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U.S. endorses call for NATO ships to combat migrant-smuggling in Aegean NATO ships to combat migrant-smuggling networks in Aegean
(35 minutes later)
BRUSSELS — Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter on Thursday endorsed a plan to launch NATO patrols in the Aegean to target people-smuggling operations that have helped bring a huge wave of migrants to Europe’s shores. BRUSSELS — NATO dispatched warships to the Aegean Sea on Thursday to target people-smuggling operations, marking the most direct intervention by the NATO alliance to cope with the huge wave of migrants seeking to reach Europe’s shores.
If the plan goes forward, it would mark the most direct intervention to date by the military alliance in Europe’s refugee crisis. American backing is seen as a critical factor in putting the patrols in motion. The NATO mission was put in motion after receiving U.S. backing from Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter.
The proposed flotilla would put NATO ships on the front lines in combating smuggling operations from NATO-member Turkey that enabled more than 1 million migrants to enter the European Union last year — setting off a humanitarian and political crises in the bloc. The flotilla would put NATO ships on the front lines in combating smuggling operations from NATO-member Turkey that enabled more than 1 million migrants to enter the European Union last year — setting off humanitarian and political crises across Europe.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg directed NATO maritime forces to immediately begin moving toward the eastern Aegean. NATO ally Greece has struggled to deal with the nonstop flow of migrants and refugees — many fleeing violence in Iraq and Syria.
[New wave of Syrians toward Turkey, but face blocked border][New wave of Syrians toward Turkey, but face blocked border]
“It is important to respond swiftly because this crisis effects us all," Stoltenberg said.
Migrants continue to try the risky journey to islands in Greece, also a NATO ally, despite frigid waters that have claimed dozens of lives in recent weeks.Migrants continue to try the risky journey to islands in Greece, also a NATO ally, despite frigid waters that have claimed dozens of lives in recent weeks.
Speaking in Brussels, Carter commended requests from Turkish, Greek and German authorities to create a joint-maritime mission that would patrol the eastern Aegean Sea. Speaking in Brussels, Carter commended requests from Turkish, Greek and German authorities to create a joint-maritime mission that would patrol the eastern Aegean Sea. The U.S. endorsement was seen as crucial to the plan’s viability.
Carter said defense ministers had tasked NATO military authorities with developing plans for implementing the proposals.
The U.S. endorsement is seen as crucial to the plan’s viability. Carter added that other NATO countries were willing to be a part of the maritime operation in the Aegean, with hopes that it will get underway soon.
"This is people’s lives and destinies at stake here and it's important to act quickly," Carter said."This is people’s lives and destinies at stake here and it's important to act quickly," Carter said.
NATO Secretary General Jans Stoltenberg said that NATO maritime assets were moving into the Aegean sea "without delay." Under the plan, three NATO vessels are to be tasked with reconnaissance and surveillance of known illegal trafficking routes in close cooperation with the European Union as well as Greek and Turkish coast guards.
“It is important to respond swiftly because this crisis effects us all," Stoltenberg said.
Three NATO vessels are to be tasked with reconnaissance and surveillance of known illegal trafficking routes in close cooperation with the European Union as well as Greek and Turkish coast guards.
Stoltenberg added that other NATO countries are looking to assist with the operation in the coming months.Stoltenberg added that other NATO countries are looking to assist with the operation in the coming months.
"This is not about stopping and pushing back refugee boats," Stoltenberg said. The aim, he said, was to counter criminal activity."This is not about stopping and pushing back refugee boats," Stoltenberg said. The aim, he said, was to counter criminal activity.
Stoltenberg said the new agreement ensures that Greek and Turkish forces will not operate in each other's territorial waters.Stoltenberg said the new agreement ensures that Greek and Turkish forces will not operate in each other's territorial waters.