DAILY ON DEFENSE: • 'A historic and transformative summit' • Welcome Finland and Sweden • More aid for Ukraine
‘A HISTORIC AND TRANSFORMATIVE SUMMIT’: Leaders of the 30 NATO nations gathered in Madrid, Spain, are transforming the alliance to focus on the threat from Russia, preparing to add two new members on Russia’s periphery, expanding the deployment of forces on its eastern flank, and bolstering aid to Ukraine as it fights to regain territory lost since the Feb. 24 invasion.
Biden, who spoke by phone to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday and will meet with him one-on-one on the sidelines of the summit, said the expansion will “strengthen NATO’s collective security and benefit the entire trans-Atlantic alliance.” “We are sending an unmistakable message that NATO is strong, united,” said Biden. “In our meetings today we are going to approve a new NATO strategic concept and reaffirm the unity of determination of our alliance to defend every inch of NATO territory.”
Turkey made out quite well in the deal, getting everything it asked for as a condition for its approval, including assurances that the new members will reject the Kurdistan Workers Party who has been conducting an insurgency against Ankara for years, along with its affiliated group in Syria, the People’s Protection Units .
ONE MORE STEP: While Finland and Sweden are being invited to join the alliance today, they won’t become members until each of the 30 nations ratifies their applications. But NATO’s new strategic concept now includes references to addressing the challenges posed by China. In a memo released yesterday, Gilbert Cisneros, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, said the department will continue to perform those covered abortions, consistent with federal law.
The Pentagon will continue to authorize active-duty members of the military to travel at government expense to get covered abortions or to take leave at their own expense to travel to where other abortion services are legal.US ARMY EUROPE: At a change of command ceremony in Wiesbaden, Germany, Gen. Darryl Williams, the former superintendent at West Point, took over U.S. Army Europe and Africa commander from Gen. Christopher Cavoli.
Washington Examiner: Ginni Thomas seeks 'better justification' from Jan. 6 committee for her testimonyWall Street Journal: Russia to Bolster Border With Nuclear Weapons, Missiles if Sweden, Finland Join NATOUSNI News: U.S.
12 p.m. — Hudson Institute virtual discussion: “Winning the Airwaves: The Future of DOD Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations," with Brig. Gen. AnnMarie Anthony; director of operations at U.S. Strategic Command; Col. William Young, commander at U.S. Air Force 355th Spectrum Warfare Wing; and David Tremper, director for electronic warfare in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment https://www.hudson.
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