By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service
BRUSSELS, Feb. 27, 2014 – Over two days of meetings here,
discussions among NATO defense ministers focused on future alliance
capabilities, the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan and
NATO’s defense relationship with Ukraine, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in
his closing remarks here today.
Defense ministers from 18 of NATO’s 24 member nations,
Ukraine’s Acting Defense Minister Oleksandr Oliynyk, NATO Secretary General
Anders Fogh Rasmussen and his deputy, and member-nation permanent
representatives participated.
Hagel reassured allies of the continued U.S. commitment to
NATO and to its global responsibilities, and he told the ministers that
President Barack Obama’s fiscal year 2015 budget request, which he will present
to Congress next week, “preserves and protects key capabilities such as missile
defense and other capabilities that we discussed today in our sessions. These
capabilities underpin our commitment to European security.”
The U.S. defense strategy demands even closer partnership
with European allies, he added.
“As allied nations confront fiscal pressure on both sides of
the Atlantic, and as NATO transitions out of its combat mission in Afghanistan,
many of us plan to field smaller military forces in the years ahead,” the
secretary said, adding that with savings the U.S. military achieves through a
smaller force, he intends to buy readiness, capability and combat power.
“We expect NATO allies to do the same,” Hagel said.
This is a time to set priorities, make difficult choices and
reinvest in key capabilities all nations will need for the future, he said,
including those that have been neglected over the past decade of war.
Ahead of September’s NATO summit in Wales, Rasmussen will
focus on improving NATO’s military capabilities as a down payment on meeting
shortfalls, the secretary added.
“As an alliance, we must invest in global reach,
technological superiority and leading-edge capabilities like cyber and special
operations,” Hagel said, adding that together NATO member countries must spend
money on defense more strategically and effectively.
On Afghanistan, Hagel said, the conference offered a chance
to take stock of accomplishments over 13 years.
NATO’s main objective in Afghanistan was to enable the
Afghan authorities to provide effective security across the country and ensure
that the country can never again be a safe haven for terrorists. Progress there
can be measured by the growing confidence of Afghans in their national
institutions and the Afghan national security forces’ leading role in securing
the country, the secretary said.
“As we look beyond the end of our combat mission this year,
I told ISAF ministers that the United States continues to support planning for
a noncombat, NATO-led mission that would train, advise and assist Afghan forces
after 2014,” he said.
“But the longer we go without a bilateral security agreement
and a NATO status of forces agreement,” he added, “the more challenging it will
be for the United States and other ISAF nations to support, plan and execute
this post-2014 mission.”
Earlier this week, President Obama directed the U.S.
military to begin contingency planning for Afghanistan that takes into account
the lack of a signed agreement, Hagel said.
“We will ensure that adequate plans are in place to
accomplish an orderly withdrawal by the end of the year should the United
States [decide not] to keep troops in Afghanistan after 2014,” he said.
“Today in our ISAF session,” the secretary added, “we agreed
that the alliance should also begin planning for various contingencies in
Afghanistan while still supporting continued planning for the Resolute Support
mission” that is expected to start Jan. 1.
Hagel commended Air Force Gen. Philip M. Breedlove and
Marine Corps Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr. for their critically important
leadership of the ISAF campaign, he said, particularly Dunford’s consistent,
wise and steady leadership. Dunford is the ISAF commander in Afghanistan, and
Breedlove commands U.S. European Command and NATO’s Supreme Allied Command
Europe.
Today’s final session was the NATO-Ukraine Commission, the
secretary said, adding that he was pleased to welcome that nation’s
participation in the ministerial conference, given the rapidly evolving
political situation in Ukraine.
“Today I affirmed America’s strong support for Ukraine’s
territorial integrity and sovereignty, and NATO defense ministers made the same
declaration in a joint statement,” Hagel said.
The ministers expect other nations to respect Ukraine’s
sovereignty and avoid provocative actions, he added.
“That’s why I’m closely watching Russia’s military exercises
along the Ukrainian border, which they announced yesterday,” Hagel said. “I
expect Russia to be transparent about these activities, and I urge them not to
take any steps that could be misinterpreted, or lead to miscalculation during a
… time with great tension.”
The secretary said it’s important for all nations with an
interest in a peaceful future for Ukraine to work together transparently to
support a Ukrainian government that fulfills the aspirations of its people.
“Our session today also focused on Ukraine’s opportunities
for defense reform and our ongoing military-to-military cooperation –-
including Ukraine’s participation in NATO operations. And we welcomed the
Ukrainian armed forces’ responsible decision to exercise restraint amidst the
nation’s political turmoil,” Hagel said.
From Kandahar to Kiev, he added, 20 years ago no one could
have foreseen how NATO contributes today to global security. With the United
States’ strong support, Hagel said, NATO must continue to be a force for peace,
prosperity and freedom in Europe and around the world.
“That is our responsibility in the 21st century,” the
secretary said.
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