(13 Oct 2022)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Brussels - 13 October 2022
1. NATO entrance hall
2. U.K. Defense Minister Ben Wallace arriving
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Ben Wallace, U.K. Defense Minister:
"What we don't want is to do things out of routine. This is a routine exercise and it's all about readiness. You know, today, you know, the NATO meeting is all about making sure we are ready for anything. I mean, that is the job of this alliance, is to make sure that the 30 partners together are ready for what is thrown at us. And we have to continue to work at that. And so exercising is part of that readiness."
4. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III arriving
5. U.S. flag
6. German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht arriving
STORYLINE:
NATO defense ministers arrived for talks in Brussels on Thursday, aiming to help bolster Ukraine's aerial defenses after a widespread Russian assault across the country early this week.
U.K. Defense Minister Ben Wallace, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht were seen arriving.
"This is a routine exercise and it's all about readiness," Wallace said, as the military alliance presses ahead with plans to hold a nuclear exercise next week.
NATO’s exercise, dubbed “Steadfast Noon,” is held around the same time every year and runs for about one week. It involves fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear warheads, but doesn't involve any live bombs. Conventional jets, and surveillance and refueling aircraft also routinely take part.
"The NATO meeting is all about making sure we are ready for anything. I mean, that is the job of this alliance, is to make sure that the 30 partners together are ready for what is thrown at us. And we have to continue to work at that. And so exercising is part of that readiness," Wallace said.
Britain said Thursday that it will provide missiles for advanced NASAM anti-aircraft systems that the Pentagon plans to send to Ukraine in coming weeks.
It’s also sending hundreds of additional aerial drones for information gathering and logistics support, plus 18 more howitzer artillery guns.
Germany is sending four IRIS-T air defense systems, while France has promised more artillery, anti-aircraft systems and missiles.
Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said the Netherlands will also supply missiles to bolster Ukraine's air defenses.
Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand said her country would give about $50 million more in military aid, including winter equipment, drone cameras and satellite communications.
In the almost eight months since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops into Ukraine, the 30-nation military alliance has been treading a fine line as an organization, providing only non-lethal support and defending its own territory to avoid being dragged into a wider war with a nuclear-armed Russia.
Individual allies though continue to pour in weapons and ammunition, including armored vehicles and air defense or anti-tank systems.
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