On Saturday, Kevin Scheid, a Department of Defense veteran, was placed in charge of NATOs cyber operations. The appointment wouldnt be big news if it werent for the fact that hes joining the organization at a hair-raising point in history. The vicious malware triggered NATO to announce on Friday that the attack is believed to be the work of a state actor and is a potential act of war.

The 90s cyberpunk thriller Hackers is used too often to illustrate the fearful future of cyber

There was a lot of ruckus back in May when Donald Trump met with the leaders of NATO and failed to confirm that the US is committed to Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. Thats the clause of the agreement that pledges the members of NATO to mutual defense. Legally speaking, if Article 5 is triggered by an attack on one member, the other members are required to join in retaliation. NATOs Secretary General confirmed this week that a cyber operation with consequences comparable to an armed attack can trigger Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty and responses might be with military means. But Fridays press release emphasizes that we dont know enough about the origin of NotPetya or the intentions behind its release at this time.

NATO researchers have concluded that the malware can most likely be attributed to a state actor, and if a nation is determined to be responsible, this could be an internationally wrongful act, which might give the targeted states several options to respond with countermeasures. What sort of countermeasures? Well, pretty much anything. Independently, the UKs defense secretary announced this week that his country was prepared to respond to cyber attacks from any domain - air, land, sea or cyber.

If our unhinged president in the US wants to start a war for the hell of it, he pretty much has the power to do that. But NATO functions on strict rules. Tom Minrik, a researcher at NATO CCD COE writes:

If the operation could be linked to an ongoing international armed conflict, then law of armed conflict would apply, at least to the extent that injury or physical damage was caused by it, and with respect to possible direct participation in hostilities by civilian hackers, but so far there are reports of neither.

Minrik is outlining what would justify full on IRL military conflict. That doesnt, necessarily, mean that NATO couldnt respond in the cyber-realm if it determined that a government was responsible for NotPetya. He continues:

As important government systems have been targeted, then in case the operation is attributed to a state this could count as a violation of sovereignty. Consequently, this could be an internationally wrongful act, which might give the targeted states several options to respond with countermeasures.

NATO doesnt know whos responsible for NotPetya, and no experts have attributed the attack to one actor with any certainty.

Its one of the most fascinating pieces of malware to ever wreak havoc on a large scale. At first, people thought it was ransomware, then it was more likely to be a wiper with some ransomware code. Its become clear that it uses the EternalBlue and EternalRomance exploits that were pilfered from the NSA and released by the hacking group the Shadow Brokers in April. But intriguingly, it appears that whoever created NotPetya had access to those exploits two weeks before they were given to the public.

Another puzzling factor is the motive for releasing this malware that doesnt seem to benefit anyone. No one is getting paid. Its just a really destructive worm that locks up systems. It was first released in Ukraine, and that countrys security services are blaming Russia. But Russians were victims of the attack as well. Its such a pointless and nasty worm that the crime group behind the original Petya actually jumped in and volunteered to help victims. Lauri Lindstrm, a researcher at NATO says, it seems likely that the more sophisticated and expensive NotPetya campaign is a declaration of power - a demonstration of the acquired disruptive capability and readiness to use it.

According to Bloomberg, attacks on NATOs electronic infrastructure increased by 60 percent last year. If its true that a state actor is responsible for NotPetya, its possible that NATO taking notice and talking up Article 5 could make the perpetrator think twice. Then again, if the responsible party gets away without a trace, theyll know that theyre untouchable.

[CCDCOE via Security Affairs, Bloomberg]

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NATO Considering 'Petya' Malware a Potential Act of War - Gizmodo - Gizmodo

Former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO John Stavridis said Sunday that President Trump's upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin is his best chance to confront him about meddling int he 2016 election and start peace talks.

"[The] meeting is a good thing," Stavridis told radio host John Catsimatidis inan interview that aired Sunday on AM 970 in New York.

"It is an opportunity for President Trump to confront President Putin about his interference in our election."

Trump plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin next week at the Group of 20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, their first face-to-face encounter since Trumps inauguration in January.

National security adviser H.R. McMaster told reportersThursdaythe two leaders plan to meet. A spokesperson for Putin previously said the meeting would take place on the sidelines of the summit.

McMaster said there is no set agenda for the meeting, butStavridis suggested Sunday that it would also be a good opportunity to discuss ending war in Syria.

"We ought to be exploring with President Putin how we can cooperate to end this terrible war in Syria. This is not going to be solved on the battlefield. It is going to require a diplomatic resolution. And only the United States and Russia working together can resolve it,"Stavridis said.

"Today I think it is clear frankly with the Russian assistance to Assad that Assad is not going anywhere. So, rather than end up in a situation where another 500,000 people die, I think it is time to have a political accommodation."

Trump has been signaling a more aggressive and antagonistic approach to Syria and Russia, Assads primary backer, since the chemical attack moving away from his campaign promises to forge better ties with Moscow and to avoid U.S. military interventions in the Middle East.

There have been conflicting signals from administration officials over what actions by Syria might provoke another U.S. response, and the administration has yet to offer support for other forms of intervention, such as setting up a safe zone for civilians.

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Ex-NATO leader: Meeting is Trump's chance to 'confront' Putin on hacking - The Hill (blog)

Fears the US will withdraw its security umbrella from Europe could push countries to develop their own nuclear weapons, according to a group that monitors global arsenals.

France and the United Kingdom are the European Unions only nuclear powers, both having fewer than 5% of the number of warheads held by the US and Russia.

But experts say that could change amid Donald Trumps threats to reduce the USs commitment to NATO.

President Trump thinks the U.S. pays too much to guarantee European countries security and has urged NATO members to spend more on defence.

Trumps statements and general style so far appear to have increased concern in Europe and Asia about US security commitments, including providing a nuclear umbrella, Hans Kristensen, associate senior fellow at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) told Euronews.

If those concerns continue and deepen, they could potentially cause some of those countries to reevaluate whether they need to develop nuclear weapons for their own security.

The latest statistics on the nuclear weapons reveal the US and Russia both have around 7,000 warheads each.

The pair, which own 93 percent of the worlds nuclear weapons, are on track to meet a 2018 deadline to reduce their stockpiles.

While France and the UK have maintained or reduced their capabilities, three Asian countries India, Pakistan and North Korea have upped theirs.

SIPRI says while overall the number of warheads is on a downward trend, all nine nuclear powers are modernising their arsenals.

It says the U.S. plans to spend $400 billion (349 billion euros) over the next decade to maintain and upgrade its nuclear forces.

The projected increases in U.S. spending are not unexpected, added Kristensen. The current U.S. administration is continuing the ambitious nuclear modernisation plans set out by President Barack Obama.

Trump has said the U.S. must strengthen and expand its nuclear capacity until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes.

Although Trump cant directly affect other countries nuclear arsenals, his policies can certainly influence how they view the need for nuclear weapons, said Kristensen.

An increase or significant improvement of the US nuclear arsenal is likely to help fuel modernization plans in other countries.

Thats not to say they wouldnt modernise their forces if the United States didnt, but US improvements can drive requirements in those countries to compensate or match the US capabilities.

Link:

NATO fears could push Europe towards more nuclear weapons - euronews

With the seeming unraveling of the European Union the worry across the continent is whether NATO can survive and whether this post World War II organization linked to the EU is prepared to deal with the challenges of the 21st century. There is little doubt the NATO alliance faces security challenges more complex and demanding than at any time since the end of the Cold War.

Russia has flexed its military muscle in Crimea, the eastern Ukraine and Syria. It has tried to intimidate the Baltic states with the aggressive use of cyber-attacks and disinformation and has modernized its military hardware consistent with its hostile nature.

NATO has added to its defense portfolio with a clear anti-terror program against ISIS, al Qaeda and Boko Haram modifying its traditional mission.

And in a gesture to President Trump, it vowed to live up to the Defense Investment Pledge of spending 2 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

NATO 2.0 is a combination of the old and the new, missions that have recently converged. Since 2014 NATO has conducted the most elaborate reinforcement of its collective defense since the end of the Cold War. This includes: forward presence in the eastern part of the alliances; rapid reinforcement capability; the strengthening of nuclear deterrence and cyber defenses and creating a Joint Intelligence and Security Division.

Are these steps sufficient to deter possible Russian aggression and terrorist threats? The only way to tell is by enemy inaction. For example, cyber-attacks are becoming more frequent and sophisticated than in the past. They have reached a threshold where they can become as harmful as a conventional attack. Recent cyber incidents, including the WannaCry and Petya attacks, indicate the increasing threat posed by malicious state and nonstate actors. According to the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) there are more than 30 sovereign states that have offensive cyber operation programs. Furthermore, these capabilities are increasingly in the hands of criminal and other nonstate actors.

Ensuring the security of Allies is not only about deterrence and defense in Europe. It is also about what happens beyond European borders. NATO has had extensive experience in projecting force through operations in the Balkans and Afghanistan. It is also involved in dealing with the continental migrant crisis. In fact, the steep decline in illegal migration between 2015 and 2016 is due to NATOs presence in the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas in a program called Operation Sea Guardian. NATO claims to have formal partnership with over 40 countries and a range of international organizations.

Despite cavalier statements made during the campaign season, NATO is as important today as when it was created in 1948. However, any organization with a seven-decade history requires reexamination. NATOs mission should be carefully assessed along with troop deployments. The financial commitment of members should be reasserted.

Since the U.S. doesnt have resources or the inclination to be the worlds policeman to cite an unfortunate clich it can enhance its influence through multilateral organizations like NATO. In fact, NATO could serve as a model for fledging organizations in other parts of the world. In President Trumps Riyadh speech he made reference to an Arab NATO in the Middle East. Clearly this would probably not include Article 5, the proposition that an attack on one is an attack on all, but in most other respects the NATO architecture would be duplicated.

As I see it, NATO as the bulwark of defense for democratic institutions is critical. Europeans may believe they are capable of an independent force, but this view is misguided. Europe needs NATO as its first line of defense and the U.S. needs NATO to hold back the tide of terrorism.

Dr. Herb London is president of the London Center for Policy Research and is co-author with Jed Babbin of "The BDS War Against Israel."

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NATO 2.0 - Europe and America's first line of defense against ...

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July 1, 2017, 7:00 PM EDT

U.S. President Donald Trump will have less scope to bash the North Atlantic Treaty Organization now that an American is at the helm of the alliances technology and cyber security arm.

Source: NCI Agency

Kevin Scheid, a veteran of the U.S. Department of Defense, became head on July 1 of the NATO Communications and Information Agency, which runs the electronic networks of the 29-nation alliance. NCI Agency spends about 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) a year to ensure NATOs technological backbone is up to the tasks of fighting terrorism, protecting European airspace, conducting maritime operations and withstanding cyber attacks.

Not only do we think about the future and trying to develop the capabilities that the command needs and the nations need, and develop those capabilities, but at the same time we have to make sure that the existing networks are up and running and secure, Scheid, who is serving a three-year term as general manager of NCI Agency, said in an interview in Brussels. This gets NCI Agency deeply involved in the area of cyber security.

Trump has shaken seven decades of American foreign policy by questioning the relevance of U.S.-led NATO, which he called obsolete during his presidential campaign. Since entering the White House in January, Trump has dropped that label while pressing allies in Europe to foot more of the common defense bill and NATO as a whole to play a bigger role in fighting terrorism.

NCI Agency, with a staff of more than 2,000, was formed in 2012 from the merger of five NATO units. The group contracts out to industries to bolster the alliances land, sea, air and cyber capabilities and will be seeking bids for 3.2 billion euros in orders for satellite communications, air and missile defenses, cyber security and advanced software.

Cyber security has also moved to the top of NATOs agenda, with Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg saying attacks on the alliances electronic infrastructure spiked 60 percent last year to an average of 500 a month. Most of the incidents were state-sponsored, according to NATO.

The worldwide cyber threat was highlighted last week when an attack that started in Ukraine hit businesses, port operators and government systems in the U.S., South America, Asia and elsewhere in Europe.

To read more about Trump and NATO funding, click here

Among Scheids most immediate tasks is to ensure that NATOs new headquarters in the Belgian capital has properly protected information-technology systems. Construction of the 1.1 billion-euro glass-and-steel structure, which Scheid called one of the worlds most complex and largest security systems, is virtually completed while IT work continues.

What has been challenging about the new NATO headquarters is the complexity of a smart building, he said. Its a network surrounded by glass, steel and some cement.

NATO intends to start moving 4,500 staff members to the site, located across the street from the current headquarters, later this year. Scheid said the new building is more complex than what was estimated early on.

At a May 25 meeting where the alliances leaders inaugurated the complex, Trump, after hectoring fellow leaders to increase military spending, said: I never asked once what the new NATO headquarters cost. I refused to do that. But it is beautiful.

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US Cyber Warrior Begins NATO Job as Trump Pressures Alliance - Bloomberg

Russia and China have begunnavalexercises in the Baltic Sea, the most significant sign of military cooperation between the two major powers in a region seen as a flashpoint for Moscow's rivalry with Western military alliance NATO.

Russia's ambassador to ChinaAndrei Denisov acknowledgedFriday that the joint drills conducted by Russian and Chinese armed forces were unique, especially in the increasingly militarized Baltic region, but denied that the nations were "scaring off" rival powers. The Baltics have become a major point of contention between Russia and U.S.-led NATO, which have bothdevoted extensive military resources toward fortifying the region's borders.The twofactions accuse one another of instigating a European arms race, but Denisov dismissed Western concerns Friday.

Related:Americas new problem? Russia wants to solve the North Korea crisis

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"There is a point of novelty, but I havent heard anyone expressing much concern over this so-called threat. The Baltic States repeat their usual incantations, but at the same time, they take for granted the fact that NATO is deploying large forces on their territory," Denisov told reporters, according to the state-run TASS Russian News Agency.

"Those who are scared off are inclined to being scared," he added.

A Chinese soldier waves farewell to Russian fleets as the Chinese-Russian joint naval drill concludes in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, China, September 19, 2016. Russia and China, which trail behind only the U.S. in military power, have sought greater cooperation in recent years and have begun joint naval drills in the highly contested Baltic Sea, where NATO has raised its defenses. Stringer/Reuters

The Joint Sea-2017 drills began last week as China deployed a fleet consisting of guided missiledestroyer Changsha, mulitpurposefrigate Yuncheng, one comprehensive supply ship, ship-borne helicoptersand a number ofmarines to St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad, a Baltic exclave of Russia located between Lithuania and Poland,Xinhua News Agencyand Reutersreported. Days later, a U.S. spy plan and Russian jet reportedly came within five feet of one other over the Baltic Sea during an incident in which both nations said the other was at fault.

LithuanianForeign Minister Linas Linkevicius told journalistslast week that China's cooperation with Russia, who he referred as a country that is "not setting an example in the field in real life and by way of actions," could threaten regional stability,The Baltic Timesreported.In response, the Russian Defense Ministry issued a statement maintaing that the exercises were routine and intended to"strengthen and bolster Russian-Chinese relations regarding overall strategic cooperation," according to TASS Russian News Agency. Additionaldrills are scheduled for mid-July.

Chinese and Russian marines take part in the 400-meter sea-crossing and landing training as a par of the China-Russia naval drill 'Joint Sea-2016' on September 13, 2016 in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province of China. The two countries have recently signed a roadmap for greater military cooperation and may also seek to form a united front to counter U.S. pressure on North Korea and its nuclear weapons program. Li Jin/VCG via Getty Images

Denisov's remarks Friday came one day after Russia and China signed a roadmap for military cooperation and just ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's scheduled visit Monday at the invitation of his Russian counterpart, President Vladimir Puint. Throughout the two-day visit the pair were expected to "examinethefull spectrum ofrelations within thecomprehensive partnership andstrategic cooperation between Russia andChina, aswell ascurrent international andregional matters," according to the Kremlin's official website, which also anticipated that the leaders would sign bilateral agreements.

Observers often rank Russia and China as the world's second and third strongest military powers, respectively, behind the U.S. The two have frequently teamed up against initiatives led by the West in the U.N. and Russia has recently entered a political spat involving the U.S. and China over nuclear-armed North Korea in the Asia-Pacific.

Excerpt from:

Russia and NATO War Games in Europe See New Player: China - Newsweek

President Trump's first foreign trip

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump board Air Force One on Saturday, May, 27, 2017, at Naval Air Station Sigonella in Italy. They were headed back to the United States after a nine-day trip to the Middle East and Europe.

President Trump's first foreign trip

President Trump greets people on May 27, after speaking to US troops at Naval Air Station Sigonella.

President Trump's first foreign trip

President Trump addresses US troops and their families on May 27, at the Sigonella Naval Air Station.

President Trump's first foreign trip

President Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive on May 27, to address US military personnel and families at Naval Air Station Sigonella.

President Trump's first foreign trip

Leaders of the G-7 and some African nations pose for a photo on May 27, on the second day of the G-7 summit in Taormina, Italy.

President Trump's first foreign trip

President Trump gestures on May 27, during a G-7 session.

President Trump's first foreign trip

President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, arrive for a concert of the La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra while in Taormina, Italy, on Friday, May 26. The Trumps are in Italy for a two-day G-7 summit.

President Trump's first foreign trip

Trump and other leaders pose for a group photo at the G-7 summit on May 26. From left are European Council President Donald Tusk, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Trump, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, British Prime Minister Theresa May and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

President Trump's first foreign trip

Trump and Trudeau walk together after the group photo.

President Trump's first foreign trip

G-7 leaders congregate during a walking tour on May 26.

President Trump's first foreign trip

Trump embraces new French President Emmanuel Macron on May 26.

President Trump's first foreign trip

The leaders watch a French air squadron.

President Trump's first foreign trip

President Trump's first foreign trip

President Trump's first foreign trip

Trump stands with other world leaders during a NATO photo shoot on May 25.

President Trump's first foreign trip

Trump speaks with British Prime Minister Theresa May during a working dinner at NATO headquarters.

President Trump's first foreign trip

Trump stands next to German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the NATO summit.

President Trump's first foreign trip

Melania Trump visits the Magritte Museum in Brussels with Amelie Derbaudrenghien, partner of Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel.

President Trump's first foreign trip

A girl takes a selfie with Melania Trump at a children's hospital in Brussels on May 25.

President Trump's first foreign trip

Trump meets with Macron in Brussels.

President Trump's first foreign trip

Trump walks with European Council President Donald Tusk, center, and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, right, after they met at the European Council in Brussels on May 25.

President Trump's first foreign trip

Trump, third from right, attends a meeting with leaders at the European Council.

President Trump's first foreign trip

Trump speaks with King Philippe of Belgium as Queen Mathilde and Melania Trump chat during a reception at the Royal Palace in Brussels on Wednesday, May 24.

President Trump's first foreign trip

Tusk talks to Trump as he welcomes him in Brussels.

President Trump's first foreign trip

Trump stands with Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel while the national anthem is played during Trump's arrival in Belgium on May 24.

President Trump's first foreign trip

Protesters in Brussels demonstrate with effigies of Trump and Michel on May 24.

President Trump's first foreign trip

Trump shakes hands with Italian President Sergio Mattarella in Rome on May 24.

President Trump's first foreign trip

President Trump's first foreign trip

Trump and the Pope exchange gifts. Trump presented the Pope with a first-edition set of Martin Luther King's writings. The Pope gave Trump an olive-tree medal that the Pope said symbolizes peace.

President Trump's first foreign trip

Trump and his wife look at the ceilings of the Sistine Chapel.

President Trump's first foreign trip

Trump speaks to reporters in Rome during a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, right, on May 24.

President Trump's first foreign trip

The first lady visits a pediatric hospital in Vatican City on May 24.

President Trump's first foreign trip

President Trump's first foreign trip

President Trump's first foreign trip

People take pictures of the message Trump wrote at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, on May 23.

President Trump's first foreign trip

With the help of US Marines, Trump and his wife lay a wreath at Yad Vashem.

President Trump's first foreign trip

President Trump's first foreign trip

A Palestinian security official takes position before the arrival of Trump's convoy in Bethlehem, West Bank.

President Trump's first foreign trip

Israeli and American activists hold signs Monday, May 22, during an anti-Trump protest next to the US embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel.

President Trump's first foreign trip

Melania Trump and Israeli first lady Sara Netanyahu speak to children during their visit to the Hadassah hospital in Jerusalem on May 22.

President Trump's first foreign trip

President Trump's first foreign trip

President Trump's first foreign trip

Trump stands in the Western Wall plaza. To his left, in black, is Shmuel Rabinowitz, the rabbi of the Western Wall.

President Trump's first foreign trip

First lady Melania Trump, in white, visits the Western Wall. At far left is Ivanka Trump.

President Trump's first foreign trip

The President and first lady plant a tree in Jerusalem with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.

President Trump's first foreign trip

Trump is welcomed by Netanyahu upon arriving in Tel Aviv on May 22. Trump started his trip with two days in Saudi Arabia.

President Trump's first foreign trip

On the way to Tel Aviv, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson speaks with reporters aboard Air Force One.

President Trump's first foreign trip

While in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Trump attends the inauguration ceremony for the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology. Joining him here are Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, center, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, left.

President Trump's first foreign trip

President Trump's first foreign trip

Trump sits at the summit, which included leaders from 55 Muslim-majority countries. He urged them to do more to eradicate terrorist groups that claim the mantle of Islam. "We can only overcome this evil if the forces of good are united and strong and if everyone in this room does their fair share and fulfills their part of the burden," Trump said. "Muslim-majority countries must take the lead in stamping out radicalization."

President Trump's first foreign trip

Trump poses with other leaders at the Arab Islamic American Summit.

President Trump's first foreign trip

President Trump's first foreign trip

Trump meets with other heads of state in Riyadh on May 21.

President Trump's first foreign trip

Trump speaks with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Gen. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

President Trump's first foreign trip

First lady Melania Trump chats with children during a visit to the American International School in Riyadh on May 21.

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Trump scolds NATO allies over defense spending ...

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NATO - News: NATO and EU discuss future cooperation at sea , 30 ... - NATO HQ (press release)

BRUSSELSDefense spending has increased significantly among NATO allies, a meeting of defense ministers from the Western alliance was told Thursday in Brussels. The meeting heard that, across European allies and Canada, there was a 4.3 percent real increase in defense spending, equivalent to about $12 billion. This means that over the last three years, NATO members spent almost $46 billion more on defense.

This is a significant increase, which means that we are moving in the right direction when it comes to burden-sharing and defense spending,"NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.We are making major progress. This will be the third consecutive year of accelerating defense investment across European allies and Canada.

Cyber defense

It was also confirmed at the meeting that a cyberattack, such as thoserecentlyobserved, can trigger Article 5NATOs mutual defense clauseof the North Atlantic treaty in the same way as a conventional military assault. It is believed the latest attack was designed to cause chaos rather than extort money. Ukrainian officials have pointed at Russia, which is fighting an undeclared war with Ukraine in the east of the country and has been blamed for previous cyberattacks on Kiev.

Anti-ISIS efforts

He also noted that NATOs presence in the Black Sea region is developing, adding: Earlier this week, the headquarters of our Multinational Brigade South East in Romania was activated as a NATO military body. The brigade is conducting exercises and U.K. jets are currently patrolling the regions skies.

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Defense spending increased 'significantly' among NATO allies - DefenseNews.com

NATOs neweasternmost deployments, intended to deter Russia from striking U.S. allies in the Baltic, are now fully operational ahead of Russias mass drill in the region.

NATOs Secretary General Jens Stoltenbergannounced Thursday that the alliances enhanced forward presence is now fully operational in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland This sends a clear message to any possible aggressor: We are determined, we are united.

The measures include the rotation of 4,500 troops who have begun their tours of rotation through the countries, and the formation of command centers in Poland and Romania which have been activated. British Royal Air Force jets are deployed in support of a NATO brigade in Romania as well.

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Read More: Worried by Putin, Lithuania and Latvia want a European Army to back them up

The measures form part of NATOs efforts to address concerns from allies bordering Russiain the aftermath of Moscows annexation of Crimea. The alliance first formed a communication structure and rapid response strategy on its eastern flank and then last summer announced the four battalion deployment in the northeast.

During the first summer of the troops being fully operational, they will have a Russian-led drill on their borders, which Lithuania has already labeled a simulated attack on NATO.

Part of the concern around the drill is that in previous instances, Russia has launched a snap drill at the same time as drills announced beforehand, thereby deploying a larger number of troops around a larger expanse of land than previously agreed with NATO. NATO has called on Russia to halt such initiatives as they violate theVienna Documentthe agreement on military exercise transparency.

Stoltenberg said the upcoming diplomatic forum, known as the NATO-Russia Council, would make a good opportunity to touch base with Moscow before its Zapad (West) drill in September.

We expect Russia to follow those obligations, they havent done that so far, he said. Russia has used different loopholes and not notified and not facilitated international inspections of their exercises for many, many years, he said.

We are not mirroring exactly what Russia is doing but we are responding to a more assertive Russia, he added

Read more:

US Allies in NATO Ready to Stop Russia in Baltic - Newsweek

By Kevin Diaz, Washington Bureau

Photo: Houston Chronicle File Photo

For Kay Bailey Hutchison, coming out of political retirement after three terms in the Senate will put her in a whole new partisan sphere than the one she left when she decided not to run in 2012.

For Kay Bailey Hutchison, coming out of political retirement after three terms in the Senate will put her in a whole new partisan sphere than the one she left when she decided not to run in 2012.

Hutchisons NATO appointment puts her in a whole new world

WASHINGTON Former U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchisons selection as President Donald Trumps ambassador to NATO continues a run of high-profile Texans in the Trump administration, and one that may soften the edges of the presidents prickly relations with the outside world.

She will be joining former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, now Trumps energy secretary, and former Exxon Mobil chief Rex Tillerson, now Trumps secretary of state. At the White House, she also will recognize former Texas Republican Party Chairman Steve Munisteri, now deputy director of the office of public liaison in the Trump administration.

For Hutchison, 73, coming out of political retirement after three terms in the Senate will put her in a whole new partisan sphere than the one she left when she decided not to run in 2012.

Political observers will be watching to see how Hutchison, the most senior female Republican senator by the end of her tenure, will navigate Trumps well-known insistence on absolute loyalty, the more so since his messy twitter attack Thursday on MSNBC morning show host Mika Brzezinski.

In an MSNBC interview in April last year, Hutchison said Trump was wrong to attack Hillary Clinton on gender and needed to stay more focused on issues and experience.

The context that hes using, personal attacks on his opponents, both Republicans as well as Democrats, is just the wrong attack right now, Hutchison said. It is time for him to start talking substance, and I thought his foreign policy speech was a step in the right direction. And I think we dont need any more of these personal, little slights.

Hutchison, originally a backer of Jeb Bush for president in 2016, also said she wasnt sure at the time if she could support Trump if he won the GOP nomination.

As ambassador to NATO, Hutchison will become the face of Trumps uneasy relationship with the 28-nation military alliance, which he once called obsolete.

The president has pressed European members of the alliance to spend more money on defense, saying the U.S. was being shortchanged. It presumably will be up to Hutchison now to drive a harder bargain.

As a senator, Hutchison served on the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Defense and Military Construction appropriations subcommittees.

As she faces the Senate confirmation process, she has received the thumbs-up of both current Texas senators. With a proven track record of getting results, she has always done what she thought was in the best interest of Texas and our country, said Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate.

Sen. Ted Cruz also weighed in on Friday, saying her past Senate committee posts give her an incredible insight into the issues facing Europe, her allies and the importance of NATO to serve in opposition to Russian aggression.

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Hutchison's NATO appointment puts her in a whole new world - mySanAntonio.com

The implications of this mean that the cyberattack could be interpreted as an act of war, according to the organization. On Wednesday, NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said a cyber attack could trigger Article 5, the principal of collective defense.

"As important government systems have been targeted, then in case the operation is attributed to a state this could count as a violation of sovereignty. Consequently, this could be an internationally wrongful act, which might give the targeted states several options to respond with countermeasures," Tom Minrik, researcher at NATO's CCD COE law branch, in the press release.

NATO investigators added that the cyberattack was a "declaration of power" and a demonstration of the culprit's ability to cause disruption.

More than 30 percent of affected firms were financials, according to analysis by Kaspersky Lab, while at least half of those targeted were industrial organizations, such as utilities, oil and gas, transportation, logistics, manufacturing and other companies.

"The nature of this malware is such that it could easily stop the operation of a production facility for a considerable amount of time", said Kirill Kruglov, security expert at Kaspersky Lab, in a press release published Thursday.

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NATO says a 'state actor' was behind the massive ransomware attack and could trigger military response - CNBC

Mattis said that after talks with NATO allies at least 70 percent of the new plan's requirements were in place and he looked forward to bridging the remaining gap.

The U.S defense secretary James Mattis on Thursday called on NATO allies to finish the job in Afghanistan or risk terrorist revenge as the alliance confirmed a troop increase to counter a resurgent Taliban.

Mattis however refused to give a firm number for how many troops U.S President Donald Trump would commit under a new strategy, the AFP reported.

"I don't put timelines on war, war is a fundamentally unpredictable phenomenon," Mattis told reporters after meeting his counterparts from the 29-nation alliance.

"The bottom line is that NATO has made a commitment to Afghanistan for freedom from fear and terror, and freedom from terror demands that you can't let this be undone, he added.

Citing both Afghanistan and "ungoverned spaces" in Syria and Iraq where the Islamic State group has flourished, the retired Marine general added: "You cannot say 'I am tired of it' and come home and then you get hit again."

He said that after talks with the allies about 70 percent of the new plan's requirements were in place and he looked forward to bridging the remaining gap.

On Thursday night, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that NATO and its allies have reconfirmed their commitment to Afghanistan and that they will sustain Resolute Support Mission beyond 2017.

Speaking at a press conference after Thursdays defense ministers meeting in Brussels, he said: Our military authorities have requested a few thousand more troops for the mission and today, I can confirm that we will increase our presence in Afghanistan.

We have recently seen brutal attacks in Kabul. In recent months, hundreds of innocent civilians have been killed. This is exactly why our presence is so important. So today, we reconfirmed our enduring commitment to Afghanistan. We will sustain our Resolute Support Mission beyond 2017.

NATO currently has 13,500 troops in Afghanistan in the Resolute Support mission to "train, advise and assist" Afghan troops.

Reports indicate that an increase of up to 3,000 was under considerations, while U.S officials say it might be nearer 4,000.

The United States, which once had more than 100,000 troops in Afghanistan, is preparing a new strategy for a war which has dragged on for 16 years and which even US generals concede is a "stalemate" at best.

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Pentagon Chief Says NATO Must 'Finish The Job' In Afghanistan - TOLOnews

MoD spokesman Dawlat Waziri said NATOs decision to send a few thousand more troops to Afghanistan will help with the implementation of the security plan.

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) has commended the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for their commitment to support Afghanistan and to train the Afghan security and defense forces, saying that the organizations help is vital for the future of the country.

NATOs commitment to continue its support to Afghanistan and to our security forces is crucial for implementing the Defense Ministrys four-year security plan, the MoD's spokesman Major General Dawlat Waziri said at a press conference on Saturday.

Based on the plan, Waziri said the Afghan National Civil Order Police (ANDCOP) and the Border Police would be merged with the Ministry of Defense.

He went on to say that according to the plan, the size of the Afghan Commando Unit would be doubled and upgraded to Corps level.

The Afghan Air Force would be equipped and reinforced, Waziri said when giving details about the four-year security plan.

He stressed the need for NATOs help to train and equip the Afghan forces so they could put the plan into practice. NATOs recent commitment to send a few thousand additional troops to Afghanistan will help us in this respect, Waziri said.

Last week, the acting defense minister Tariq Shah Bahrami attended NATOs defense ministers meeting in Brussels, Belgium.

NATO allies reaffirmed their continued support to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) to ensure security in the country.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at the meeting that NATO and its allies have reconfirmed their commitment to Afghanistan and that they will sustain the Resolute Support Mission beyond 2017.

Our military authorities have requested a few thousand more troops for the mission and today, I can confirm that we will increase our presence in Afghanistan, Stoltenberg said at a press conference on Thursday.

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NATO's Support Crucial For MoD's Four-Year Plan: Waziri - TOLOnews

Nato has said its Russia-deterrent force in eastern Europe is fully operational, while calling on Moscow to be more transparent on an upcoming drill.

Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato head, told press in Brussels on Thursday (29 June) that our enhanced forward presence is now fully operational in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland This sends a clear message to any possible aggressor: we are determined, we are united.

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He said new Nato command centres in Poland and in Romania had also been activated and that UK jets are currently patrolling the regions skies as part of a Nato brigade in Romania.

He noted that Nato will in future spend more on making sure its planes are able to operate in heavily defended areas, meaning able to operate in areas which are covered by A2AD.

A2AD stands for Anti Access/Area Denial systems, such as those installed by Russia in Kaliningrad in the Baltic Sea, in Crimea in the Black Sea and in its Mediterranean military base in Syria.

Stoltenberg also called on Moscow to use an upcoming meeting of the Nato-Russia Council, a diplomatic forum, due before the summer break, to let it know what it plans to do during its Zapad military drill in the Baltic region in September.

We expect Russia to follow those obligations, they havent done that so far, he said, referring to the so called Vienna Document, an international accord on military transparency.

Russia has used different loopholes and not notified and not facilitated international inspections of their exercises for many, many years, he said.

We are not mirroring exactly what Russia is doing but we are responding to a more assertive Russia, he added.

James Mattis, the US defence chief, said Nato defence ministers meeting in Brussels on Thursday had focused on terrorism and Russias destabilising activities both in cyberspace and on the ground.

Referring to the 4,500 Nato troops in the Baltic states and Poland, he said: It is really quite energising to see young soldiers from across the Nato alliance working together in the forests of Lithuania and elsewhere.

When you put your troops on the ground under other nations command there in the forests, you are making a statement of unity, he said.

Speaking earlier on Wednesday on a visit to Germany, Mattis also said that Russian leader Vladimir Putin was making mischief beyond Russian borders.

He noted that the US was planning to spend an extra $1.8 billion on its forces in Europe next year.

Beyond any words in the newspapers, you can judge America by such actions, he added, referring to doubts on Americas commitment to Nato joint defence that stemmed from US president Donald Trumps flip-flopping comments on the issue.

The US commitment to our Nato Article 5 security guarantee is ironclad, Mattis said.

Mattis also noted that 39,000 European allies had fought with US soldiers in Afghanistan at the height of the conflict prompted by the 9/11 attack in New York.

The Nato presence in Afghanistan is now just 13,500 soldiers who are working to train native forces.

Nato ministers agreed to send more troops to the country on Thursday amid reports that Russia has begun arming the Taliban to cause problems for the US-led effort.

Looking back on it, its pretty much a consensus that we may have pulled our troops out too rapidly, reduced the numbers a little too rapidly, Mattis said.

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Nato's Russia-deterrent force 'fully operational' - EUobserver

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Germany and Norway join multinational fleet of tanker-transport aircraft - NATO HQ (press release)

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NATO Announces Deployment of More Troops to Afghanistan Wall Street Journal (subscription) BRUSSELSThe North Atlantic Treaty Organization announced Thursday it would send additional forces to Afghanistan, as the visiting U.S. defense secretary discussed broad outlines of Washington's approach to curb the rising tide of violence in the ...

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NATO Announces Deployment of More Troops to Afghanistan - Wall Street Journal (subscription)

Defense Secretary James Mattis accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of making international mischief and reassured allies that the US commitment to NATO is resolute, according to a report on Wednesday.

Saying Russia is challenging the secure and peaceful post-war order, Mattis said Putins making mischief beyond Russian borders will not restore their fortunes or rekindle their hope, apparently referring to the Kremlins meddling in the 2016 presidential election and its involvement in Ukraine, Agence France-Presse reported on Wednesday.

Mattis, a former four-star Marine Corps general, made the comments during an address to German students on the 70th anniversary of the Marshall Plan that rebuilt Europe after World War II. It was his fourth trip to Germany since becoming defense secretary.

He also said the US commitment to Article 5 of the NATO alliance, which says an attack on one member is an attack on all members, is iron-clad.

Mattis highlighted President Trumps request for an increase in the European Reassurance Initiative, a program to improve the readiness of forces in Europe, to $4.8 billion this year from $3.4 billion last year.

Beyond any words in the newspapers, you can judge America by such actions, Mattis said.

He reassured NATO members after some began distancing themselves from the US after Trump during a summit in May lectured them for not paying their fair share for military protection and failed to fully endorse Article 5.

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Mattis accuses Putin of 'mischief,' reaffirms US commitment to NATO - New York Post

BRUSSELS NATO allies of the United States plan to boost their defense spending by 4.3 percent this year, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday, a response in part to intense pressure from President Trump that the nations invest more in their militaries.

Trump hasrepeatedly castigated NATO allies for their dependence on the U.S. military for their defense and has at times called into question the basic U.S. security guarantees that have underpinned European stability since World War II.

The increase is a clear demonstration that our alliance stands united in the face of any possible aggression, Stoltenberg told reporters at the NATO headquarters, a day ahead of a meeting of NATO defense ministers. We have really shifted gears. The trend is up, and we intend to keep it up.

The increase an estimate for 2017 will boost military spending by non-U.S. NATO members to about $295 billion, which is still far less than the United States spends alone. Some of the spending increases were locked in before Trumps election in November.

NATO released only a portion of its updated numbers Wednesday, but its previous estimates for 2016 put the U.S. share of NATO defense spending at 72 percent.

The spending increases come after years of budget cuts up to 2014, as European nations trimmed spending on the belief that after the breakup of the Soviet Union, they no longer need to be ready to fight a war on their own soil.

[Watch: Trump says money is starting to pour into NATO]

But after the Russian seizure of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in 2014, NATO leaders pledged to increase annual defense spending to 2 percent of their gross domestic product by 2024. At a meeting in May, they said they would come up with concrete plans about how they would get there.

The spending increase announced Wednesday is $12 billion more than 2016 levels, and the increases are also growing bigger 2016 spending was 3.3 percent higher than 2015 levels. Still, only five of NATOs 29 members meet the spending guidelines. Romania plans to get there this year, while Lithuania and Latvia expect to meet the bar in 2018.

Stoltenberg said that he was pleased that NATO nations were making progress.

Many people thought that back in 2014 when we made that decision it was not obvious we were going to deliver, he said in a joint interview after his news conference.

Then-President Barack Obama also hit NATO allies for being overly reliant on the U.S. security umbrella, but Trump took the criticism to a new level on the campaign trail last year. Trump suggested that if a NATO member were attacked, he would first check their spending levels before he decided whether to come to their defense.

(Meg Kelly/The Washington Post)

Then, at a meeting of NATO leaders last month that was designed for Trump to reassure his allies of U.S. defense commitments, he instead berated them for their spending and held back from an explicit commitment to Article 5 in the alliances charter, NATOs bedrock principle that an attack on one country is the same as an attack on all.

Trump later made that pledge alongside the Romanian president in the Rose Garden, but the damage was done.

Stoltenberg said he was confident in U.S. pledges to NATO.

For me, America First is not America alone, he said in the interview, echoing a Trump mantra.The best way to secure the United States is to be committed to NATO.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis repeated the U.S. commitment Wednesday, speaking alongside his German counterpart, Defense Minister Ursula Von der Leyen.

The U.S. commitment to our NATO Article 5 security guarantee is ironclad, as demonstrated over decades of our steadfastness and given voice more recently by President Trump before the American people, Mattis said in Garmisch, Germany.

Mattis said that the U.S. commitment to NATO deployments in Eastern European nations that feel threatened by Russia would last at least until 2020. He also pointed to a 42 percent increase in Trumps budget request for European military spending.

Beyond any words in the newspapers, you can judge America by such actions, he said.

As they increase their spending, NATO allies have had to walk a fine political line, since Trump isdeeply unpopular among their voters and any sign of capitulating to U.S. demands can now be toxic at the ballot box.

Allies have sought to cast their spending decisions as a response to their own need to defend themselves. Many of the 2017 spending decisions that together form the increase announced Wednesday were made before Trumps improbable November victory.

I welcome the strong focus of President Trump on defense spending and burden sharing, because it is important that we deliver, Stoltenberg said Wednesday. European allies should invest more in defense not only to please the United States, but they should invest more in defense because it is in their own interests.

Germany, Europes richest nation, has been among the biggest laggards in the alliance, and its spending shortfall has been a major element in the Trump administrations deteriorating relationship with the country.

Von der Leyen, the German defense minister, said Wednesday that her country was working toward the spending goal.

We need to have a fair burden sharing in Europe, von der Leyen said, speaking alongside Mattis in Germany. If we want to have stability in the neighboring regions, we have to take responsibility for it.

Gibbons-Neff reported from Garmisch, Germany.

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NATO allies boost defense spending in the wake of Trump criticism - Washington Post

President Trump has taken no action whatsoever. I thinks that irresponsible.

Dan FriedmanJun. 28, 2017 7:03 PM

Alexei Druzhinin/TASS via ZUMA Press

Two Republicans on the Senate Intelligence Committee tried Wednesday to pick up on President Donald Trumps recent claim that former President Barack Obama failed to act against Russian interference in the 2016 election. But Nicholas Burns, a former top State Department official testifying at the committees hearing on Russianmeddlingin European elections, was having none of it.

Trump has tried to seize on a recent Washington Post report detailing a struggle by top Obama administration officials to respond to Russian efforts tosupport Trump against Hillary Clinton. Despite previously dismissing reports of Russian interference as a hoax, Trump said the report showed that Obama knew of Russian election meddling and did nothing.

At Wednesdays hearing, Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) endeavored to back Trumps assertion. Cotton surrendered most of his time for questioning witnesses to instead deliver a statement arguing that Trumps policies on Syria and Afghanistan,along withthe presidents proposal to sharply increase the defense budget, makes him tougher on Russia than Obamadespite Trumps flirtation with rolling back the Russia sanctions that Obama imposed.

In his prepared testimony, Burns, who served as ambassador to NATO and held other posts at the State Department under President George W. Bush, ripped Trump for denying the undeniable fact that Russia interfered in our elections.

Given President Trumps weak and ill-advised views toward Russia, Burns said, it is prudent for the Senate and House to insist on a process of congressional review of Russia sanctions so that President Trump cannot relax them.

Despite that, Risch attempted to hone in on Burns more modest earlier statement, that the Obama administration should have reacted more quickly and vigorously to Russian hacking. Risch asked the former ambassador to confirm that Obama was president when Russian hacking efforts occurred and was aware that this was going on.

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Former NATO Ambassador Shoots Down Republican Attempts to Blame Obama for the Russian Election Hack - Mother Jones