Norway is among the countries which for several years has argued that NATO should “come back home” and focus on the defense of the member states. Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula and the rebellion in eastern Ukraine means that the organization will do just that, including by creating a faster reaction force than they have today, and by increasing the military presence in Eastern Europe.
What about the crises in the Middle East?
The threat from the fighters of the Islamic state will no doubt be an important part of the discussions when Prime Ministers and Presidents have dinner together on Thursday night to discuss NATO’s challenges. This takes place right on NATO country Turkey’s borders. But it is also seen as a threat to European security by allowing foreign fighters with European passports can perform terror in Europe, as it took place at the Jewish Museum in Brussels in May. But what NATO will do, is highly uncertain. None of the crises in NATO’s neighborhoods are such defense alliance has traditionally been prepared. Therefore, there will be a discussion about what the Alliance has in the toolbox.
What about money?
The so-called burden distribution in NATO will be one of the most difficult issues . NATO countries have long had an ambition to spend 2 percent of gross domestic product on defense. However, only four countries do, and the U.S. over 70 percent of the bill. USA presses on to get to a binding plan to increase defense budgets. But sitting deep in several countries.
Do Jens Stoltenberg participate?
Yes, the newly appointed Secretary General comes to Wales during the summit. But it is the Dane Anders Fogh Rasmussen who will lead the summit. Stoltenberg takes over the helm at NATO Headquarters in Brussels on 1 October.
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