emergence of new threats and the campaign against terrorism.doc

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Emergence of New Threats and the Campaign Against Terrorism

11 September 2001 Attacks

Prior to 11 September 2001, terrorism was only one among a large and growing numberof international security concerns. Since then it has moved to the centre of concerns of

the international community. Terrorism is considered as a hindering force working

against the development of liberal, open and democratic societies governed by the rule of

law. t is a global threat affecting virtually every country. n the wake of the !"11terrorist attacks against the #nited States, the international community reali$ed that

terrorism, as a global phenomenon, must be combated in a spirit of solidarity. %ollowing

these attacks, &'T( invoked for the first time in its history 'rticle ), its mutual defence

clause, declaring the attacks to be an attack against all member countries. This landmarkdecision was followed by practical measures aimed at assisting the #nited States. n this

conte*t the 'llies have agreed to take measures, individually and collectively, to e*pand

the options available in the campaign against terrorism. +Photos The terrorist attack on the-orld Trade enter, 11 September 2001./

NATO's Responses

NATO is contributing to the fight against terrorism through military operations in

Afghanistan, the Balkans and the Mediterranean and by taking steps to protect its

populations and territory against terrorist attacks

The Alliance is also engaged in a far!reaching transformation of its forces andcapabilities to better deter and defend against terrorism, and is working closely with

partner countries and organi"ations to ensure broad cooperation in the fight against

terrorism

NATO#s immediate response to $eptember %% was further strengthened by a decision, at

the &eyk'a(ik meeting of NATO )oreign Ministers in May *++*, that the Alliance will

operate when and where necessary to fight terrorism

The North Atlantic Council, the Alliance#s principal decision!making body, decides onNATO#s o(erall role in the campaign against terrorism $pecific aspects of NATO#s

in(ol(ement are de(eloped through speciali"ed bodies and committees

Today, NATO continues to pro(ide an essential transatlantic dimension to the response

against terrorism is contributing to the fight against terrorism through military operationsin Afghanistan, the Balkans and the Mediterranean and by taking steps to protect its

populations and territory against terrorist attacks

The Alliance is also engaged in a far!reaching transformation of its forces andcapabilities to better deter and defend against terrorism, and is working closely with


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partner countries and organi"ations to ensure broad cooperation in the fight against

terrorism

Counter-terrorist operations

n the aftermath of %% $eptember, NATO has deployed troops, aircraft and ships in anumber of operations directed against terrorists or their support networks

Eagle Assist

)rom mid!October *++% to mid!May *++*, NATO Airborne -arning and Control

$ystems .A-AC$/ aircraft were sent to help patrol the skies o(er the 0nited $tates1 23+crewmembers from %3 NATO countries flew o(er 34+ sorties This was the first time in

NATO#s history that its assets had been deployed in support of an Article 5 operation

Active Endeavour

On *4 October *++%, elements of NATO#s na(al forces were sent to patrol the eastern

Mediterranean and monitor shipping, as part of NATO#s immediate response to$eptember %% On %+ March *++3, the operation was e6panded to include escorting

ci(ilian shipping through the $trait of 7ibraltar Operation Acti(e Endea(our, which is

further enhanced by the support of partner countries, continues to make an importantcontribution to the fight against terrorism

Click the icon if you want to read more about Operation Acti(e Endea(our

Balkans

NATO forces in the Balkans ha(e acted against terrorist groups with links to the al!8aida

network They continue to contribute to the campaign against terrorism by focusing onthe illegal mo(ement of people, arms and drugs

Click the icon if you want to read more about NATO in the Balkans

Afghanistan / ISAF

S'% was established in ecember 2001 in accordance with the decisions taken at the

onn onference and after the ousting of the Taliban regime. The concept of a #&

mandated international force to assist the newly established 'fghan Transitional'uthority was launched with the aim of creating a secure environment in and around


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3abul and supporting the reconstruction of 'fghanistan. S'% is not a #& force but a

coalition of the willing deployed under the authority of the #& Security ouncil.

Although it was not a NATO!led operation, most of the NATO Allies also ha(e forcesin(ol(ed in operation 9Enduring )reedom9, the 0$!led military operation against the

Taliban and al!8aeda in Afghanistan $ince %% August *++3, $A) has been supportedand led by NATO, and financed by the troop!contributing countries By assuming the

leadership of $A), NATO o(ercame the problem of the continual search for new nations

to lead the mission and the difficulties of setting up new head:uarters e(ery si6 months ina comple6 en(ironment

Through its leadership of the nternational $ecurity Assistance )orce .$A)/, NATO is

helping establish the conditions in which Afghanistan can en'oy a representati(e

go(ernment and self!sustaining peace and security This is NATO#s first mission outside

the Euro!Atlantic area

ndeed, the fact that NATO is leading $A) so far away from the Alliance#s traditional

European centre of gra(ity is indicati(e of how far and how rapidly NATO#s agenda has

e(ol(ed in the wake of the terrorist attacks of %% $eptember *++% against the 0nited$tates t must be understood within the conte6t of Alliance#s immediate response to ;


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n line with decisions taken at >rague, stanbul and &iga $ummits, NATO took a number

of steps to impro(e its ability to protect Alliance populations and territories against

terrorist attacks and their conse:uences

NATO#s A-AC$ radar aircraft ha(e been deployed to help protect ma'or public e(ents,

including the Euro *++? football championships and the Athens *++? Olympic and>aralympic 7ames At the stanbul $ummit in *++?, NATO @eads of $tate and

7o(ernment formally agreed that the A-AC$ aircraft and NATO#s multinationalchemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defence battalion can be made a(ailable to

any member country re:uesting such assistance

NATO is de(eloping new, cutting!edge technologies to protect troops and ci(iliansagainst terrorist attacks

NATO members ha(e agreed to impro(e intelligence!sharing, and a special Terrorist

Threat ntelligence 0nit has been established at NATO @ead:uarters t analyses general

terrorist threats, as well as those more specifically aimed at NATO

Efforts are also underway within the Alliance to better protect against and prepare for apossible disruption of NATO and national critical infrastructure assets, including

information and communications systems

$mpro%e" capabiities

NATO is putting into place a series of measures to increase the deployability and

usability of its forces These are aimed at ensuring that the Alliance can fulfil its present

and future operational commitments and fight new threats such as terrorism and thespread of weapons of mass destruction

Co-operation &it partners

The fight against terrorism has become a key focus of NATO#s cooperation with >artners

in the framework of the Euro!Atlantic >artnership Council as well as the NATO!&ussiaCouncil The Alliance and 0kraine also pursue 'oint acti(ities rele(ant to the fight against

terrorism t is also one of the areas being offered by the Alliance for cooperation with

countries in North Africa and the Middle East

Member $tates of the Euro!Atlantic >artnership Council, during the >rag $ummitendorsed a >artnership Action >lan against Terrorism with a (iew to fulfilling their

obligations under international law with respect to combating terrorism

Alliance#s commitment to dialogue and cooperation with >artners in the fight against

terrorism was further emphasi"ed during the &iga $ummit


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Click the icon if you want to read more about the >artnership Action >lan against

Terrorism

Co-operation &it oter internationa organisations

NATO is cooperating with other international organi"ations so that information is sharedand appropriate action taken more effecti(ely in the fight against terrorism

Missie Defense

NATO is pursuing pro'ects aimed at protecting Alliance forces, territory and populations

against missile threats

This is in response to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of

deli(ery, including missiles of all ranges

NATO#s %;;; $trategic Concept recogni"es the need for missile defence to counter

nuclear, biological and chemical .NBC/ threats t states 4The 'lliance5s defence postureagainst the risks and potential threats of the proliferation of & weapons and their

means of delivery must continue to be improved, including through work on missile

defence. The aim in doing so will be to further reduce operational vulnerabilities of&'T( military forces while maintaining their fle*ibility and effectiveness despite the

presence, threat or use of & weapons.4

Teatre Missie Defence (TMD)*The first contract has been signed at the &iga

$ummit , for the de(elopment by *+%+ of a capability to protect deployed troops againstshort and medium range ballistic missiles by intercepting them in the boost, mid!course

and final phases

Missie Defence for te protection of NATO territor!*NATO also has appro(ed the

results of a study to e6amine options for protecting Alliance territory,forces andpopulation centres against the full range of missile threats, pro(iding a technical basis for

political and military discussions regarding the desirability for a such a capability

TMD cooperation &it Russia*under the auspices of NATO!&ussia Council, work isongoing to create the conditions for NATO and &ussia to conduct 'oint TM= operationsduring crisis response missions

Click the icon if you want to read more about Missile =efense


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Countering terrorism &it tecnoog!

These technologies are aimed at pre(enting the kinds of attacks perpetrated by terrorists,such as suicide attacks with impro(ised e6plosi(e de(ices, rocket attacks against aircraft

and helicopters

The =efence Against Terrorism .=AT/ >rogramme of -ork is focused on ten areas

where it is belie(ed technology can help ndi(idual NATO countries or Conference ofNational Armaments =irectors .CNA=/ groups are leading the (arious pro'ects with

support and contributions from other member countries

Click the icon if you want to read more about the =AT >rogramme of -ork

Click the icon if you want to read more about NATO and the fight againstterrorism

NATO Summits

#rague Summit

At the *%!** No(ember *++* >rague $ummit, NATO @eads of $tate and 7o(ernment

e6pressed their determination to deter, defend and protect their populations, territory andforces from any armed attack from abroad, including by terrorists TheyAt the >rague

$ummit in No(ember *++*, NATO @eads of $tate and 7o(ernment endorsed a package

of measures to strengthen NATO#s capabilities to defend against terrorism, including a

military concept for defence against terrorism, a Ci(il Emergency >lanning .CE>/ Action

>lan for the impro(ement of ci(il preparedness against possible attacks on the ci(ilianpopulation with chemical, biological or radiological agents and measures to strengthen

defences against cyber attacks They also launched a Missile =efence feasibility study to

e6amine options for protecting Alliance territory, forces and population centres againstmissile threats Additionally, @eads of $tate and 7o(ernment endorsed the

implementation of a number of nuclear, biological, chemical and radiological weapons

defence initiati(es, to enhance the Alliance#s defence capabilities against weapons ofmass destruction

$stanbu Summit

=uring the *++? stanbul $ummit, NATO nations agreed on an enhanced set of measuresto strengthen Allies# indi(idual and collecti(e contribution to the international

community#s fight against terrorism These measures include


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impro(ed intelligence sharing among NATO nations, including through their

Terrorist Threat ntelligence 0nit and a re(iew of current intelligence structures at

NATO @ead:uarters1 a greater ability to respond rapidly to national re:uests for assistance in protecting

against and dealing with the conse:uences of terrorist attacks, including attacks

in(ol(ing chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear .CB&N/ weapons and, inthis regard, continued robust support for the NATO Multinational CB&N =efence

Battalion1

assistance to protect selected ma'or e(ents, including the use of NATO Airborne

Early -arning and Control Aircraft1

an enhanced contribution to the fight against terrorism through Operation Acti(e

Endea(our1

a continued robust effort in the Balkans and Afghanistan to help create conditions

in which terrorism cannot flourish1

enhanced capabilities to defend against terrorist attacks, a programme of work to

de(elop new, ad(anced technologies

increased cooperation with partners, including through the implementation of theCi(il Emergency Action >lan and the >artnership Action >lan on Terrorism, and

with other international and regional organisations, including the acti(e pursuit of

consultations and e6changes of information with the European 0nion

Riga Summit

t was clearly stated in the Comprehensi(e >olitical 7uidance, endorsed by the @eads of

$tate and 7o(ernment during the &iga $ummit, that terrorism, increasingly global in

scope and lethal in results, and the spread of weapons of mass destruction were likely to

be the principal threats to the Alliance o(er the ne6t %+ to %5 years

The @eads of $tate and 7o(ernment strongly condemned terrorism during the $ummit

The importance of cooperation with >artners was underlined and determination to protect

the Alliance#s populations, territories, infrastructure and forces against the conse:uencesof terrorist attacks was reiterated NATO#s 9=efense Against Terrorism9 initiati(es and

especially the de(elopment of cutting!edge technologies to counter terrorist threats were

praised =uring the $ummit, it was also decided to strengthen the Alliance#s ability toshare information and intelligence on terrorism, especially in support of NATO

operations

=efence against terrorism

Click the icon if you want to read more on NATO#s defence against terrorism

+at is Artice , of te +asington Treat!


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+at "oes Artice , mean

No& !ou sou" be abe to a""ress te foo&ing .uestions* The unprecedented in(oking of Article 5 took place in circumstances :uite unlike

those en(isaged by the drafters of the North Atlantic Treaty s the Alliance

stronger or weaker as a result

Can the Alliance play a significant future role in the fight against new threats such

as terrorism and the proliferation of -eapons of Mass =estruction

emergence of new threats and the campaign against terrorism.doc

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