NATO to modernize command structure

By Yusuf Hatip

BRUSSELS (AA) – The secretary general of NATO said Wednesday that the international organization took “major decisions to modernize the NATO command Structure”.

Jens Stoltenberg's comments came during a news conference after a NATO Ministers of Defense meeting in Brussels.

The NATO chief said the body had decided on the key elements of the new command structure.

“We will establish a new Joint Force Command for the Atlantic to help protect sea lines of communication between North America and Europe,” Stoltenberg said.

“We will establish a new support Command for logistics, reinforcement and military mobility. Improving the movement of troops and equipment is essential to our collective deterrence and defense,” he added.

A new Cyber Operations Centre will also be set up to further strengthen NATO’s defenses, Stoltenberg added.

The member states' defense ministers will meet in June to decide on timelines and locations of the new commands, he added.

The NATO chief reiterated his comments on Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch saying Turkey had informed the alliance on the operation.

Earlier today, Stoltenberg said Turkey has genuine security concerns.

“Turkey has some legitimate security concerns. No other NATO ally has suffered more terrorist attacks, but we expect Turkey to respond in a proportionate and measured way," Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels.

"Turkey has briefed NATO allies on their Operation Olive Branch, and I expect Turkey to continue to brief NATO allies on the operation in northern Syria," he added, referring to the operation launched on Jan. 20 with the Free Syrian Army (FSA) to clear PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin, northwestern Syria.