(NSI News Source Info) February 19, 2009: A 3,000-strong permanent defence force for NATO will be proposed today when defence ministers meet in Poland, the Fi
nancial Times has reported. In an interview with the business daily, British Defence Secretary John Hutton said the force would reassure eastern European members that NATO would defend them from attack, following Russia's incursion into Georgia last year.
A dedicated security force could also persuade some reluctant NATO countries to sent troops to Afghanistan, by offering them assurances that there were enough troops to defend alliance territory, he suggested.
"I hope it might make it easier for NATO to do more in Afghanistan, certain now in the knowledge that there is a dedicated homeland security force that will have no other call on its priorities than European homeland security,'' Hutton told the Financial Times.
He said the proposal could resolve the long-running debate about the NATO Response Force (NRF) - a rarely-used contingent that could quickly be sent to world troublespots.
Plans to deploy the NRF stalled because NATO members could not agree whether it should be for homeland security or take a more active role, he said.
"It's just not acceptable to go on having endless debates about the NRF without making progress on it,'' he said.
NATO defence ministers meet in Krakow, Poland, today to discuss strategy in Afghanistan.
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates is expected to pressure allies to step up efforts against the Taliban.
nancial Times has reported. In an interview with the business daily, British Defence Secretary John Hutton said the force would reassure eastern European members that NATO would defend them from attack, following Russia's incursion into Georgia last year.
A dedicated security force could also persuade some reluctant NATO countries to sent troops to Afghanistan, by offering them assurances that there were enough troops to defend alliance territory, he suggested.
"I hope it might make it easier for NATO to do more in Afghanistan, certain now in the knowledge that there is a dedicated homeland security force that will have no other call on its priorities than European homeland security,'' Hutton told the Financial Times.
He said the proposal could resolve the long-running debate about the NATO Response Force (NRF) - a rarely-used contingent that could quickly be sent to world troublespots.
Plans to deploy the NRF stalled because NATO members could not agree whether it should be for homeland security or take a more active role, he said.
"It's just not acceptable to go on having endless debates about the NRF without making progress on it,'' he said.
NATO defence ministers meet in Krakow, Poland, today to discuss strategy in Afghanistan.
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates is expected to pressure allies to step up efforts against the Taliban.
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