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| Russia Drops Bid to Dock Ships at Spanish Port as NATO Adds Pressure | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| MADRID — Russia abruptly withdrew its application on Wednesday to dock three warships at a Spanish port, shortly after Spain’s partners in NATO urged Spain to turn away the vessels. The ships were heading to the Mediterranean Sea to support the bombing of Aleppo, Syria. | MADRID — Russia abruptly withdrew its application on Wednesday to dock three warships at a Spanish port, shortly after Spain’s partners in NATO urged Spain to turn away the vessels. The ships were heading to the Mediterranean Sea to support the bombing of Aleppo, Syria. |
| The effort by Russia to dock the three warships, including its only aircraft carrier, the Soviet-era Admiral Kuznetsov, at Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on the north coast of Africa, was first reported in the Spanish news media on Tuesday evening. | The effort by Russia to dock the three warships, including its only aircraft carrier, the Soviet-era Admiral Kuznetsov, at Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on the north coast of Africa, was first reported in the Spanish news media on Tuesday evening. |
| The development set off alarm bells among NATO defense ministers who gathered on Wednesday for a two-day meeting in Brussels, and who warned Spain not to let the Russian ships dock. | The development set off alarm bells among NATO defense ministers who gathered on Wednesday for a two-day meeting in Brussels, and who warned Spain not to let the Russian ships dock. |
| “We’d be extremely concerned that any NATO member should consider assisting a Russian carrier group that might end up bombing Syrian civilians,” Britain’s defense secretary, Michael Fallon, told reporters. “On the contrary, NATO should be standing together.” | “We’d be extremely concerned that any NATO member should consider assisting a Russian carrier group that might end up bombing Syrian civilians,” Britain’s defense secretary, Michael Fallon, told reporters. “On the contrary, NATO should be standing together.” |
| NATO’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, told reporters that while Russia had the right to operate in international waters, the situation off Ceuta was different because of concerns that the aircraft carrier group would serve as a platform for attacks on Aleppo. | NATO’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, told reporters that while Russia had the right to operate in international waters, the situation off Ceuta was different because of concerns that the aircraft carrier group would serve as a platform for attacks on Aleppo. |
| “It is each up to each nation to decide, as has been NATO policy for many years, but we are concerned about the potential use of this carrier group to increase attacks against civilians in Aleppo,” Mr. Stoltenberg said Wednesday morning. “All allies are aware of our concerns.” | “It is each up to each nation to decide, as has been NATO policy for many years, but we are concerned about the potential use of this carrier group to increase attacks against civilians in Aleppo,” Mr. Stoltenberg said Wednesday morning. “All allies are aware of our concerns.” |
| Less than three hours later, the Spanish Foreign Ministry announced that Russia had withdrawn its bid to dock three ships at Ceuta. | Less than three hours later, the Spanish Foreign Ministry announced that Russia had withdrawn its bid to dock three ships at Ceuta. |
| “The government of Spain is following with extraordinary concern the bombing of Aleppo and the humanitarian tragedy that is going on,” the ministry said, adding that the Russian Embassy in Madrid had rescinded the application. | “The government of Spain is following with extraordinary concern the bombing of Aleppo and the humanitarian tragedy that is going on,” the ministry said, adding that the Russian Embassy in Madrid had rescinded the application. |
| The ministry did not say whether the Spanish government had responded to pressure from NATO, and it was also not immediately clear where the Russian ships would refuel. | The ministry did not say whether the Spanish government had responded to pressure from NATO, and it was also not immediately clear where the Russian ships would refuel. |
| Before the Spanish announcement, the Russian news agency Interfax had quoted Vasily Nioradze, a Russian Embassy spokesman in Madrid, as saying that the ships would dock “in strict compliance with the norms of international law and the requirements of the Spanish side.” | Before the Spanish announcement, the Russian news agency Interfax had quoted Vasily Nioradze, a Russian Embassy spokesman in Madrid, as saying that the ships would dock “in strict compliance with the norms of international law and the requirements of the Spanish side.” |
| Russia sent the Admiral Kuznetsov, the aircraft carrier, and several other vessels through the English Channel on Friday, its latest effort to assert its military might. | Russia sent the Admiral Kuznetsov, the aircraft carrier, and several other vessels through the English Channel on Friday, its latest effort to assert its military might. |
| Ceuta, one of two Spanish enclaves in North Africa, has been used on several occasions by the Russian Navy as a refueling station for its operations in the Mediterranean. This month, the Yaroslav Mudry, a Russian frigate with a crew of about 250, docked for a fourth time in Ceuta, according to local news media. | Ceuta, one of two Spanish enclaves in North Africa, has been used on several occasions by the Russian Navy as a refueling station for its operations in the Mediterranean. This month, the Yaroslav Mudry, a Russian frigate with a crew of about 250, docked for a fourth time in Ceuta, according to local news media. |
| On Wednesday, Mr. Stoltenberg reiterated concerns that the alliance was concerned about “assertive” exercises by Russia, including its movement of missiles with the capacity for carrying nuclear warheads, and its recent decision to suspend cooperation on plutonium disposal under a treaty with the United States. | On Wednesday, Mr. Stoltenberg reiterated concerns that the alliance was concerned about “assertive” exercises by Russia, including its movement of missiles with the capacity for carrying nuclear warheads, and its recent decision to suspend cooperation on plutonium disposal under a treaty with the United States. |
| Mr. Stoltenberg reiterated Western concerns that Russia had destabilized Ukraine, where its 2014 military intervention, including the annexation of Crimea, has led to a simmering conflict in the eastern part of the country, and he called Russia’s support for Syria’s embattled president, Bashar al-Assad, “deeply troubling,” saying that the government’s attacks on homes and even hospitals were “disgraceful.” | Mr. Stoltenberg reiterated Western concerns that Russia had destabilized Ukraine, where its 2014 military intervention, including the annexation of Crimea, has led to a simmering conflict in the eastern part of the country, and he called Russia’s support for Syria’s embattled president, Bashar al-Assad, “deeply troubling,” saying that the government’s attacks on homes and even hospitals were “disgraceful.” |
| Mr. Stoltenberg is to meet on Thursday with Federica Mogherini, the European Union’s top diplomat, to discuss common challenges. | Mr. Stoltenberg is to meet on Thursday with Federica Mogherini, the European Union’s top diplomat, to discuss common challenges. |
| NATO had agreed to establish battalions of 800 to 1,200 multinational troops in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, as well as a brigade of four more battalions to be based in Bulgaria and Romania. At the last NATO summit meeting, in Warsaw in July, President Obama reassured the alliance of the United States’ support. | NATO had agreed to establish battalions of 800 to 1,200 multinational troops in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, as well as a brigade of four more battalions to be based in Bulgaria and Romania. At the last NATO summit meeting, in Warsaw in July, President Obama reassured the alliance of the United States’ support. |
| Asked on Wednesday about those troop deployments, Mr. Stoltenberg called them “defensive” and “proportionate.” He noted that Russia had increased military spending and used force in Georgia, Syria, Ukraine and elsewhere. | Asked on Wednesday about those troop deployments, Mr. Stoltenberg called them “defensive” and “proportionate.” He noted that Russia had increased military spending and used force in Georgia, Syria, Ukraine and elsewhere. |
| The alliance must respond in a “responsible” and “measured” way, he said, urging that talks with Russia focus on “risk reduction” and “transparency.” | The alliance must respond in a “responsible” and “measured” way, he said, urging that talks with Russia focus on “risk reduction” and “transparency.” |