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| Nato 'unprepared' for Russia threat, say MPs | Nato 'unprepared' for Russia threat, say MPs |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Nato is poorly prepared for an attack on a member state from Russia, an influential group of MPs has warned. | Nato is poorly prepared for an attack on a member state from Russia, an influential group of MPs has warned. |
| The Commons Defence Committee said the recent Ukraine conflict showed "serious deficiencies" in Nato's preparedness to counter threats - and "radical reform" was needed. | The Commons Defence Committee said the recent Ukraine conflict showed "serious deficiencies" in Nato's preparedness to counter threats - and "radical reform" was needed. |
| The MPs said the risk of a conventional assault remained low - but warned over methods such as cyber-attacks and the use of irregular militias. | The MPs said the risk of a conventional assault remained low - but warned over methods such as cyber-attacks and the use of irregular militias. |
| Nato said it would study the findings. | Nato said it would study the findings. |
| The committee called for changes including: | The committee called for changes including: |
| The MPs also warned Nato "may not have the collective political will to take concerted action to deter attack". | The MPs also warned Nato "may not have the collective political will to take concerted action to deter attack". |
| And they said public opinion may not support the use of military force to honour Article 5 commitments in a confrontation with Russia. | And they said public opinion may not support the use of military force to honour Article 5 commitments in a confrontation with Russia. |
| "Nato is currently not well-prepared for a Russian threat against a Nato member state," the report said. | "Nato is currently not well-prepared for a Russian threat against a Nato member state," the report said. |
| "A Russian unconventional attack, using asymmetric tactics - the latest term for this is 'ambiguous warfare' - designed to slip below Nato's response threshold, would be particularly difficult to counter." | "A Russian unconventional attack, using asymmetric tactics - the latest term for this is 'ambiguous warfare' - designed to slip below Nato's response threshold, would be particularly difficult to counter." |
| 'Too complacent' | 'Too complacent' |
| Tory MP Rory Stewart, who was elected chairman of the committee in May, said: "The risk of attack by Russia on a Nato member state, whilst still small, is significant. We are not convinced that Nato is ready for this threat. | Tory MP Rory Stewart, who was elected chairman of the committee in May, said: "The risk of attack by Russia on a Nato member state, whilst still small, is significant. We are not convinced that Nato is ready for this threat. |
| "Nato has been too complacent about the threat from Russia, and it is not well-prepared. | "Nato has been too complacent about the threat from Russia, and it is not well-prepared. |
| "Even worse, the nature of Russian tactics is changing fast - including cyber-attacks, information warfare, and the backing of irregular 'separatist groups', combining armed civilians with Russian Special Forces operating without insignia," said Mr Stewart, a former soldier and diplomat who has worked in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq. | "Even worse, the nature of Russian tactics is changing fast - including cyber-attacks, information warfare, and the backing of irregular 'separatist groups', combining armed civilians with Russian Special Forces operating without insignia," said Mr Stewart, a former soldier and diplomat who has worked in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq. |
| "We have already seen how these tactics have been deployed by Russia and its proxies in Ukraine to destabilise a Nato partner state, annex part of its territory and paralyse its ability to respond." | "We have already seen how these tactics have been deployed by Russia and its proxies in Ukraine to destabilise a Nato partner state, annex part of its territory and paralyse its ability to respond." |
| The report said that while Nato had not seen Russia as a territorial threat for 20 years, recent events meant it was "forced to do so". | The report said that while Nato had not seen Russia as a territorial threat for 20 years, recent events meant it was "forced to do so". |
| "Events in Ukraine this year, following on from the cyber attack on Estonia in 2007 and the invasion of Georgia by Russia in 2008, are a 'wake-up call' for Nato", it read. | "Events in Ukraine this year, following on from the cyber attack on Estonia in 2007 and the invasion of Georgia by Russia in 2008, are a 'wake-up call' for Nato", it read. |
| "They have revealed alarming deficiencies in the state of Nato preparedness, which will be tough to fix." | "They have revealed alarming deficiencies in the state of Nato preparedness, which will be tough to fix." |
| The committee also called on the government to show leadership when it hosts a Nato summit in Wales in September. | The committee also called on the government to show leadership when it hosts a Nato summit in Wales in September. |
| The report added: "The UK government should take the lead in ensuring that the Nato summit addresses these threats in the most concrete and systematic fashion." | The report added: "The UK government should take the lead in ensuring that the Nato summit addresses these threats in the most concrete and systematic fashion." |
| 'Adapt to change' | 'Adapt to change' |
| Mr Stewart said the government should ring-fence defence spending to at least 2% of GDP (the overall size of the UK economy). | |
| Defence Secretary Michael Fallon told BBC Radio 4's Today that the government had committed to spending 2% of GDP on defence "at the moment" and he hoped that would continue when the next government-wide spending review takes place. | |
| He said that the UK was committed to taking part in large scale exercises in Europe. | |
| Nato spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said: "As early as March, the Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen called Russia's military actions in and around Ukraine a wake-up call for the alliance and for the wider international community. | |
| "He has also made clear that Nato must adapt to a changed security environment and that the Wales Summit in September will be an important milestone in that process. | "He has also made clear that Nato must adapt to a changed security environment and that the Wales Summit in September will be an important milestone in that process. |
| "Nato has already taken measures to reinforce collective defence, especially for our eastern allies, with more planes in the air, more ships at sea, and more exercises on the ground. | "Nato has already taken measures to reinforce collective defence, especially for our eastern allies, with more planes in the air, more ships at sea, and more exercises on the ground. |
| "All 28 allies are contributing, and the United Kingdom is playing an important role in policing Baltic airspace and planned exercises in Poland." | "All 28 allies are contributing, and the United Kingdom is playing an important role in policing Baltic airspace and planned exercises in Poland." |
| The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, which was formed in 1949, is predicated upon a series of collective security guarantees between its members. | The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, which was formed in 1949, is predicated upon a series of collective security guarantees between its members. |
| The alliance has expanded widely in the past 15 years, admitting states that border Russia and three - Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia - which were once part of the Soviet Union. | The alliance has expanded widely in the past 15 years, admitting states that border Russia and three - Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia - which were once part of the Soviet Union. |
| 'Future threats' | 'Future threats' |
| Earlier this week, it emerged that the UK is to send a "full battle group" of 1,350 military personnel to take part in Nato manoeuvres in Poland to support allies in eastern Europe. | Earlier this week, it emerged that the UK is to send a "full battle group" of 1,350 military personnel to take part in Nato manoeuvres in Poland to support allies in eastern Europe. |
| It is the UK's largest such commitment to the region since 2008. | It is the UK's largest such commitment to the region since 2008. |
| Labour said the report underlined Nato's position as the "cornerstone" of UK defence policy and the "sole organisation for collective defence". | Labour said the report underlined Nato's position as the "cornerstone" of UK defence policy and the "sole organisation for collective defence". |
| "The government must demonstrate UK leadership on the international stage at the upcoming Wales summit," said shadow defence secretary Vernon Coaker. | "The government must demonstrate UK leadership on the international stage at the upcoming Wales summit," said shadow defence secretary Vernon Coaker. |
| "Recalibrating Nato as a military and political alliance to deter future threats must be a priority for this government which has failed under David Cameron to think strategically about future UK defence capabilities." | "Recalibrating Nato as a military and political alliance to deter future threats must be a priority for this government which has failed under David Cameron to think strategically about future UK defence capabilities." |