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| NATO, Alarmed by Russian Actions in Syria, Shores Up Defenses | NATO, Alarmed by Russian Actions in Syria, Shores Up Defenses |
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| BRUSSELS — Confronted with its biggest military challenge since the end of the Cold War, a weakened NATO took steps Thursday to shore up its flanks, both in the Middle East and Europe, as Russia continued to test the credibility of the alliance’s bedrock principle of collective defense. | BRUSSELS — Confronted with its biggest military challenge since the end of the Cold War, a weakened NATO took steps Thursday to shore up its flanks, both in the Middle East and Europe, as Russia continued to test the credibility of the alliance’s bedrock principle of collective defense. |
| Western officials have been alarmed by the speed and scale of Moscow’s intervention in Syria. Russia’s warplanes have violated Turkish airspace — deliberately so, NATO officials have said — and its warships in the Caspian Sea have fired cruise missiles at targets in Syria — though several seemed to have fallen short of their mark, landing somewhere in Iran, a senior American defense official said on Thursday. | |
| Not wanting to inflame the situation, but also wary of appearing too passive, Western officials have responded cautiously, taking a number of limited steps while raising the rhetorical heat on Moscow. | Not wanting to inflame the situation, but also wary of appearing too passive, Western officials have responded cautiously, taking a number of limited steps while raising the rhetorical heat on Moscow. |
| On Thursday they said they had stepped up military exercises and deployed a small number of logistics personnel in Eastern and Central Europe. Britain announced that it would send soldiers to the Baltic countries, Poland and Ukraine after the show of force by Russia’s president, Vladimir V. Putin. Germany condemned Russia’s operations in Syria in unusually pointed terms. | On Thursday they said they had stepped up military exercises and deployed a small number of logistics personnel in Eastern and Central Europe. Britain announced that it would send soldiers to the Baltic countries, Poland and Ukraine after the show of force by Russia’s president, Vladimir V. Putin. Germany condemned Russia’s operations in Syria in unusually pointed terms. |
| “We are implementing the biggest reinforcement of our collective defense since the end of the Cold War,” NATO’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, said before a meeting of defense ministers here on Thursday. After the meeting, he said, “All of this sends a message to NATO citizens: NATO will defend you, NATO is on the ground, NATO is ready.” | “We are implementing the biggest reinforcement of our collective defense since the end of the Cold War,” NATO’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, said before a meeting of defense ministers here on Thursday. After the meeting, he said, “All of this sends a message to NATO citizens: NATO will defend you, NATO is on the ground, NATO is ready.” |
| NATO has stationed Patriot batteries in Turkey to protect it from missiles emanating from Syria, but those had been scheduled to be removed this year. NATO officials have been discussing whether to keep the batteries in Turkey, given Russia’s actions, but Mr. Stoltenberg played down that possibility. | NATO has stationed Patriot batteries in Turkey to protect it from missiles emanating from Syria, but those had been scheduled to be removed this year. NATO officials have been discussing whether to keep the batteries in Turkey, given Russia’s actions, but Mr. Stoltenberg played down that possibility. |
| British officials said that units of up to 150 personnel would be regularly deployed to the Baltic countries, Poland and Ukraine to support military training. The Defense Ministry said it was sending 25 more British personnel to provide “infantry, medical and survival skills” to Ukrainian troops. The additional British personnel raises the number there to 100 from 75. | British officials said that units of up to 150 personnel would be regularly deployed to the Baltic countries, Poland and Ukraine to support military training. The Defense Ministry said it was sending 25 more British personnel to provide “infantry, medical and survival skills” to Ukrainian troops. The additional British personnel raises the number there to 100 from 75. |
| Michael Fallon, the British defense secretary, called the decision part of a “policy of persistent presence and aid for our allies on the eastern flank of NATO in response to Russian aggression and provocation.” | Michael Fallon, the British defense secretary, called the decision part of a “policy of persistent presence and aid for our allies on the eastern flank of NATO in response to Russian aggression and provocation.” |
| The NATO moves announced Thursday were mostly symbolic, although Russia quickly reacted to the British announcement. Dmitri S. Peskov, a spokesman for Mr. Putin, told journalists that any increased presence of British troops in Eastern Europe would be regrettable, according to Agence France-Presse, adding that it would amount to Britain’s using an alleged Russian threat as camouflage to press ahead with NATO expansion. Russia, he said, would respond with “parity.” | The NATO moves announced Thursday were mostly symbolic, although Russia quickly reacted to the British announcement. Dmitri S. Peskov, a spokesman for Mr. Putin, told journalists that any increased presence of British troops in Eastern Europe would be regrettable, according to Agence France-Presse, adding that it would amount to Britain’s using an alleged Russian threat as camouflage to press ahead with NATO expansion. Russia, he said, would respond with “parity.” |
| As Western defense ministers — including the United States defense secretary, Ashton B. Carter — met here on Thursday, much of the discussion focused on Russia and Syria, and in particular the timing of the launch of 26 cruise missiles across more than 900 miles, from the Caspian Sea, into Syria. | As Western defense ministers — including the United States defense secretary, Ashton B. Carter — met here on Thursday, much of the discussion focused on Russia and Syria, and in particular the timing of the launch of 26 cruise missiles across more than 900 miles, from the Caspian Sea, into Syria. |
| “They did this the day before a meeting of NATO defense ministers,” one NATO official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the delicate nature of the negotiations. “Obviously, that is a message, but who can say what Putin is thinking.” | “They did this the day before a meeting of NATO defense ministers,” one NATO official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the delicate nature of the negotiations. “Obviously, that is a message, but who can say what Putin is thinking.” |
| But even as the alliance sought to project its power toward the Russian border, and to remind Moscow that Russian maneuvers in Turkish airspace could invite a response, several NATO officials expressed frustration that they did not see a clear path out of the increasingly complicated tangle that has become NATO’s relationship with Russia. One said that the expansion of NATO toward Russia’s borders was the reason Mr. Putin was now maneuvering for elbow room, both in Eastern Europe and in trying to retain his access to the Mediterranean Sea through Syria. | But even as the alliance sought to project its power toward the Russian border, and to remind Moscow that Russian maneuvers in Turkish airspace could invite a response, several NATO officials expressed frustration that they did not see a clear path out of the increasingly complicated tangle that has become NATO’s relationship with Russia. One said that the expansion of NATO toward Russia’s borders was the reason Mr. Putin was now maneuvering for elbow room, both in Eastern Europe and in trying to retain his access to the Mediterranean Sea through Syria. |
| Mr. Putin insists that Russia’s intervention in Syria and its support for a ground offensive there — which appeared to be an effort involving Iran, the Lebanese militia Hezbollah and the pro-government army, which is loyal to Syria’s embattled president, Bashar al-Assad — is intended to target militants from the Islamic State. But Western officials say he is using that pretext to batter other insurgent groups that have been trying to overthrow Mr. Assad. | Mr. Putin insists that Russia’s intervention in Syria and its support for a ground offensive there — which appeared to be an effort involving Iran, the Lebanese militia Hezbollah and the pro-government army, which is loyal to Syria’s embattled president, Bashar al-Assad — is intended to target militants from the Islamic State. But Western officials say he is using that pretext to batter other insurgent groups that have been trying to overthrow Mr. Assad. |
| “The Russians are not mainly targeting ISIS, but they are targeting other opposition groups and they are supporting the regime,” Mr. Stoltenberg said. “And I call on Russia to play a constructive and cooperative role in the fight against ISIS, not to continue to support the Assad regime. Because to support the regime is not a constructive contribution to a peaceful and lasting political solution in Syria.” | “The Russians are not mainly targeting ISIS, but they are targeting other opposition groups and they are supporting the regime,” Mr. Stoltenberg said. “And I call on Russia to play a constructive and cooperative role in the fight against ISIS, not to continue to support the Assad regime. Because to support the regime is not a constructive contribution to a peaceful and lasting political solution in Syria.” |
| Bloomberg News quoted the German defense minister, Ursula von der Leyen, as saying, “When Russia attacks those who are fighting the Islamic State, that strengthens the Islamic State.” | Bloomberg News quoted the German defense minister, Ursula von der Leyen, as saying, “When Russia attacks those who are fighting the Islamic State, that strengthens the Islamic State.” |
| NATO announced that it was stepping up military exercises and establishing two small military headquarters, in Hungary and Slovakia, supplementing six others — in the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and in Bulgaria, Poland and Romania. Each headquarters has about 80 military personnel, about half from the host state and the rest from NATO, according to officials at the alliance in Brussels. These officials said the headquarters mainly served as hubs for planning for potential reinforcement by NATO forces and assessing logistics, like the depths of ports or the lengths of runways. | NATO announced that it was stepping up military exercises and establishing two small military headquarters, in Hungary and Slovakia, supplementing six others — in the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and in Bulgaria, Poland and Romania. Each headquarters has about 80 military personnel, about half from the host state and the rest from NATO, according to officials at the alliance in Brussels. These officials said the headquarters mainly served as hubs for planning for potential reinforcement by NATO forces and assessing logistics, like the depths of ports or the lengths of runways. |
| The alliance has taken steps since the Russian incursion into Crimea and Ukraine to build up a rapid reaction force in the Baltic states. While not stationing large numbers of troops in the region, it has stockpiled equipment, including 1,200 armored vehicles and 250 Abrams tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles that could be quickly deployed, officials have said. | The alliance has taken steps since the Russian incursion into Crimea and Ukraine to build up a rapid reaction force in the Baltic states. While not stationing large numbers of troops in the region, it has stockpiled equipment, including 1,200 armored vehicles and 250 Abrams tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles that could be quickly deployed, officials have said. |
| Meeting separately in Luxembourg, European Union interior ministers on Thursday were seeking to address the region’s migration crisis that has been prompted in part by the Syrian conflict. | Meeting separately in Luxembourg, European Union interior ministers on Thursday were seeking to address the region’s migration crisis that has been prompted in part by the Syrian conflict. |
| The ministers were discussing a common rule book for expelling migrants ineligible for asylum; ways to fortify the European Union’s external borders; and a list of safe countries where migrants can be returned. | The ministers were discussing a common rule book for expelling migrants ineligible for asylum; ways to fortify the European Union’s external borders; and a list of safe countries where migrants can be returned. |
| The ministers’ conclusions are likely to be discussed at a summit meeting of European Union leaders on Oct. 15 and 16, when the issue of migration will top the agenda. | The ministers’ conclusions are likely to be discussed at a summit meeting of European Union leaders on Oct. 15 and 16, when the issue of migration will top the agenda. |
| Arriving at the meeting in Luxembourg, Theresa May, the British home secretary, called for urgent measures to dissuade migrants unlikely to qualify for asylum from going on dangerous journeys to Europe. | Arriving at the meeting in Luxembourg, Theresa May, the British home secretary, called for urgent measures to dissuade migrants unlikely to qualify for asylum from going on dangerous journeys to Europe. |
| “We should be sending economic migrants back to their countries of origin,” Ms. May told reporters. “On returns, we need to see Europe upping its game.” | “We should be sending economic migrants back to their countries of origin,” Ms. May told reporters. “On returns, we need to see Europe upping its game.” |
| Jean Asselborn, the foreign minister of Luxembourg who is leading the meeting, told reporters, “The control of external borders, immigration generally and also returns — it’s a package.” | Jean Asselborn, the foreign minister of Luxembourg who is leading the meeting, told reporters, “The control of external borders, immigration generally and also returns — it’s a package.” |