20th+

Monday, June 11, 2012

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, commonly known as the Russian Armed Forces, are the military forces of the Russian Federation. They are divided into the Ground Forces, Navy, and Aerospace Forces. There are also two independent arms of service: Strategic Missile Troops and the Airborne Troops. Under the federal law of Russia, the Russian Armed Forces, along with the Federal Security Service (FSB)'s Border Troops, the National Guard, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD), the Federal Protective Service (FSO), the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), the Main Directorate of the General Staff (GRU) and the Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM)'s civil defence form Russia's military services; and are under direct control of the Security Council of Russia.

The Russian Armed Forces are one of the largest military forces in the world. As of 2019, the military comprised almost one million active duty personnel, the fourth-largest in the world. Additionally, there are over 2.5 million reservists, with the total number of reserve troops possibly being as high as 20 million. It is mandatory for all male citizens aged 18–27 to be drafted for a year of service in Armed Forces.

The Russian Armed Forces are the world's second-most powerful military, owning the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons in the world. The military budget of the Russian Federation was $61.7 billion in 2020, the fourth-highest in the world. It possesses the second-largest fleet of ballistic missile submarines, and is one of the only three nations operating strategic bombers, with the world's most numerous tank force, the second-most numerous air force and the third-most numerous naval fleet.

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Summit 2022

22-6-30 Madrid NATO Summit - 29-30 June 2022 - NATO > .

22-7-7 NATO's Madrid Summit: A New Era for the Alliance - CSIS > .
22-6-30 NATO strengthens its defence structure > .

22-6-29 2022 NATO Public Forum | Day 2 | Thematic Sessions [29 JUN 2022] > .

22-6-28 2022 NATO Public Forum | Day 1 | Climate and Security [28 JUN 2022] > .

>> NATO >>>

> NATO Membership >> > N Militaries >>> N Politics >> > NATO~R >>

24-4-4 NATO - Largest military alliance in world | DW Doc > .

24-4-2 NATO Free Riding; [DJT's Stupidity re] Collective Defense - Spaniel > .

24-3-8 Ukraine | Time for NATO Troops? - Prof J K-L > .

24-2-16 United States | No More NATO? - Prof J K-L > .

NATO Leaders gathered in Madrid, Spain to discuss important issues facing the Alliance. The Madrid Summit has set NATO’s strategic direction for the future, ensuring that the Alliance will continue to adapt to a changing world and keep its one billion people safe.

Allied leaders agreed on a fundamental shift in NATO’s deterrence and defence, with strengthened forward defences, enhanced multinational battlegroups in the eastern part of the Alliance, and an increase in the number of high readiness forces to well over 300,000. Leaders also agreed to invest more in NATO and to increase common funding.

During the Summit, NATO’s closest partners Finland and Sweden were invited to join the Alliance, a significant boost to Euro-Atlantic security. Allies further agreed on long-term support for Ukraine through a strengthened Comprehensive Assistance Package.

Leaders also endorsed a new NATO Strategic Concept, the blueprint for the Alliance in a more dangerous and competitive world. It sets out NATO’s approach to Russia and to other threats, including terrorism, cyber and hybrid. For the first time, the Strategic Concept addresses the challenges posed by China.

Leaders agreed on steps to fight climate change, including targets to cut NATO greenhouse gas emissions and move towards Net Zero by 2050. And a new NATO Innovation Fund to help the Alliance sharpen its technological edge was also launched at the Summit.

And for the for the first time, Indo-Pacific partners Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea participated together in a NATO Summit, as Allies met with key partners to address global challenges.

Allies also recommitted to the fight against terrorism, and addressed NATO’s response to threats and challenges from the Middle East, North Africa and Sahel.

? https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=nato+summit+2022 ?

. https://www.csis.org/podcasts/natos-road-madrid .

Summit 2021 ..

At the Madrid Summit, NATO Leaders took important and transformative decisions that set the Alliance's strategic direction for the near and long-term future. See the key points below, and read the full Summit Declaration by Allied Heads of State and Government for more information.

2022 Strategic Concept > .

NATO's guiding document, reflecting the new security reality that has emerged since the previous Strategic Concept was agreed in 2010
identifies Russia as the most significant and direct threat to Allied security, addresses China for the first time and includes other challenges like terrorism, cyber and hybrid
download the 2022 Strategic Concept

Strengthened deterrence and defence

the biggest overhaul of Allied collective defence and deterrence since the Cold War
upgraded defence plans, with more forces at high readiness and specific forces pre-assigned to defend specific Allies
more troops and more pre-positioned equipment and weapon stockpiles in the east of the Alliance, enhancing NATO's eight multinational battlegroups

Investing more in defence

reaffirmed commitment by Allies to spending at least 2 per cent of GDP on defence by 2024
more common funding for NATO

Support to Ukraine and other partners at risk

a strengthened Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine, including support in areas like secure communications, anti-drone systems and fuel
long-term help for Ukraine to transition from Soviet-era military equipment to modern NATO equipment
new support packages for other partners at risk, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, and the Republic of Moldova

Adapting the Alliance to emerging challenges

agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions by NATO as an organisation by at least 45 per cent by 2030, down to net zero by 2050
launch of the NATO Innovation Fund, which will invest EUR 1 billion over the next 15 years in start-ups developing dual-use emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence
pledge to continue enhancing national and collective resilience, so that Allied societies are prepared for any threat or challenge
Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea joined a NATO summit for the first time, to deepen cooperation and address global challenges

Finland and Sweden membership

official invitation to Finland and Sweden to become NATO members
reaffirmed commitment to NATO's Open Door policy for aspiring members

Challenges from the south

recommitment to the fight against terrorism and NATO's 360-degree approach to deterrence and defence
discussion of the food crisis caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and Russia's and China's increasing influence in the Alliance's southern neighbourhood
new support packages for partner countries Mauritania and Tunisia

Reaffirming NATO's common values

a reaffirmed, iron-clad commitment from Allies to collective defence and the importance of the transatlantic bond that unites NATO
an equally strong commitment to the rules-based international order and Allies' shared values of individual liberty, human rights, democracy and the rule of law
agreement to continue advancing gender equality, and to integrate human security and the Women, Peace and Security agenda across NATO's core tasks

Summit 2021

2021 NATO Secretary General - NATO Summit Brussels, 14 JUN 2021 > .

Secretary General's Press Conference - NATO Summit Brussels, 14 JUN 2021 > .

Leaders agree NATO2030 agenda to strengthen the Alliance | NATOSummit > .

22-1-10 Why Ukraine is Not a NATO Member - NATO > .

22-1-15 Finland and Sweden consider NATO membership - Caspian > .

22-2-22 Poland vs. France: Can EU Create Alternative to NATO? - VisPol > .

22-4-4 Bundeswehr Armory: Weapons - German infantry | WELT > .

Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, Poland, NATO - Compass >> .

NATO Secretary General 2021 - NATO News >> .

Geostrategic Projection

European Geostrategic Projection ..

>> NATO >>>

> NATO Membership >> > N Militaries >>> N Politics >> > NATO~R >>

24-4-4 NATO - Largest military alliance in world | DW Doc > .

24-4-2 NATO Free Riding; [DJT's Stupidity re] Collective Defense - Spaniel > .

24-3-8 Ukraine | Time for NATO Troops? - Prof J K-L > .

24-2-16 United States | No More NATO? - Prof J K-L > .

Funding NATO ..

Summit 2022 ..

NATO warns of military challenge posed by China: NATO leaders meeting for a summit in Brussels have warned of the military threat posed by China, saying its behaviour is a "systemic challenge". China, they said, was rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal, was "opaque" about its military modernisation and was co-operating militarily with Russia.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned China was "coming closer" to NATO in military and technological [capability]. Stoltenberg stressed the alliance does not want a new Cold War with China.

According to the summit's communiqué (concluding statement), China's "stated ambitions and assertive behaviour present systemic challenges to the rules-based international order and to areas relevant to Alliance security". "We remain concerned with China's frequent lack of transparency and use of disinformation," it says.

"3. We face multifaceted threats, systemic competition from assertive and authoritarian powers, as well as growing security challenges to our countries and our citizens from all strategic directions. Russia’s aggressive actions constitute a threat to Euro-Atlantic security; terrorism in all its forms and manifestations remains a persistent threat to us all. State and non-state actors challenge the rules-based international order and seek to undermine democracy across the globe. Instability beyond our borders is also contributing to irregular migration and human trafficking. China’s growing influence and international policies can present challenges that we need to address together as an Alliance. We will engage China with a view to defending the security interests of the Alliance. We are increasingly confronted by cyber, hybrid, and other asymmetric threats, including disinformation campaigns, and by the malicious use of ever-more sophisticated emerging and disruptive technologies. Rapid advances in the space domain are affecting our security. The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the erosion of the arms control architecture also undermine our collective security. Climate change is a threat multiplier that impacts Alliance security. The greatest responsibility of the Alliance is to protect and defend our territories and our populations against attack, and we will address all threats and challenges which affect Euro-Atlantic security."

Stoltenberg told reporters: "We're not entering a new Cold War [despite all appearances to the contrary?] and China is not our adversary, not our enemy." [courtesy of distance?] He added, "we need to address together, as the alliance, the challenges that the rise of China poses to our security".

China is one of the world's leading military and economic powers, whose ruling Communist Party has a tight grip on politics, daily life and much of society. NATO has become increasingly concerned about the growing military capabilities of China, which it sees as a threat to the security and democratic values of its members.

In recent years, the alliance has also grown wary of China's activities in Africa, where it has set up army bases.

June 13, 2021 | Canada and allies mount pressure on China as G7 summit ends > .

NATO's tough message on China followed criticism of the country by the G7, a group of major economies that met for a summit in England last week. In a communiqué G7 leaders criticised China for alleged human rights abuses and demanded a transparent investigation of the origins of COVID-19 in the country.

In response, China [predictably] accused the G7 of "lies, rumours and baseless accusations" in a statement through its embassy in the UK.

(NATO is a powerful political and military alliance between 30 European and North American countries. It was established after WW2 in response to the threat of communist [authoritarian pseudo-communist] expansion.)

https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/natosummit .

https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/nato2030 .

Shifting Focus, NATO Views China as a Global Security Challenge: NATO leaders expressed concern about China’s growing military might, signaling a fundamental shift in the alliance devoted to Europe and North America.

https://www.ft.com/content/3ec3ea51-e... .

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia... .

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/na... .

AGW Threat to Oceans ..