NATO Foreign Ministers announce interim Spearhead Force

[Ray]

NATO Foreign Ministers announce interim Spearhead Force

02 Dec. 2014

NATO Foreign Ministers on Tuesday (2 December 2014) announced that an interim Spearhead Force would be operational early next year to improve the Alliance's readiness, and agreed to maintain a continuous NATO presence in the eastern part of the Alliance through next year. "We are going to implement the Readiness Action Plan on time and in full," said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

The ministers discussed progress in implementing the plan at their meeting. The plan is a response to the changed security environment in Europe including Russia's aggressive actions in and around Ukraine, as well as violent extremism the Alliance faces to the south. This is "the biggest increase in our collective defence since the end of the Cold War," Mr. Stoltenberg said. He added that the plan would enable NATO "to meet any threats from wherever they come." The Secretary General said that implementation has already begun, through an increased presence "in the air, at sea and on the ground in the eastern part of our Alliance". He stressed that "all 28 Allies will contribute to this effort into the next year."

"So we will be 28 for 28 through 2015, to assure Allies and to deter threats," the Secretary General said.

Ministers also discussed progress on setting up the Spearhead Force. NATO Defence Ministers will decide on the force's size and design in February with the aim to stand it up in 2016, Mr. Stoltenberg said. The force will be able to deploy within a few days. In the meantime an interim Spearhead Force will be created and will be available early next year. That force will be based mainly on troops from Germany, the Netherlands and Norway and will "provide the quick reaction capability we need, straight away," Mr Stoltenberg said.

Ministers also discussed the importance of working with partner countries to make their security sectors more efficient and transparent. The Secretary General noted that "we have been working closely on this issue with Georgia, Jordan and the Republic of Moldova." NATO will embed experts in these countries to provide advice on training and defence reform. The Alliance's contributions will include a new NATO-Georgia training centre, military exercises and border security in Jordan, and continued support to Moldova. "Our aim is to prevent crises before they arise," Mr Stoltenberg said, "because we all agree that prevention is better than cure."

Link

NATO is gearing up for quick response.

It will ensure that other countries in Eastern Europe 9or part of it) does not ally with Russia and if there is any such attempt, this force will react to null the attempt?

 

[asianobserve]

Another consequence of Putin's misadventure in Ukraine. Whereas before Ukraine NATO cannot agree to station forces in Eastern European member countries due to sensitivities with Russia. But now that Russia has stepped over the line in Ukraine NATO has also removed its gloves off. NATO, which has been in decline in Europe is now revitalized, precisely the thing that Putin does not want from the start.

And, in the backyard of Russia, in central Asia, China is actively building its own sphere of influence.

 

[Ray]

Another consequence of Putin's misadventure in Ukraine. Whereas before Ukraine NATO cannot agree to station forces in Eastern European member countries due to sensitivities with Russia. But now that Russia has stepped over the line in Ukraine NATO has also removed its gloves off. NATO, which has been in decline in Europe is now revitalized, precisely the thing that Putin does not want from the start.

And, in the backyard of Russia, in central Asia, China is actively building its own sphere of influence.

If Central Asia is Russia;s backyard, Est Europe is its lawn and flower beds.

Russia has done no misadventure. It is merely trying to protect its patch.

Which countries are in China's 'sphere of influence'?

 

[asianobserve]

If Central Asia is Russia;s backyard, Est Europe is its lawn and flower beds.

Russia has done no misadventure. It is merely trying to protect its patch.

Which countries are in China's 'sphere of influence'?

It's not yet squarely in China's sphere of influence, that's why I said China is still "actively building its own sphere of influence," but a host of important gas producing Central Asian countries are already doing more trades to China than Russia, most significant of which is Kazakhstan which is part of Russia Eurasian Union.

Hungry for Gas, China Muscles Onto Russian Turf

Although Russia has gone the route of military alliances and formal organizations to structure its relationship with Central Asia, the currency of China's influence is cold hard cash. The country buys huge amounts of Central Asian gas. BP found that in 2013, Turkmenistan supplied China 24.4 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas, Uzbekistan supplied 2.9 bcm, and Kazakhstan supplied 0.1 bcm. That accounts for more than 45 percent of Chinese gas imports and translates into roughly $2.5 billion in annual revenue between the three Central Asian governments.

China Edging Russia out of Central Asia | The Diplomat

Under the dual "March Westward" and "Silk Road Economic Belt" policies, China has effectively boxed Russia out as the region's preferred economic partner. And now, after the latest round of proposed investments, this reality has become that much starker – and Western media is finally starting to take notice.

 

[asianobserve]

I have posted in your other post the Bloomberg article on Russia and China geopolitical hotspots.

 

[Ray]

It's not yet squarely in China's sphere of influence, that's why I said China is still "actively building its own sphere of influence," but a host of important gas producing Central Asian countries are already doing more trades to China than Russia, most significant of which is Kazakhstan which is part of Russia Eurasian Union.

Hungry for Gas, China Muscles Onto Russian Turf




China Edging Russia out of Central Asia | The Diplomat

Doing trade is not being under any countries 'sphere of influence'.

Just an example

China is now India's top trading partner—and one of its least liked
China is now India's top trading partner—and one of its least liked – Quartz

By your definition or statement, India is in China's 'sphere of influence'.

The reality is China can in no flight of wild imagination, can be influenced by China.

It will be the day when it does.

One must not use fancy terms to substitute as immense depth of knowledge.



*****************************

I have posted in your other post the Bloomberg article on Russia and China geopolitical hotspots.

Which one?

 

[asianobserve]

Doing trade is not being under any countries 'sphere of influence'.

Just an example


By your definition or statement, India is in China's 'sphere of influence'.

The reality is China can in no flight of wild imagination, can be influenced by China.

It will be the day when it does.

One must not use fancy terms to substitute as immense depth of knowledge.



*****************************

Of course not. But political influence always follows economic influence. Note that China has significant strategic importance for central Asia as it is where it gets a large part of its gas needs, definitely it would want to have political control of this areas so that they can be assured of stable gas supplies. And these Central Asian countries in turn will give more emphasis to their biggest trading partner when it comes to important political decisions with ramifications on their relations with external powers.

You read more about the growing consensus on China's rise in Central Asia. You see spheres of influence (Putin's sacred phrase) is like a personal bubble, it only accommodates oneself and excludes all others.

Which one?

Sorry it was an article from Japan Times, here:

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2014/10/06/commentary/world-commentary/central-asias-great-game/

But there's also another article from Bloomberg:

http://www.businessweek.com/article...es-his-grip-on-central-asia-as-china-moves-in

As President Vladimir Putin strains to keep Ukraine within Russia's grasp, he may be losing his grip on another part of his would-be empire: the former Soviet republics of Central Asia, which are increasingly turning toward China for investment and trade..

 

[Ray]

Of course not. But political influence always follows economic influence. Note that China has significant strategic importance for central Asia as it is where it gets a large part of its gas needs, definitely it would want to have political control of this areas so that they can be assured of stable gas supplies. And these Central Asian countries in turn will give more emphasis to their biggest trading partner when it comes to important political decisions with ramifications on their relations with external powers.

Another rather ill-informed and myopic view that economic influence per se translates into political influence.

Sphere of Influence means that in the field of international relations, a sphere of influence (SOI) is a spatial region or concept division over which a state or organization has a level of cultural, economic, military, or political exclusivity, accommodating to the interests of powers outside the borders of the state that controls it.

If economic influence automatically gave a nation control over others politically, then how come the US is not holding a large part of the world to ransom politically? The US through trade, aid, NGOs is practically in the economies of many developing countries and yet....................

China is economically has a great penetration in many countries and yet.....................

So, learn to look at issue holistically and not myopically with a tunnel vision perspective.

You read more about the growing consensus on China's rise in Central Asia. You see spheres of influence (Putin's sacred phrase) is like a personal bubble, it only accommodates oneself and excludes all others

Sorry it was an article from Japan Times, here:

Central Asia's Great Game | The Japan Times

But there's also another article from Bloomberg:

Putin Loses His Grip on Central Asia as China Moves In - Businessweek

Influence has been used in a very generic term. It does not in any way indicates that China controls it policies in a major way. Just that China has been able to trade more effectively than others.

What does the Bloomberg article that you quoted mean

As President Vladimir Putin strains to keep Ukraine within Russia's grasp, he may be losing his grip on another part of his would-be empire: the former Soviet republics of Central Asia, which are increasingly turning toward China for investment and trade..

Just what the Japan Times is stating - CAR is increasing its trade with China.

Does having an increased trade mean political dominance over the countries that trade?

As far as me reading, I am sure you are hardly the one to advise me.

My posts speaks for myself and yours for you.

Lots of difference.

Lot of gap in knowledge, lots of gaps in comprehension and lots of gap is its spanning a spectrum of views, but a great difference wherein you take the cake in tunnel vision.

Spare me your homilies, please.

 

[asianobserve]

Another rather ill-informed and myopic view that economic influence per se translates into political influence.

Sphere of Influence means that in the field of international relations, a sphere of influence (SOI) is a spatial region or concept division over which a state or organization has a level of cultural, economic, military, or political exclusivity, accommodating to the interests of powers outside the borders of the state that controls it.

If economic influence automatically gave a nation control over others politically, then how come the US is not holding a large part of the world to ransom politically? The US through trade, aid, NGOs is practically in the economies of many developing countries and yet....................

China is economically has a great penetration in many countries and yet.....................

So, learn to look at issue holistically and not myopically with a tunnel vision perspective.



Influence has been used in a very generic term. It does not in any way indicates that China controls it policies in a major way. Just that China has been able to trade more effectively than others.

What does the Bloomberg article that you quoted mean


Just what the Japan Times is stating - CAR is increasing its trade with China.

Does having an increased trade mean political dominance over the countries that trade?

As far as me reading, I am sure you are hardly the one to advise me.

My posts speaks for myself and yours for you.

Lots of difference.

Lot of gap in knowledge, lots of gaps in comprehension and lots of gap is its spanning a spectrum of views, but a great difference wherein you take the cake in tunnel vision.

Spare me your homilies, please.

You're in denial. China will make sure that it has Central Asia firmly within its control because it is where it gets a lot of its gas supply from. That region has strategic importance for China.

 

[Ray]

You're in denial. China will make sure that it has Central Asia firmly within its control because it is where it gets a lot of its gas supply from. That region has strategic importance for China.

I am not in denial. I am merely analysing facts while you are dwelling in fond delusions.

Look at the utter tommy rot that you are espousing in this post of yours.

Let us analyse that, if you will.

China will make sure that it has Central Asia firmly within its control because it is where it gets a lot of its gas supply from

Please forgive me, but that is one of the stupidest contention I have heard.

China can want the moon from CAR, but how will they get Central Asia firmly within its control?

By capturing the countries?

I can't think of any other way to 'firmly take control' of another country that is not one's.

Or maybe you would know better that China plans to capture the CAR to get it in it firm control, since you are so cock sure that China will make sure that it has Central Asia firmly within its control

You sit at the right hand side of Xi when he formulates his policies and war plans?

 

[asianobserve]

You are really in denial:

The struggle for Central Asia: Russia vs China - Opinion - Al Jazeera English

China takes note of the stagnating Russian economy that is gradually losing positions in the region. Russia and Central Asia overall trade turnover reached $27.3bn in 2011, when China's commerce with Central Asia topped $46bn in 2012. Single-handedly, Beijing has become a main trade partner to all former Soviet states of Central Asia, except for Uzbekistan, where it is the second.

Sensing the possibility for more independence from Moscow, some Central Asian countries have started increasingly resisting Russia's attempts at integration. Ever anxious over Russian political projects, the Uzbek political elite repudiated Uzbekistan's membership in the Kremlin-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) security bloc in 2012. The Collective Security Treaty Organisation originally formed in 1992 as a regional mutual defence alliance that consists of Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

Despite the Kremlin's gains in the last few years, Russia's cultural influence is dramatically shrinking elsewhere in Central Asia. Kazakhstan has now cemented the legislation to replace Cyrillic script with Latin as the country's official alphabet by 2025 just as Uzbekistan did 10 years ago. The sharp decline of the ethnic Russian population in Central Asian republics and influx of graduates from Turkish schools and universities have contributed to Moscow's waning cultural influence over the years.

We are seeing the early stages of the 21st century Great Game in Central Asia...