Latest news with #NSATU
Straits Times
02-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Military aid increasingly focuses on boosting Ukraine's defence industry
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: The sign in front of the main entrance of the United States Army's European headquarters, Lucius D. Clay barracks, is pictured in Wiesbaden's Erbenheim district July 18, 2013. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach(/File Photo WIESBADEN, Germany - Fenced off behind barbed wire, about 350 soldiers from 31 countries including Ukrainians work in a hangar and air-conditioned green tents at a U.S. military base in Germany. Their job at the Clay Barracks in Wiesbaden is to match Kyiv's needs in terms of weapons, equipment and training with offers received from donor countries in NATO and outside the Western alliance as Russia's war in Ukraine drags on. Six months after NATO set up a command centre at the base to coordinate military aid for Ukraine, military assistance for Kyiv is evolving, especially when it comes to drone production. After Russia's invasion in 2022, NATO states provided support for Kyiv's military effort largely by depleting their own inventories and Ukraine was heavily dependent on Western defence firms. Military aid today is increasingly shifting towards bolstering Kyiv's defence industry, Major General Maik Keller, deputy commander of NATO's Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU), told Reuters at the mission's headquarters in Wiesbaden. "Now, we need to change our focus," Keller said in an interview at Clay Barracks. He said Ukraine had shown creativity, and praised the speed of its innovation, production and certification processes. The manufacture of drones was an area where NATO states could learn and even eventually buy weapons from Kyiv, he said. "Defence procurement is not a one-way street. Looking at drones, there is certainly a lot that we might want to buy from Ukraine, though, for now, I believe they need their entire output themselves," Keller said. NATO's Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Admiral Keith Blount, also says Western allies may learn a lot from Ukraine, in particular on autonomous weapons such as drones. "We're learning about power of autonomy in a way that we always imagined was the future, but we are seeing it accelerated perhaps even faster than any of us could have imagined", Blount told Reuters while visiting NSATU's headquarters. He was referring to the use of drones on the sea, beneath the sea and on the ground as well as in the air. "That has been logarithmic, really, in the pace of adoption and actually the ability for Ukraine not just to learn how to use them, but learn how to make them, which has been fascinating," he said. PRESSING NEEDS Military assistance to Ukraine is evolving as European allies and Canada prepare to increase defence spending amid concerns over Russia's military ambitions and following demands by U.S. President Donald Trump. The companies that are producing arms for use by Ukraine will also be needed by NATO members to increase their own weapons stocks, Keller said. Keller said Ukraine's most pressing needs were air defence systems, ammunition and anti-tank mines to hold territory without tying down too many troops in the war with Russia. NSATU was established partly to make Western military aid less dependent on the United States, whose commitment to Ukraine under Trump has been called into question. A decision by Washington to halt some weapons shipments to Kyiv has underlined those concerns, prompting new concerns in Ukraine on Wednesday about its ability to defend itself. The United States, however, provides NSATU's commander and about 9% of its personnel in Wiesbaden. Most supplies are shipped to Ukraine through a NSATU hub in Poland, which NATO says sends in 18,000 tons each month, and a second hub is being established in Romania. Keller said he expected military aid channelled by NSATU to remain at least steady for now but that this depended on what political decisions were taken. Asked whether NSATU would be capable of sustaining Ukraine's resistance should the U.S. drop out, he said: "Yes." He also cautioned, however, that "Europe and Canada would be hard pressed" to replace some critical capabilities such as satellite surveillance although he made clear NSATU itself was not making use of satellite imagery. REUTERS
The Star
02-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Military aid increasingly focuses on boosting Ukraine's defence industry
WIESBADEN, Germany (Reuters) -Fenced off behind barbed wire, about 350 soldiers from 31 countries including Ukrainians work in a hangar and air-conditioned green tents at a U.S. military base in Germany. Their job at the Clay Barracks in Wiesbaden is to match Kyiv's needs in terms of weapons, equipment and training with offers received from donor countries in NATO and outside the Western alliance as Russia's war in Ukraine drags on. Six months after NATO set up a command centre at the base to coordinate military aid for Ukraine, military assistance for Kyiv is evolving, especially when it comes to drone production. After Russia's invasion in 2022, NATO states provided support for Kyiv's military effort largely by depleting their own inventories and Ukraine was heavily dependent on Western defence firms. Military aid today is increasingly shifting towards bolstering Kyiv's defence industry, Major General Maik Keller, deputy commander of NATO's Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU), told Reuters at the mission's headquarters in Wiesbaden. "Now, we need to change our focus," Keller said in an interview at Clay Barracks. He said Ukraine had shown creativity, and praised the speed of its innovation, production and certification processes. The manufacture of drones was an area where NATO states could learn and even eventually buy weapons from Kyiv, he said. "Defence procurement is not a one-way street. Looking at drones, there is certainly a lot that we might want to buy from Ukraine, though, for now, I believe they need their entire output themselves," Keller said. NATO's Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Admiral Keith Blount, also says Western allies may learn a lot from Ukraine, in particular on autonomous weapons such as drones. "We're learning about power of autonomy in a way that we always imagined was the future, but we are seeing it accelerated perhaps even faster than any of us could have imagined", Blount told Reuters while visiting NSATU's headquarters. He was referring to the use of drones on the sea, beneath the sea and on the ground as well as in the air. "That has been logarithmic, really, in the pace of adoption and actually the ability for Ukraine not just to learn how to use them, but learn how to make them, which has been fascinating," he said. PRESSING NEEDS Military assistance to Ukraine is evolving as European allies and Canada prepare to increase defence spending amid concerns over Russia's military ambitions and following demands by U.S. President Donald Trump. The companies that are producing arms for use by Ukraine will also be needed by NATO members to increase their own weapons stocks, Keller said. Keller said Ukraine's most pressing needs were air defence systems, ammunition and anti-tank mines to hold territory without tying down too many troops in the war with Russia. NSATU was established partly to make Western military aid less dependent on the United States, whose commitment to Ukraine under Trump has been called into question. A decision by Washington to halt some weapons shipments to Kyiv has underlined those concerns, prompting new concerns in Ukraine on Wednesday about its ability to defend itself. The United States, however, provides NSATU's commander and about 9% of its personnel in Wiesbaden. Most supplies are shipped to Ukraine through a NSATU hub in Poland, which NATO says sends in 18,000 tons each month, and a second hub is being established in Romania. Keller said he expected military aid channelled by NSATU to remain at least steady for now but that this depended on what political decisions were taken. Asked whether NSATU would be capable of sustaining Ukraine's resistance should the U.S. drop out, he said: "Yes." He also cautioned, however, that "Europe and Canada would be hard pressed" to replace some critical capabilities such as satellite surveillance although he made clear NSATU itself was not making use of satellite imagery. (Reporting by Sabine Siebold, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Montenegro to join EU military training mission for Ukrainian troops
After a nine-month delay, Montenegrin lawmakers have approved the deployment of Montenegrin Armed Forces personnel to the European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine). Source: Radio Liberty, as reported by European Pravda Details: The decision to join the EU mission was submitted to parliament nine months ago but only passed now, with 49 of 81 MPs voting in favour of it. The resolution stated the deployment aims to "strengthen the capacity of Ukraine's Armed Forces to defend the country's territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, as well as to deter and respond to the current military offensives by the Russian Federation and other potential aggressors". Opposition parties accused Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandić, a known opponent of NATO and supporter of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, of delaying the vote. His party, part of the ruling coalition, opposes NATO membership and the sanctions Montenegro imposed on Russia following its aggression against Ukraine. Montenegro joined NATO in 2017 under the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), which was ousted from power in 2020. DPS noted that "90% of today's parliamentary majority did not vote for NATO accession", referring to the delay in approving the EU mission. Defence Minister Dragan Krapović emphasised multiple times that the mission would not involve the deployment of Montenegrin troops to Ukrainian territory. "I want this to be absolutely clear. I would never support that. All mission activities take place on EU territory, in Poland and Germany," Krapović stressed. The EU mission is one of two so-called Ukrainian missions launched after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, in which Montenegro is expected to participate. The second is organised by NATO. On 7 February this year, Montenegro's Defence and Security Council adopted a draft decision to join NATO's NSATU programme – security assistance and training for Ukraine. Council members – President Jakov Milatović, Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and Speaker Andrija Mandić – agreed that Montenegrin involvement in NSATU must be limited to NATO territory. NATO will coordinate the training of Ukrainian security forces under this initiative. The final decision on Montenegro's participation in NSATU will be made by its parliament. Background: The EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine was launched on 17 October 2022 with an initial two-year mandate. It is funded through the European Peace Facility. The mission's mandate currently runs through November 2026. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Euronews
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Japan and NATO vow to deepen security ties to counter threats from China and Russia
ADVERTISEMENT NATO chief Mark Rutte and Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba have vowed to further deepen military ties while stressing the need to jointly tackle growing threats from China, North Korea and Russia. Japan, which has stepped up defence ties with the US and allied countries in the Indo-Pacific, has also sought closer ties with NATO, fearing that Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine could embolden China's assertiveness in the region. "A stronger NATO will benefit Japan greatly," Ishiba said at a press conference with Rutte, who was visiting Japan for the first time since becoming secretary general of the defence alliance in October. In a joint statement released after their talks, Ishiba and Rutte said strengthening defence industrial cooperation is "a shared priority" and that they plan to focus on developing dual-use and advanced technologies while enhancing their standardisation. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks at a press conference in Tokyo, 9 April, 2025 AP Photo They also agreed to step up cooperation in cyber defence and space, as well as joint military exercises. Drones and artificial intelligence were also discussed. Ishiba and Rutte also said they "strongly condemn" growing military ties between North Korea and Russia, including Moscow's use of North Korean missiles and troops against Ukraine, while expressing concern about China's support for Russia's industrial base. Russia continues to wage war against Ukraine while maintaining its ambitions to "reshape European security," Rutte said. Both also called for upholding a free and open Indo-Pacific and opposed unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force in the East and South China Seas. The pair also encouraged Beijing to improve the transparency of its military operations and to cooperate in arms control, calling on peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The NATO chief told reporters that China has been pursuing a major military buildup, seeking to control key technologies, critical infrastructure and supply chains, and continues to carry out "destabilising activities" in the Indo-Pacific. Ukrainian servicemen fire a multiple launch rocket system based on a pickup truck in the Zaporizhzhia region, 8 April, 2025 AP Photo Rutte praised Japan's contributions to support Ukraine in the war against Russia, and welcomed Tokyo's willingness to participate in a NATO initiative for the support of Ukraine, as indicated by Japan's Defence Minister Gen Nakatani on Tuesday. The NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) command is headquartered at a US military base in Wiesbaden in Germany. Rutte said NSATU "helps Ukraine fight today but also for Ukraine to build up its armed forces for tomorrow." Details of Japan's participation still need to be discussed, but if deployed, the Japanese Self Defence Force is not expected to take on combat roles because of the country's post-war pacifist principles, which are enshrined in domestic law.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Japan's Ishiba and NATO chief vow to deepen security ties as regional threats rise
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and NATO chief Mark Rutte vowed Wednesday to further deepen military ties while stressing the need to tackle together growing threats from China, North Korea and Russia. Japan, which has stepped up defense ties with the United States, its key ally, and other friendly nations in the Indo-Pacific, has also sought closer ties with NATO, fearing that Russia's invasion of Ukraine could embolden China's assertiveness in the region. 'A stronger NATO will benefit Japan greatly,' Ishiba told a joint news conference after his talks with Rutte, who was in Japan for the first time since becoming secretary general of the organization in October. In a joint statement released after their talks, Ishiba and Rutte said strengthening defense industrial cooperation is 'a shared priority' and that they plan to focus on developing dual-use and advanced technologies while enhancing their standardization. They also agreed to step up cooperation in cyber defense and space, as well as joint military exercises. Drones and Artificial Intelligence were also discussed. Ishiba and Rutte also stated they 'strongly condemn' growing military ties between North Korea and Russia, including Russia's use of North Korean missiles and troops against Ukraine, while expressing concern about China's support for the Russian defense industrial base. Russia continues to wage war against Ukraine while maintaining its ambitions to 'reshape European security,' Rutte said. Both also called for upholding a free and open Indo-Pacific and opposed unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force in the East and South China Seas, and encouraged Beijing to improve the transparency of its military and to cooperate in arms control, calling on peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The NATO chief told reporters that China has been pursuing a major military buildup, seeking to control key technologies, critical infrastructure and supply chains, and continues to carry out 'destabilizing activities' in the Indo-Pacific. Rutte praised Japan's contributions to support Ukraine in the war against Russia, and welcomed Tokyo's willingness to participate in a NATO command for the support of Ukraine, expressed by Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani on Tuesday. The NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine, or NSATU, is headquartered at a U.S. military base in Wiesbaden, Germany. Rutte said NSATU 'helps Ukraine fight today but also for Ukraine to build up its armed forces for tomorrow.' Details of Japan's participation still need to be discussed, but the Japanese Self Defense Force, if stationed, is not expected to involve combative roles because of the country's postwar pacifist principles.
