Amid reports of troop pullout from<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-strongly-rejects-claims-of-its-territory-being-used-for-terror-acts-against-pakistan-343314"> Afghanistan</a> and Iraq, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned that "hasty" troop pullout from Afghanistan could have "high price".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-expected-to-order-troop-withdrawals-from-afghanistan-and-iraq-343673">Also Read:&nbsp;Trump expected to order troop withdrawal from Afghanistan and Iraq</a>

Pentagon has reportedly announced US troop withdrawal from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/two-killed-in-car-bombing-outside-army-camp-in-afghanistan-capital-342919">Afghanistan</a> and Iraq and reportedly issued a "warning order".

The US plan is to reportedly bring back 2,500 troops from Afghanistan and 2,500 in Iraq by January 15. There are currently around 4,500 US troops in Afghanistan and 3,000 troops in Iraq.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-captures-mastermind-of-kabul-university-attack-343148">Also Read:&nbsp;Afghanistan captures mastermind of Kabul university attack</a>

Trump in a tweet had earlier said: "We should have the small remaining number of our brave&nbsp;and women serving in Afghanistan home by Christmas!"

Meanwhile, US Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell warned that troop reduction in Afghanistan and Iraq would result in a "big propaganda victory" for the terrorists in the region.

"The consequences of a premature US exit would likely be even worse than President<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spent-childhood-listening-to-ramayana-and-mahabharata-barack-obama-in-memoir-343642"> Obama's</a> withdrawal from Iraq back in 2011, which fueled the rise of ISIS and a new round of global terrorism," McConnell told the US Senate.

"It would be reminiscent of the humiliating America departure from Saigon in 1975," McConnell added. Former defense secretary Mark Esper who was fired by President Trump recently had reportedly insisted on keeping 4,500 troops in Afghanistan due to attacks by the Taliban.

"The spectacle of US troops abandoning facilities and equipment, leaving the field in Afghanistan to the Taliban and ISIS, would be broadcast around the world as a symbol of US defeat and humiliation, and a victory for Islamic extremism," Mitch McConnell who is believed to be close ally of Trump, said.

"It would hand a weakened and scattered Al-Qaeda a big, big propaganda victory and a renewed safe haven for plotting attacks against America," McConnell added. &nbsp;

Amid reports of troop pullout from Afghanistan and Iraq, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned that "hasty" troop pullout from Afghanistan could have "high price". Also Read: Trump expected to order troop withdrawal from Afghanistan and Iraq Pentagon has reportedly announced US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan and Iraq and reportedly issued a "warning order".

Amid reports of troop pullout from Afghanistan and Iraq, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned that "hasty" troop pullout from Afghanistan could have "high price". Also Read: Trump expected to order troop withdrawal from Afghanistan and Iraq Pentagon has reportedly announced US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan and Iraq and reportedly issued a "warning order". The US plan is to reportedly bring back 2,500 troops from Afghanistan and 2,500 in Iraq by January 15. There are currently around 4,500 US troops in Afghanistan and 3,000 troops in Iraq. Also Read: Afghanistan captures mastermind of Kabul university attack Trump in a tweet had earlier said: "We should have the small remaining number of our brave and women serving in Afghanistan home by Christmas!" Meanwhile, US Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell warned that troop reduction in Afghanistan and Iraq would result in a "big propaganda victory" for the terrorists in the region. "The consequences of a premature US exit would likely be even worse than President Obama's withdrawal from Iraq back in 2011, which fueled the rise of ISIS and a new round of global terrorism," McConnell told the US Senate. "It would be reminiscent of the humiliating America departure from Saigon in 1975," McConnell added. Former defense secretary Mark Esper who was fired by President Trump recently had reportedly insisted on keeping 4,500 troops in Afghanistan due to attacks by the Taliban. "The spectacle of US troops abandoning facilities and equipment, leaving the field in Afghanistan to the Taliban and ISIS, would be broadcast around the world as a symbol of US defeat and humiliation, and a victory for Islamic extremism," Mitch McConnell who is believed to be close ally of Trump, said. "It would hand a weakened and scattered Al-Qaeda a big, big propaganda victory and a renewed safe haven for plotting attacks against America," McConnell added.

Hasty pullout of US & allied troops from Afghanistan could exact 'very high' price: NATO chief Stoltenberg

A Croatian court on Friday sentenced former prime minister Ivo Sanader to eight years in jail for syphoning millions of euros from public funds in a long-running corruption case.

Sanader, who led Croatia into NATO during his 2003-2009 spell in office, organised a plot with other officials to "acquire significant financial gain" for himself and to finance their HDZ party, which was also accused in the case, the Zagreb court ruled.

Sanader directed embezzlement involving illegal donations and fictitious deals involving state-run firms, according to the verdict.&nbsp;

The former prime minister, currently serving a prison sentence for another corruption case, will also be required to pay 15.8 million kunas (two million euros, $2.5 million) once the verdict becomes final.

The conservative HDZ, which is still in power, was "responsible" for the crime and must pay some two million euros to the state budget, judge Irena Kvaternik said.

Of three other HDZ officials on trial, two were convicted and jailed and the other was acquitted.&nbsp;

The party said in a statement it rejected "any collective responsibility" and said it would appeal the ruling.

Sanader was first sentenced to nine years in jail for this case in 2014, in what was the first trial of its kind against a Croatian political party.

But the top court scrapped the ruling citing violations of criminal proceedings.

During the retrial all the defendants pleaded not guilty.

Since 2019 Sanader has been serving a six-year sentence for a separate corruption conviction and faces a slew of other allegations.

The 67-year-old did not attend Friday's hearing as he is recovering from surgery.

A Croatian court on Friday sentenced former prime minister Ivo Sanader to eight years in jail for syphoning millions of euros from public funds in a long-running corruption case.

A Croatian court on Friday sentenced former prime minister Ivo Sanader to eight years in jail for syphoning millions of euros from public funds in a long-running corruption case. Sanader, who led Croatia into NATO during his 2003-2009 spell in office, organised a plot with other officials to "acquire significant financial gain" for himself and to finance their HDZ party, which was also accused in the case, the Zagreb court ruled. Sanader directed embezzlement involving illegal donations and fictitious deals involving state-run firms, according to the verdict. The former prime minister, currently serving a prison sentence for another corruption case, will also be required to pay 15.8 million kunas (two million euros, $2.5 million) once the verdict becomes final. The conservative HDZ, which is still in power, was "responsible" for the crime and must pay some two million euros to the state budget, judge Irena Kvaternik said. Of three other HDZ officials on trial, two were convicted and jailed and the other was acquitted. The party said in a statement it rejected "any collective responsibility" and said it would appeal the ruling. Sanader was first sentenced to nine years in jail for this case in 2014, in what was the first trial of its kind against a Croatian political party. But the top court scrapped the ruling citing violations of criminal proceedings. During the retrial all the defendants pleaded not guilty. Since 2019 Sanader has been serving a six-year sentence for a separate corruption conviction and faces a slew of other allegations. The 67-year-old did not attend Friday's hearing as he is recovering from surgery.

Croatia jails ex-PM for running embezzlement network

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish President protested against Canada's suspension of drone technology export to Turkey. Erdogan said that the move by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was not in the spirit of the alliance. Erdogan was quoted by his office.

Earlier this month Canada suspended export of drone technology to Turkey as it probed allegations that the equipment was used by Azeri forces against Armenia. Azerbaijan and Armenia are currently locked in conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh region.

On Friday, Erdogan and Trudeau discussed improving relations and increasing bilateral trade, the Turkish presidency said, adding that they also talked about overcoming issues about co-operation in defense sector.

"During the call, President Tayyip Erdogan said Canada`s suspension of the export of some military goods to Turkey due to the Azerbajian-Armenia conflict... is against the spirit of alliance," the presidency said. 
Turkey and Canada are both members of NATO.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry has been strong in its response to Canada's decision. The ministry said that suspension showed a double standard.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greece-cyprus-told-to-wait-for-eu-action-on-provocative-turkey-335867">Greece, Cyprus told to wait for EU action on 'provocative' Turkey</a> 
 
Turkey`s military exports to its ally Azerbaijan have risen six-fold this year, with sales of drones and other military equipment rising to $77 million last month alone before fighting broke out over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, according to exports data.

Canadian arms control group Project Ploughshares says video of airstrikes released by Azerbaijan indicates the drones had been equipped with imaging and targeting systems made by L3Harris Wescam, the Canada-based unit of L3Harris Technologies Inc .

Ankara has said it stands firmly beside its close ally in the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.

(With Reuters inputs)

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish President protested against Canada's suspension of drone technology export to Turkey. Erdogan said that the move by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was not in the spirit of the alliance.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish President protested against Canada's suspension of drone technology export to Turkey. Erdogan said that the move by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was not in the spirit of the alliance. Erdogan was quoted by his office. Earlier this month Canada suspended export of drone technology to Turkey as it probed allegations that the equipment was used by Azeri forces against Armenia. Azerbaijan and Armenia are currently locked in conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh region. On Friday, Erdogan and Trudeau discussed improving relations and increasing bilateral trade, the Turkish presidency said, adding that they also talked about overcoming issues about co-operation in defense sector. "During the call, President Tayyip Erdogan said Canada`s suspension of the export of some military goods to Turkey due to the Azerbajian-Armenia conflict... is against the spirit of alliance," the presidency said. Turkey and Canada are both members of NATO. Turkey's Foreign Ministry has been strong in its response to Canada's decision. The ministry said that suspension showed a double standard. Also Read | Greece, Cyprus told to wait for EU action on 'provocative' Turkey Turkey`s military exports to its ally Azerbaijan have risen six-fold this year, with sales of drones and other military equipment rising to $77 million last month alone before fighting broke out over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, according to exports data. Canadian arms control group Project Ploughshares says video of airstrikes released by Azerbaijan indicates the drones had been equipped with imaging and targeting systems made by L3Harris Wescam, the Canada-based unit of L3Harris Technologies Inc . Ankara has said it stands firmly beside its close ally in the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. (With Reuters inputs)

Suspension of drone technology exports against alliance spirit: Erdogan to Trudeau

Cyber warriors on NATO's eastern edge are warning that the growing number of people working from home globally due to the pandemic is increasing vulnerability to cyber attacks.

The Baltic state of Estonia hosts two cyber facilities for the Western military alliance -- set up following a series of cyber attacks from neighbour Russia more than a decade ago.

"Large scale use of remote work has attracted spies, thieves and thugs," Jaak Tarien, head of NATO's Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE), told AFP in an interview.

The increased amount of information travelling between institutional servers and home networks is creating new challenges for employers.

"Tackling these new challenges is complicated and requires a lot of resources as well as a different kind of approach," Tarien said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-behind-cyberattack-on-parliament-norway-335097">Also read|&nbsp;Russia behind cyberattack on parliament: Norway</a>

"We are likely only scratching the surface in assessing the magnitude of malicious activities taking place in the Covid-era busy cyberspace."

An EU-wide survey in September found that around a third of employees were working from home.

Boom in online courses

The concerns are echoed at NATO's Cyber Range -- a heavily-guarded facility protected by barbed wire in the centre of the capital Tallinn run by Estonian defence forces.

The server rooms inside serve as a platform for NATO cyber security exercises and training.

"Specialists have set up the work infrastructure, but they cannot control the way people use their home internet or how secure it is," said Mihkel Tikk, head of the Estonian defence ministry's cyber policy department.

Tikk said the latest cyberattacks have targeted Estonia's health sector and Mobile-ID -- the mobile phone based digital ID.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/unacceptable-proposition-says-russia-over-new-nuclear-agreement-with-us-335093">Also read|&nbsp;Unacceptable proposition, says Russia over new nuclear agreement with US</a>

The coronavirus pandemic has also affected operations at the cyber facilities themselves, forcing the cancellation of offline exercises.

But the NATO Cyber Defence Centre said the silver lining is the growing popularity of the cyber security courses it is putting online.

The online courses include "Fighting a Botnet Attack", "Operational Cyber Threat Intelligence" and "IT Systems Attack and Defence".

There were 6,411 students by September 1 and the centre is aiming for 10,000 by the end of 2020.

'A massive mistake'

The Cyber Defence Centre was set up following a series of cyberattacks of unprecedented sophistication on Estonian websites in 2007.

The Russian pro-Kremlin youth organisation Nashi later claimed responsibility.

These days, Estonia faces a "continuous flow of attacks" and repelling them requires constant work, Defence Minister Juri Luik told AFP.

But he said the country was in "a pretty good situation" since it has had time to learn from past experience.

"We have worked diligently to guarantee that the computer networks are difficult to break in and the communication is encrypted –- both military but also civilian communication.

"So I think it is relatively more difficult to harm Estonia than many other countries who perhaps are not so used to working via cyberspace and haven't given too much attention to cyber defence," he said.

The minister underlined that all this work would be for nothing without basic cyber hygiene, including password protection.

"This is extremely important and should be remembered -- especially now that many people work from home via computer.

"At home you might let your guard down and that's of course a massive mistake."

Cyber warriors on NATO's eastern edge are warning that the growing number of people working from home globally due to the pandemic is increasing vulnerability to cyber attacks.

Cyber warriors on NATO's eastern edge are warning that the growing number of people working from home globally due to the pandemic is increasing vulnerability to cyber attacks. The Baltic state of Estonia hosts two cyber facilities for the Western military alliance -- set up following a series of cyber attacks from neighbour Russia more than a decade ago. "Large scale use of remote work has attracted spies, thieves and thugs," Jaak Tarien, head of NATO's Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE), told AFP in an interview. The increased amount of information travelling between institutional servers and home networks is creating new challenges for employers. "Tackling these new challenges is complicated and requires a lot of resources as well as a different kind of approach," Tarien said. Also read| Russia behind cyberattack on parliament: Norway "We are likely only scratching the surface in assessing the magnitude of malicious activities taking place in the Covid-era busy cyberspace." An EU-wide survey in September found that around a third of employees were working from home. Boom in online courses The concerns are echoed at NATO's Cyber Range -- a heavily-guarded facility protected by barbed wire in the centre of the capital Tallinn run by Estonian defence forces. The server rooms inside serve as a platform for NATO cyber security exercises and training. "Specialists have set up the work infrastructure, but they cannot control the way people use their home internet or how secure it is," said Mihkel Tikk, head of the Estonian defence ministry's cyber policy department. Tikk said the latest cyberattacks have targeted Estonia's health sector and Mobile-ID -- the mobile phone based digital ID. Also read| Unacceptable proposition, says Russia over new nuclear agreement with US The coronavirus pandemic has also affected operations at the cyber facilities themselves, forcing the cancellation of offline exercises. But the NATO Cyber Defence Centre said the silver lining is the growing popularity of the cyber security courses it is putting online. The online courses include "Fighting a Botnet Attack", "Operational Cyber Threat Intelligence" and "IT Systems Attack and Defence". There were 6,411 students by September 1 and the centre is aiming for 10,000 by the end of 2020. 'A massive mistake' The Cyber Defence Centre was set up following a series of cyberattacks of unprecedented sophistication on Estonian websites in 2007. The Russian pro-Kremlin youth organisation Nashi later claimed responsibility. These days, Estonia faces a "continuous flow of attacks" and repelling them requires constant work, Defence Minister Juri Luik told AFP. But he said the country was in "a pretty good situation" since it has had time to learn from past experience. "We have worked diligently to guarantee that the computer networks are difficult to break in and the communication is encrypted –- both military but also civilian communication. "So I think it is relatively more difficult to harm Estonia than many other countries who perhaps are not so used to working via cyberspace and haven't given too much attention to cyber defence," he said. The minister underlined that all this work would be for nothing without basic cyber hygiene, including password protection. "This is extremely important and should be remembered -- especially now that many people work from home via computer. "At home you might let your guard down and that's of course a massive mistake."

Cyber warriors sound warning on working from home

An attempt by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) to boast about its expansion backfired after it prompted an online war.

The Brussels-based organisation had posted a tweet on social networking site Twitter comprising the flags of its original members in 1949.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
How it started How it's going 
 
🇧🇪🇨🇦🇩🇰🇫🇷🇮🇸 🇦🇱🇧🇪🇧🇬🇨🇦🇭🇷 
🇮🇹🇱🇺🇳🇱🇳🇴🇵🇹 🇨🇿🇩🇰🇪🇪🇫🇷🇩🇪 
🇬🇧🇺🇸 🇬🇷🇭🇺🇮🇸🇮🇹🇱🇻 
🇱🇹🇱🇺🇲🇪🇳🇱🇲🇰 
🇳🇴🇵🇱🇵🇹🇷🇴🇸🇰 
🇸🇮🇪🇸🇹🇷🇬🇧🇺🇸<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreNATO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreNATO</a>
— NATO (@NATO) <a href="https://twitter.com/NATO/status/1315611227138199555?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

However, the ''how it started vs how it's going'' meme received an unexpected response and&nbsp;triggered a virtual bloodbath.

The replies that ensued the tweet ranged from calls to kick out Turkey and hopes for expansion in Ukraine, Georgia and the Balkans to another warfront between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Quite a succes, having Turkey on board...
— Publius031 #VerenigdRechts (@Publius0311) <a href="https://twitter.com/Publius0311/status/1315611460492562433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
And how it should be... <a href="https://t.co/2qzvbY38KM">pic.twitter.com/2qzvbY38KM</a>
— Ghanem Nuseibeh (@gnuseibeh) <a href="https://twitter.com/gnuseibeh/status/1315632227808669697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's military aggression has put the country at odds with&nbsp;NATO and has become its&nbsp;biggest liability.

Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fall-of-democracy-turkeys-erdogan-openly-challenging-natos-values-333294">Fall of democracy: Turkey's Erdogan openly challenging NATO's values</a>

NATO, which was created in&nbsp;1949, has 30 members. In the aftermath of the second world war, the purpose was to secure peace in Europe, especially against the Soviet Union. Then the Soviet Union fell and the relevance of NATO came into question.

Turkey joined the organisation in 1952 because there was a synergy of interests. Turkey didn't want to fall under the Soviet influence and its military made key contributions in the fight.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-under-erdogan-caught-between-democracy-and-dictatorship-333285">Also read|&nbsp;Turkey under Erdogan: Caught between democracy and dictatorship</a>

However, that is no longer the case. Today, Erdogan is on a collision course with the NATO. It is fighting the allies of NATO itself and that has been visible in Turkey's key activities in the past one year.

In January, Turkey violated a United Nations arms embrago in Libya. Turkish warships escorted a vessel suspected of smuggling weapons into Libya. By June, Turkey was locked in a direct face-off against Greece and France.

Now, Turkey is fueling another conflict&nbsp;in Nagorno-Karabakh.&nbsp;Turkey is arming Azerbaijan against Armenia.

NATO called for a ceasefire, but Turkey refuses to pay heed to such calls.

An attempt by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) to boast about its expansion backfired after it prompted an online war. The Brussels-based organisation had posted a tweet on social networking site Twitter comprising the flags of its original members in 1949.

An attempt by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) to boast about its expansion backfired after it prompted an online war. The Brussels-based organisation had posted a tweet on social networking site Twitter comprising the flags of its original members in 1949. How it started How it's going 🇧🇪🇨🇦🇩🇰🇫🇷🇮🇸 🇦🇱🇧🇪🇧🇬🇨🇦🇭🇷 🇮🇹🇱🇺🇳🇱🇳🇴🇵🇹 🇨🇿🇩🇰🇪🇪🇫🇷🇩🇪 🇬🇧🇺🇸 🇬🇷🇭🇺🇮🇸🇮🇹🇱🇻 🇱🇹🇱🇺🇲🇪🇳🇱🇲🇰 🇳🇴🇵🇱🇵🇹🇷🇴🇸🇰 🇸🇮🇪🇸🇹🇷🇬🇧🇺🇸#WeAreNATO — NATO (@NATO) October 12, 2020 × However, the ''how it started vs how it's going'' meme received an unexpected response and triggered a virtual bloodbath. The replies that ensued the tweet ranged from calls to kick out Turkey and hopes for expansion in Ukraine, Georgia and the Balkans to another warfront between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Quite a succes, having Turkey on board... — Publius031 #VerenigdRechts (@Publius0311) October 12, 2020 × And how it should be... pic.twitter.com/2qzvbY38KM — Ghanem Nuseibeh (@gnuseibeh) October 12, 2020 × Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's military aggression has put the country at odds with NATO and has become its biggest liability. Also read| Fall of democracy: Turkey's Erdogan openly challenging NATO's values NATO, which was created in 1949, has 30 members. In the aftermath of the second world war, the purpose was to secure peace in Europe, especially against the Soviet Union. Then the Soviet Union fell and the relevance of NATO came into question. Turkey joined the organisation in 1952 because there was a synergy of interests. Turkey didn't want to fall under the Soviet influence and its military made key contributions in the fight. Also read| Turkey under Erdogan: Caught between democracy and dictatorship However, that is no longer the case. Today, Erdogan is on a collision course with the NATO. It is fighting the allies of NATO itself and that has been visible in Turkey's key activities in the past one year. In January, Turkey violated a United Nations arms embrago in Libya. Turkish warships escorted a vessel suspected of smuggling weapons into Libya. By June, Turkey was locked in a direct face-off against Greece and France. Now, Turkey is fueling another conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. Turkey is arming Azerbaijan against Armenia. NATO called for a ceasefire, but Turkey refuses to pay heed to such calls.

NATO's expansionism tweet triggers online war

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's military aggression has put Turkey at odds with NATO. The latest conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has triggered a fresh fight. WION's Palki Sharma tells you why Turkey has become the biggest liability for NATO.

Gravitas: Why is the NATO shy of expelling Turkey?

NATO insisted Thursday that its members would consult and decide together on when to leave Afghanistan, after US President Donald Trump vowed to bring American troops home by Christmas.

Trump, trailing in polls ahead of the November 9 presidential election, made his surprise announcement on Twitter on Wednesday, dramatically speeding up the timeline for ending America's longest war.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg repeated the alliance's longstanding position that it will end its mission in Afghanistan only when conditions on the ground permit.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/human-rights-group-hails-acquittal-of-pakistani-christian-on-death-row-for-blasphemy-333523">Also read|&nbsp;Human rights group hails acquittal of Pakistani Christian on death row for blasphemy</a>

"We decided to go into Afghanistan together, we will make decisions on future adjustments together, and when the time is right, we will leave together," Stoltenberg said at a news conference after talks with North Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev.

NATO went into Afghanistan following the 2001 US-led invasion to topple the Taliban in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks.

It ended its combat operations in Afghanistan in 2014 and has vastly reduced its presence on the ground, but maintains a 12,000-strong force training and advising local forces.

Stoltenberg said NATO would only leave Afghanistan when it could do so without the risk of the country once again becoming a haven for militants.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/donald-trump-wants-us-forces-to-pull-out-from-afghanistan-by-christmas-333352">Also read|&nbsp;Donald Trump wants US forces to pull out from Afghanistan by Christmas</a>

"We will make decisions based on the conditions on the ground, because we think it is extremely important to continue to be committed to the future of Afghanistan, because it is in our interest to preserve the long term security of Afghanistan," he said.

It is not clear whether NATO had any advance warning of Trump's announcement, though Stoltenberg's statement that allies would now "consult on the future of the mission" appeared to indicate that it did not.

After intense US cajoling, the Afghan government and the Taliban last month opened peace talks in Doha, but negotiations have got off to a slow start.

Trump's timeline for withdrawing forces appeared to contradict his own national security advisor Robert O'Brien, who reportedly told an event that the US would cut troops to 2,500 by early 2021.

NATO insisted Thursday that its members would consult and decide together on when to leave Afghanistan, after US President Donald Trump vowed to bring American troops home by Christmas.

NATO insisted Thursday that its members would consult and decide together on when to leave Afghanistan, after US President Donald Trump vowed to bring American troops home by Christmas. Trump, trailing in polls ahead of the November 9 presidential election, made his surprise announcement on Twitter on Wednesday, dramatically speeding up the timeline for ending America's longest war. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg repeated the alliance's longstanding position that it will end its mission in Afghanistan only when conditions on the ground permit. Also read| Human rights group hails acquittal of Pakistani Christian on death row for blasphemy "We decided to go into Afghanistan together, we will make decisions on future adjustments together, and when the time is right, we will leave together," Stoltenberg said at a news conference after talks with North Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev. NATO went into Afghanistan following the 2001 US-led invasion to topple the Taliban in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks. It ended its combat operations in Afghanistan in 2014 and has vastly reduced its presence on the ground, but maintains a 12,000-strong force training and advising local forces. Stoltenberg said NATO would only leave Afghanistan when it could do so without the risk of the country once again becoming a haven for militants. Also read| Donald Trump wants US forces to pull out from Afghanistan by Christmas "We will make decisions based on the conditions on the ground, because we think it is extremely important to continue to be committed to the future of Afghanistan, because it is in our interest to preserve the long term security of Afghanistan," he said. It is not clear whether NATO had any advance warning of Trump's announcement, though Stoltenberg's statement that allies would now "consult on the future of the mission" appeared to indicate that it did not. After intense US cajoling, the Afghan government and the Taliban last month opened peace talks in Doha, but negotiations have got off to a slow start. Trump's timeline for withdrawing forces appeared to contradict his own national security advisor Robert O'Brien, who reportedly told an event that the US would cut troops to 2,500 by early 2021.

NATO chief says allies will leave Afghanistan together

If you surf the website of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), you will spot that it describes the political and military purpose of NATO as&nbsp;"NATO promotes democratic values. NATO's purpose is to guarantee freedom and security of its members."

However, Turkey, a member of NATO, does not fit this criteria.

Under Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey has descended into authoritarianism. He used a failed military coup in 2016 to tighten his grip on power.There was a massive purge within the military, the courts and the education system. Journalists were jailed, assets of political opponents&nbsp;were seized by the state and dissent&nbsp; was crushed.

Erdogan has pushed Turkey into a new presidential system where he controls all levers of power. With the country firmly in his grasp Erdogan forged new alliances with Russia and China — two more authoritarian states.

As a result, Turkey is now the biggest liability for NATO and it doesn't&nbsp;represent the values of the organisation. It has befriended the adversaries of NATO. All of this has made Turkey an unreliable partner.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-under-erdogan-caught-between-democracy-and-dictatorship-333285">Also read|&nbsp;Turkey under Erdogan: Caught between democracy and dictatorship</a>

However, NATO has still not taken an action on Turkey's changed stance.

The alliance

NATO, which was created in&nbsp;1949, has 30 members. In the aftermath of the second world war, the purpose was to secure peace in Europe, especially against the Soviet Union. Then the Soviet Union fell and the relevance of NATO came into question.

Today,&nbsp;the NATO says its allies are committed to democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law.

Turkey joined the organisation in 1952 because there was a synergy of interests. Turkey didn't want to fall under the Soviet influence and its military made key contributions in the fight.

However, that is no longer the case. Today, Erdogan is on a collision course with the NATO. It is fighting the allies of NATO itself and that has been visible in Turkey's key activities in the past one year.

In January, Turkey violated a United Nations arms embrago in Libya. Turkish warships escorted a vessel suspected of smuggling weapons into Libya. By June, Turkey was locked in a direct face-off against Greece and France.

NATO's allies have sworn to protect each other. When one is in trouble, all members come to its rescue. However,&nbsp;Turkey was ready to wage a war against Greece to control oil and gas supplies.

Now, Turkey is fueling another conflict&nbsp;in Nagorno-Karabakh.&nbsp;Turkey is arming Azerbaijan against Armenia.

NATO called for a ceasefire, but Turkey refuses to pay heed to such calls.

"It is extremely important that we convey a very clear message to all parties that they should cease fighting immediately, that we should support all efforts to find a peaceful, negotiated solution because there is no military solution to the situation in and around nagorno-karabakh. And this has been a very clear message from me ever since the fighting started because it is dangerous for all those people involved but it is of course also something which is of great concern for all region and all nato allies," said&nbsp;NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg.

Turkey wants to dictate the terms and wants NATO to first ask Armenia to withdraw.

"Both countries are partners of nato. Therefore, it is normal that nato calls for a balanced ceasefire and a peaceful solution but everyone, namely nato, should call for the resolution of this problem under international laws, u.N. Resolutions and azerbaijan's territorial integrity, armenia immediately withdrawing from this region," said Turkish Foreign Minister&nbsp;Mevlut Cavusoglu.

The conflict began 11 days ago and&nbsp;it is getting closer to a full scale war. Turkey is sending Syrian fighters to fight for Azerbaijan, and its&nbsp;relationship with many NATO allies is now straining.

Should turkey remain in the military alliance?

NATO has many reasons to expel Turkey. In 2019, Turkey bought the Russian S-400 missile defence system despite&nbsp;vehement objections of the United States and NATO members.

The alliance was concerned about this weapons deal because it is unlikely that Russian weaponry will integrate into NATO's&nbsp;air defences.

The fissures between Turkey and NATO are getting wider. It is an alliance that operates on consensus and all members must be on the same page.

If Turkey remains at odds with, it can stall any policy change,&nbsp;veto any military move and undermine the policy of collective defence.

In fact, it's already doing it as Turkey has blocked NATO&nbsp;partnerships with Israel, Armenia, Egypt and the UAE. For the longest time, it blocked a plan for the defence of Poland and the baltic nations&nbsp;— countries that share a border with Russia.

Reports say, Erdogan relented&nbsp;only after considerable pressure from Washington and&nbsp;this is not just about NATO. Having Turkey on such a major military alliance poses a threat for all.

Erdogan is triggering conflicts and threatening peace, and an alliance that vows to uphold democractic values and peace, must hold its members accountable o dump them.

If you surf the website of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), you will spot that it describes the political and military purpose of NATO as "NATO promotes democratic values.

If you surf the website of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), you will spot that it describes the political and military purpose of NATO as "NATO promotes democratic values. NATO's purpose is to guarantee freedom and security of its members." However, Turkey, a member of NATO, does not fit this criteria. Under Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey has descended into authoritarianism. He used a failed military coup in 2016 to tighten his grip on power.There was a massive purge within the military, the courts and the education system. Journalists were jailed, assets of political opponents were seized by the state and dissent was crushed. Erdogan has pushed Turkey into a new presidential system where he controls all levers of power. With the country firmly in his grasp Erdogan forged new alliances with Russia and China — two more authoritarian states. As a result, Turkey is now the biggest liability for NATO and it doesn't represent the values of the organisation. It has befriended the adversaries of NATO. All of this has made Turkey an unreliable partner. Also read| Turkey under Erdogan: Caught between democracy and dictatorship However, NATO has still not taken an action on Turkey's changed stance. The alliance NATO, which was created in 1949, has 30 members. In the aftermath of the second world war, the purpose was to secure peace in Europe, especially against the Soviet Union. Then the Soviet Union fell and the relevance of NATO came into question. Today, the NATO says its allies are committed to democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law. Turkey joined the organisation in 1952 because there was a synergy of interests. Turkey didn't want to fall under the Soviet influence and its military made key contributions in the fight. However, that is no longer the case. Today, Erdogan is on a collision course with the NATO. It is fighting the allies of NATO itself and that has been visible in Turkey's key activities in the past one year. In January, Turkey violated a United Nations arms embrago in Libya. Turkish warships escorted a vessel suspected of smuggling weapons into Libya. By June, Turkey was locked in a direct face-off against Greece and France. NATO's allies have sworn to protect each other. When one is in trouble, all members come to its rescue. However, Turkey was ready to wage a war against Greece to control oil and gas supplies. Now, Turkey is fueling another conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. Turkey is arming Azerbaijan against Armenia. NATO called for a ceasefire, but Turkey refuses to pay heed to such calls. "It is extremely important that we convey a very clear message to all parties that they should cease fighting immediately, that we should support all efforts to find a peaceful, negotiated solution because there is no military solution to the situation in and around nagorno-karabakh. And this has been a very clear message from me ever since the fighting started because it is dangerous for all those people involved but it is of course also something which is of great concern for all region and all nato allies," said NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg. Turkey wants to dictate the terms and wants NATO to first ask Armenia to withdraw. "Both countries are partners of nato. Therefore, it is normal that nato calls for a balanced ceasefire and a peaceful solution but everyone, namely nato, should call for the resolution of this problem under international laws, u.N. Resolutions and azerbaijan's territorial integrity, armenia immediately withdrawing from this region," said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. The conflict began 11 days ago and it is getting closer to a full scale war. Turkey is sending Syrian fighters to fight for Azerbaijan, and its relationship with many NATO allies is now straining. Should turkey remain in the military alliance? NATO has many reasons to expel Turkey. In 2019, Turkey bought the Russian S-400 missile defence system despite vehement objections of the United States and NATO members. The alliance was concerned about this weapons deal because it is unlikely that Russian weaponry will integrate into NATO's air defences. The fissures between Turkey and NATO are getting wider. It is an alliance that operates on consensus and all members must be on the same page. If Turkey remains at odds with, it can stall any policy change, veto any military move and undermine the policy of collective defence. In fact, it's already doing it as Turkey has blocked NATO partnerships with Israel, Armenia, Egypt and the UAE. For the longest time, it blocked a plan for the defence of Poland and the baltic nations — countries that share a border with Russia. Reports say, Erdogan relented only after considerable pressure from Washington and this is not just about NATO. Having Turkey on such a major military alliance poses a threat for all. Erdogan is triggering conflicts and threatening peace, and an alliance that vows to uphold democractic values and peace, must hold its members accountable o dump them.

Fall of democracy: Turkey's Erdogan openly challenging NATO's values

Greece and Turkey set up a military hotline on Thursday to avoid accidental clashes in the eastern Mediterranean, where they are at loggerheads over energy resources and maritime borders, NATO said.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the breakthrough, which comes after several weeks of talks between military officials from the two alliance members.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/turkey-versus-greece-a-long-history-of-disputes-323392">Turkey versus Greece: A long history of disputes</a>

The two NATO members agreed to the talks after a standoff over gas exploration in contested waters led to a dramatic ramping-up of tensions, stoking fears that conflict could erupt, perhaps by accident.

"Following a series of technical meetings between the military representatives of Greece and Turkey at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, a bilateral military de-confliction mechanism was established on Thursday," NATO said in a statement.&nbsp;

"The mechanism is designed to reduce the risk of incidents and accidents in the Eastern Mediterranean. It includes the creation of a hotline between Greece and Turkey, to facilitate de-confliction at sea or in the air."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-greece-turkey-are-fighting-over-hydrocarbons-in-mediterranean-sea-320304">Why Greece, Turkey are fighting over hydrocarbons in Mediterranean Sea</a>

Tensions between Greece and Turkey have eased somewhat in the last couple of weeks and the two governments have agreed to begin exploratory talks to resolve their dispute.

Stoltenberg thanked both sides for their "constructive engagement".

"This safety mechanism can help to create the space for diplomatic efforts to address the underlying dispute and we stand ready to develop it further," Stoltenberg said.

The announcement of the breakthrough came as EU leaders began tough summit talks on their relations with Turkey.

Greece and Turkey set up a military hotline on Thursday to avoid accidental clashes in the eastern Mediterranean, where they are at loggerheads over energy resources and maritime borders, NATO said.

Greece and Turkey set up a military hotline on Thursday to avoid accidental clashes in the eastern Mediterranean, where they are at loggerheads over energy resources and maritime borders, NATO said. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the breakthrough, which comes after several weeks of talks between military officials from the two alliance members. Also see: Turkey versus Greece: A long history of disputes The two NATO members agreed to the talks after a standoff over gas exploration in contested waters led to a dramatic ramping-up of tensions, stoking fears that conflict could erupt, perhaps by accident. "Following a series of technical meetings between the military representatives of Greece and Turkey at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, a bilateral military de-confliction mechanism was established on Thursday," NATO said in a statement. "The mechanism is designed to reduce the risk of incidents and accidents in the Eastern Mediterranean. It includes the creation of a hotline between Greece and Turkey, to facilitate de-confliction at sea or in the air." Also read: Why Greece, Turkey are fighting over hydrocarbons in Mediterranean Sea Tensions between Greece and Turkey have eased somewhat in the last couple of weeks and the two governments have agreed to begin exploratory talks to resolve their dispute. Stoltenberg thanked both sides for their "constructive engagement". "This safety mechanism can help to create the space for diplomatic efforts to address the underlying dispute and we stand ready to develop it further," Stoltenberg said. The announcement of the breakthrough came as EU leaders began tough summit talks on their relations with Turkey.

Greece, Turkey set up hotline to avoid clashes in Eastern Mediterranean, says NATO

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will visit Greece next week in a show of support following high tensions in the Mediterranean with Turkey, the State Department announced Thursday.

Pompeo will also travel to Italy, with a stop in Vatican City, to discuss religious freedom, and Croatia on the September 27-October 2 trip.

In his second trip to Greece in less than a year, Pompeo will go both to the northern city of Thessaloniki and the southern island of Crete, where he will meet with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greece-says-its-close-to-resuming-maritime-talks-with-turkey-329270">Also read:&nbsp;Greece says it's close to resuming maritime talks with Turkey</a>

Pompeo will "renew our shared commitment to advance security, peace and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean and celebrate the strongest US-Greek relationship in decades," the State Department said.

In Crete, he will visit the NATO base at Souda Bay "to underscore the strong US security partnership with NATO ally Greece," it said.

Historic tensions flared last month when Turkey sent a vessel backed by military frigates to hunt for oil and gas reserves in waters also claimed by Greece.

Greece responded with naval exercises as a warning and has enjoyed especially vocal backing from France.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-imposes-sanctions-against-iran-venezuelas-maduro-329294">Also read:&nbsp;US imposes sanctions against Iran, Venezuela's Maduro</a>

But the tone has recently softened between Greece and Turkey, also a NATO member, with the two agreeing Tuesday to begin exploratory talks on their dispute.

Pompeo earlier this month also discussed the row on a visit to Cyprus, the majority-Greek island whose northern third is occupied by Turkey.

The United States recently lifted a decades-long arms embargo on Cyprus, outraging Turkey.

But President Donald Trump has maintained warm relations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who controversially helped persuade the US leader to pull troops from Syria.

Relations have been growing for several years between Washington and Athens, which has been building energy ties with US ally Israel.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will visit Greece next week in a show of support following high tensions in the Mediterranean with Turkey, the State Department announced Thursday.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will visit Greece next week in a show of support following high tensions in the Mediterranean with Turkey, the State Department announced Thursday. Pompeo will also travel to Italy, with a stop in Vatican City, to discuss religious freedom, and Croatia on the September 27-October 2 trip. In his second trip to Greece in less than a year, Pompeo will go both to the northern city of Thessaloniki and the southern island of Crete, where he will meet with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Also read: Greece says it's close to resuming maritime talks with Turkey Pompeo will "renew our shared commitment to advance security, peace and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean and celebrate the strongest US-Greek relationship in decades," the State Department said. In Crete, he will visit the NATO base at Souda Bay "to underscore the strong US security partnership with NATO ally Greece," it said. Historic tensions flared last month when Turkey sent a vessel backed by military frigates to hunt for oil and gas reserves in waters also claimed by Greece. Greece responded with naval exercises as a warning and has enjoyed especially vocal backing from France. Also read: US imposes sanctions against Iran, Venezuela's Maduro But the tone has recently softened between Greece and Turkey, also a NATO member, with the two agreeing Tuesday to begin exploratory talks on their dispute. Pompeo earlier this month also discussed the row on a visit to Cyprus, the majority-Greek island whose northern third is occupied by Turkey. The United States recently lifted a decades-long arms embargo on Cyprus, outraging Turkey. But President Donald Trump has maintained warm relations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who controversially helped persuade the US leader to pull troops from Syria. Relations have been growing for several years between Washington and Athens, which has been building energy ties with US ally Israel.

Pompeo to show support for Greece amid Turkey tensions

Switzerland, which last fought a foreign war more than 200 years ago and has no discernable enemies, wants to spend billions on new fighter jets.

Many oppose the idea, saying the neutral country neither can afford nor needs cutting-edge warplanes to defend Alpine territory which a supersonic jet can cross in 10 minutes.

Ireland, Malta and Luxembourg don't have jets, they say, making the $6.6 billion&nbsp;plan a waste of money.

"Who is our enemy? Who is attacking a small, neutral country,&nbsp;surrounded by NATO?" asked Priska Seiler Graf, a member of parliament for the left-leaning Social Democrats. "It's really absurd."

Voters get their say on Sunday September&nbsp;27. Approving funding in the binding referendum would let the government decide next year among the Eurofighter from Airbus, the Rafale from France's Dassault, Boeing's&nbsp;F/A-18 Super Hornet, or the Lockheed Martin&nbsp;F35-A Lightning II.

The aircraft would replace&nbsp;Switzerland's aging fleet of 30 F/A-18 Hornets which will go out of service in 2030.

Seiler Graf said cheaper alternatives, such as a fighter version of Leonardo's M346 trainer, offered better value than the "expensive toys" under consideration. &nbsp;

"We need new aircraft, that is not disputed, but buying lighter, simpler aircraft would be enough," she said. "It would be better to have a Fiat than a Maserati."

Voters six years ago rejected the purchase of Gripen jets from Sweden. In 1989 a proposal to scrap its entire army got 35% of voter support.

Pollster Lukas Golder from GFS.Bern said voters are likely to back the plan to buy the jets. Armed neutrality is crucial to how&nbsp;Switzerland&nbsp;defines itself, he said, going back to the belief a strong army deterred invasion by Nazi Germany in World War II. The Pope's Swiss guards are also a reminder of the country's mercenary past.

Lawmaker Thomas Hurter from the right-wing Swiss People's Party, a former air force pilot, said&nbsp;Switzerland&nbsp;had to protect itself without relying on other countries.

"If we don't replace these old aircraft, that means we have no air force, there is no protection any more and we are not fulfilling our constitution," he said.

Smaller jets could not fly high enough, he said, or have the acceleration needed to react quickly to emergencies.

"We don't know what's going to happen in the next 50 years," Hurter said. "You need to have the fire brigade ready when there is a burning house, otherwise it's too late."

Switzerland, which last fought a foreign war more than 200 years ago and has no discernable enemies, wants to spend billions on new fighter jets. Many oppose the idea, saying the neutral country neither can afford nor needs cutting-edge warplanes to defend Alpine territory which a supersonic jet can cross in 10 minutes.

Switzerland, which last fought a foreign war more than 200 years ago and has no discernable enemies, wants to spend billions on new fighter jets. Many oppose the idea, saying the neutral country neither can afford nor needs cutting-edge warplanes to defend Alpine territory which a supersonic jet can cross in 10 minutes. Ireland, Malta and Luxembourg don't have jets, they say, making the $6.6 billion plan a waste of money. "Who is our enemy? Who is attacking a small, neutral country, surrounded by NATO?" asked Priska Seiler Graf, a member of parliament for the left-leaning Social Democrats. "It's really absurd." Voters get their say on Sunday September 27. Approving funding in the binding referendum would let the government decide next year among the Eurofighter from Airbus, the Rafale from France's Dassault, Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet, or the Lockheed Martin F35-A Lightning II. The aircraft would replace Switzerland's aging fleet of 30 F/A-18 Hornets which will go out of service in 2030. Seiler Graf said cheaper alternatives, such as a fighter version of Leonardo's M346 trainer, offered better value than the "expensive toys" under consideration. "We need new aircraft, that is not disputed, but buying lighter, simpler aircraft would be enough," she said. "It would be better to have a Fiat than a Maserati." Voters six years ago rejected the purchase of Gripen jets from Sweden. In 1989 a proposal to scrap its entire army got 35% of voter support. Pollster Lukas Golder from GFS.Bern said voters are likely to back the plan to buy the jets. Armed neutrality is crucial to how Switzerland defines itself, he said, going back to the belief a strong army deterred invasion by Nazi Germany in World War II. The Pope's Swiss guards are also a reminder of the country's mercenary past. Lawmaker Thomas Hurter from the right-wing Swiss People's Party, a former air force pilot, said Switzerland had to protect itself without relying on other countries. "If we don't replace these old aircraft, that means we have no air force, there is no protection any more and we are not fulfilling our constitution," he said. Smaller jets could not fly high enough, he said, or have the acceleration needed to react quickly to emergencies. "We don't know what's going to happen in the next 50 years," Hurter said. "You need to have the fire brigade ready when there is a burning house, otherwise it's too late."

Why is Switzerland holding a referendum to purchase fighter jets?

NATO called an emergency meeting on this matter and alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said all countries were united in condemning this 'horrific' attack on the 44-year-old opposition politician.

Russia to probe attempted murder angle in Alexei Navalny case

NATO said Thursday that Greece and Turkey had agreed to talks to ease their dispute over eastern Mediterranean borders and energy rights, but Athens swiftly denied any deal on negotiations.

Alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said he had won the two neighbours' agreement to enter "technical talks" designed to avert accident between their navies that could trigger a broader conflict.

A Greek frigate collided with a Turkish frigate in August and the two NATO members staged rival war games in the energy-rich but disputed region last week.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/turkey-versus-greece-a-long-history-of-disputes-323392">Turkey versus Greece: A long history of disputes</a>

"Following my discussions with Greek and Turkish leaders, the two allies have agreed to enter into technical talks at NATO to establish mechanisms for military de-confliction to reduce the risk of incidents and accidents in the eastern Mediterranean," Stoltenberg said in a statement.

"Greece and Turkey are valued allies, and NATO is an important platform for consultations on all issues that affect our shared security."

But later Thursday Greece denied it had agreed to hold NATO-brokered talks with Turkey.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/greece-not-part-of-nato-brokered-talks-325118/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"Published information claiming Greece and Turkey have agreed to hold so-called 'technical talks' on de-escalating tensions in the eastern Mediterranean do not correspond to reality," Greece's foreign ministry said.

"De-escalation will only take place with the immediate withdrawal of all Turkish vessels from the Greek continental shelf," the ministry added.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/now-turkey-stages-military-exercises-in-eastern-mediterranean-amid-tensions-with-greece-323929">Now, Turkey stages military exercises in eastern Mediterranean amid tensions with Greece</a>

Turkey ready for talks

Ankara said it backed the idea of talks at NATO.

"This initiative is supported by our country," the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement. "We expect Greece to support the NATO secretary general's initiative."

The Turkish statement stressed that the talks would only focus on avoiding accidents and not resolving the sides' differences over maritime borders and energy exploration rights.

But observers still hope the talks will create an opening for further dialogue in a conflict that threatens to impede Europe's future access to a wealth of natural gas reserves.

NATO's announcement came after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged the sides to reduce tensions and open diplomatic channels to ease the crisis.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan this week extended a gas exploration mission near a Greek island at the epicentre of the longstanding rivals' latest dispute.

Erdogan on Tuesday vowed not to be intimidated by Greece's support from European military powers such as France.

The European Union has been watching the row with growing unease.

Germany had been spearheading efforts to get the sides to temper the rhetoric and settle their differences through talks.

The Turkish presidency said Erdogan held video conference talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday in which he condemned "the support given to Greece’s selfish and unfair stance by some countries".

The EU threatened to put sanctions on Turkey if it refuses to solve the dispute through dialogue.

NATO said Thursday that Greece and Turkey had agreed to talks to ease their dispute over eastern Mediterranean borders and energy rights, but Athens swiftly denied any deal on negotiations.

NATO said Thursday that Greece and Turkey had agreed to talks to ease their dispute over eastern Mediterranean borders and energy rights, but Athens swiftly denied any deal on negotiations. Alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said he had won the two neighbours' agreement to enter "technical talks" designed to avert accident between their navies that could trigger a broader conflict. A Greek frigate collided with a Turkish frigate in August and the two NATO members staged rival war games in the energy-rich but disputed region last week. Also see: Turkey versus Greece: A long history of disputes "Following my discussions with Greek and Turkish leaders, the two allies have agreed to enter into technical talks at NATO to establish mechanisms for military de-confliction to reduce the risk of incidents and accidents in the eastern Mediterranean," Stoltenberg said in a statement. "Greece and Turkey are valued allies, and NATO is an important platform for consultations on all issues that affect our shared security." But later Thursday Greece denied it had agreed to hold NATO-brokered talks with Turkey. "Published information claiming Greece and Turkey have agreed to hold so-called 'technical talks' on de-escalating tensions in the eastern Mediterranean do not correspond to reality," Greece's foreign ministry said. "De-escalation will only take place with the immediate withdrawal of all Turkish vessels from the Greek continental shelf," the ministry added. Also see: Now, Turkey stages military exercises in eastern Mediterranean amid tensions with Greece Turkey ready for talks Ankara said it backed the idea of talks at NATO. "This initiative is supported by our country," the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement. "We expect Greece to support the NATO secretary general's initiative." The Turkish statement stressed that the talks would only focus on avoiding accidents and not resolving the sides' differences over maritime borders and energy exploration rights. But observers still hope the talks will create an opening for further dialogue in a conflict that threatens to impede Europe's future access to a wealth of natural gas reserves. NATO's announcement came after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged the sides to reduce tensions and open diplomatic channels to ease the crisis. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan this week extended a gas exploration mission near a Greek island at the epicentre of the longstanding rivals' latest dispute. Erdogan on Tuesday vowed not to be intimidated by Greece's support from European military powers such as France. The European Union has been watching the row with growing unease. Germany had been spearheading efforts to get the sides to temper the rhetoric and settle their differences through talks. The Turkish presidency said Erdogan held video conference talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday in which he condemned "the support given to Greece’s selfish and unfair stance by some countries". The EU threatened to put sanctions on Turkey if it refuses to solve the dispute through dialogue.

Mediterranean crisis: Greece, Turkey agree de-escalation talks says NATO

Greece and Turkey have agreed to talks to avoid accidental clashes in the Eastern Mediterranean, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

NATO: Greece, Turkey agree to talks over Eastern Mediterranean

Russia has defied all threats of Western sanctions on Friday regarding the ongoing controversy over the&nbsp;poisoning of the Kremlin critic, Alexei Navalny.

After Germany declared that it has&nbsp;"unequivocal evidence" that Navalny was poisoned, western leaders expressed shock and asked for Kremlin to come clean upon the matter.

Vladimir Putin-led Russia, however, has denied all accusations. So much so, a Russian toxicologist said Navalny's health could have deteriorated due to dieting or stress.&nbsp;

"The patient used diets to lose weight," chief regional toxicologist Alexander Sabayev told local media.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-urges-russia-to-cooperate-in-navalny-probe-threatens-restrictive-measures-325084">Also read:&nbsp;EU urges Russia to cooperate in Navalny probe; threatens 'restrictive measures'</a>

"This situation could have been provoked not only by diets, it could have also been provoked by possible instances of drinking to excess which we don't know about. It could have been provoked by stress and fatigue," he added.

"Any external factors could have triggered a sudden deterioration. Even a simple lack of breakfast."

However, NATO is now pressing for an urgent international probe into this matter, and has asked Kremlin&nbsp;to reveal its Novichok nerve agent programme to the global chemical weapons watchdog.

NATO called an emergency meeting on this matter and&nbsp;alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said all countries were united in&nbsp;condemning this "horrific" attack on the&nbsp;44-year-old opposition politician.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/head-of-world-chemical-arms-watchdog-expresses-concern-over-navalnys-poisoning-case-325029">Also Read:&nbsp;Head of world chemical arms watchdog expresses 'concern' over Navalny's poisoning case</a>

"The Russian government must fully cooperate with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on an impartial international investigation," Stoltenberg said.

"We also call on Russia to provide complete disclosure of the Novichok programme to the OPCW."

Russia has further declined all accusations saying,&nbsp;"A whole number of theories including poisoning were considered from the very first days," Dmitry Peskov,&nbsp;Kremlin Press Secretary said. "According to our doctors, this theory has not been proved."

Russia has defied all threats of Western sanctions on Friday regarding the ongoing controversy over the poisoning of the Kremlin critic, Alexei Navalny. After Germany declared that it has "unequivocal evidence" that Navalny was poisoned, western leaders expressed shock and asked for Kremlin to come clean upon the matter.

Russia has defied all threats of Western sanctions on Friday regarding the ongoing controversy over the poisoning of the Kremlin critic, Alexei Navalny. After Germany declared that it has "unequivocal evidence" that Navalny was poisoned, western leaders expressed shock and asked for Kremlin to come clean upon the matter. Vladimir Putin-led Russia, however, has denied all accusations. So much so, a Russian toxicologist said Navalny's health could have deteriorated due to dieting or stress. "The patient used diets to lose weight," chief regional toxicologist Alexander Sabayev told local media. Also read: EU urges Russia to cooperate in Navalny probe; threatens 'restrictive measures' "This situation could have been provoked not only by diets, it could have also been provoked by possible instances of drinking to excess which we don't know about. It could have been provoked by stress and fatigue," he added. "Any external factors could have triggered a sudden deterioration. Even a simple lack of breakfast." However, NATO is now pressing for an urgent international probe into this matter, and has asked Kremlin to reveal its Novichok nerve agent programme to the global chemical weapons watchdog. NATO called an emergency meeting on this matter and alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said all countries were united in condemning this "horrific" attack on the 44-year-old opposition politician. Also Read: Head of world chemical arms watchdog expresses 'concern' over Navalny's poisoning case "The Russian government must fully cooperate with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on an impartial international investigation," Stoltenberg said. "We also call on Russia to provide complete disclosure of the Novichok programme to the OPCW." Russia has further declined all accusations saying, "A whole number of theories including poisoning were considered from the very first days," Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin Press Secretary said. "According to our doctors, this theory has not been proved."

Russia defies West sanctions after NATO's emergency meeting over Navalny

NATO said on Thursday that Greece and Turkey had agreed to talks to ease their dispute over eastern Mediterranean borders and energy rights, but Athens swiftly denied any deal on negotiations. But later Greece denied it had agreed to hold NATO-brokered talks with Turkey.

Greece: Not part of NATO-brokered talks

Belarus's authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday ordered his defence minister to take "stringent measures" to defend the country's territorial integrity after mass protests erupted against his claim to election victory.

The 65-year-old,&nbsp;who said he won a sixth presidential term with 80 percent of the vote&nbsp;in the August 9 ballot, made the comments while inspecting military units in Grodno, near Belarus's border with Poland, according to the president's press service.

Lukashenko denounced the recent&nbsp;mass protests, which he said were receiving support from Western countries, and ordered the army to defend western Belarus, which he described as "a pearl".

"It involves taking the most stringent measures to protect the territorial integrity of our country," Lukashenko said.

His visit comes ahead of large-scale military exercises planned in the Grodno region between August 28 and 31.

The former collective farm director said that NATO troops in Poland and Lithuania were "seriously stirring" near their borders with Belarus and ordered his troops into full combat readiness.

NATO&nbsp;said the claims were "baseless".

"As we have already made clear, NATO poses no threat to Belarus or any other country and has no military buildup in the region," it said in a statement.

Both countries also denied the accusation.

"The regime is trying to divert attention from Belarus's internal problems at any cost with totally baseless statements about imaginary external threats," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda told AFP.

The Polish president's chief of staff, Krzysztof Szczerski, for his part dismissed the claim that Poland planned to violate Belarusian territorial integrity as "regime propaganda", calling it "sad and surprising".

"Poland... has no such intention," he told the Polish news agency PAP.

Mass protests

Lithuania's foreign ministry announced that US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun will visit Vilnius and Russia next week for talks on Belarus and the elections fallout.

He is notably planning to meet with Lukashenko's election challenger&nbsp;<a href="https://www.france24.com/en/20200822-tsikhanouskaya-says-she-would-not-seek-belarus-presidency-if-new-elections-held" target="_self">Svetlana Tikhanovskaya</a>&nbsp;in Lithuania, where she is now in exile, her representatives told AFP.

Tikhanovskaya, who fled Belarus after the disputed ballot in which she claims victory, said Saturday "we are not afraid."

"I am so proud of Belarusians now because after 26 years of fear they are ready to defend their rights," she told AFP.

"I call them to continue, not to stop, because it's really important now to continue to be united in the struggle for the rights."

Opponents of Europe's longest serving leader have organised strikes and the largest demonstrations in the ex-Soviet country's recent history to protest his re-election and demand that he stand down.

The opposition has called for a major rally in Minsk on Sunday after more than 100,000 people flooded onto the streets of the capital and other cities in Belarus last weekend demanding Lukashenko's resignation.

The European Union this week rejected his re-election and vowed to levy sanctions against what it said was a substantial number of people responsible for rigging the vote and cracking down on protests.

The Belarusian authorities have opened a criminal investigation into the opposition's Coordination Council, whose members are seeking new elections and a peaceful transition of power.

Lukashenko has rejected the idea of holding another ballot, dismissed calls to resign and accused the opposition of attempting to seize power.

On Friday he vowed to "solve the problem" of the protest movement.

Tikhanovskaya said this week that Belarusians would "never accept the current leadership again" after the crackdown on post-election protests.

Belarus's authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday ordered his defence minister to take "stringent measures" to defend the country's territorial integrity after mass protests erupted against his claim to election victory.

Belarus's authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday ordered his defence minister to take "stringent measures" to defend the country's territorial integrity after mass protests erupted against his claim to election victory. The 65-year-old, who said he won a sixth presidential term with 80 percent of the vote in the August 9 ballot, made the comments while inspecting military units in Grodno, near Belarus's border with Poland, according to the president's press service. Lukashenko denounced the recent mass protests, which he said were receiving support from Western countries, and ordered the army to defend western Belarus, which he described as "a pearl". "It involves taking the most stringent measures to protect the territorial integrity of our country," Lukashenko said. His visit comes ahead of large-scale military exercises planned in the Grodno region between August 28 and 31. The former collective farm director said that NATO troops in Poland and Lithuania were "seriously stirring" near their borders with Belarus and ordered his troops into full combat readiness. NATO said the claims were "baseless". "As we have already made clear, NATO poses no threat to Belarus or any other country and has no military buildup in the region," it said in a statement. Both countries also denied the accusation. "The regime is trying to divert attention from Belarus's internal problems at any cost with totally baseless statements about imaginary external threats," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda told AFP. The Polish president's chief of staff, Krzysztof Szczerski, for his part dismissed the claim that Poland planned to violate Belarusian territorial integrity as "regime propaganda", calling it "sad and surprising". "Poland... has no such intention," he told the Polish news agency PAP. Mass protests Lithuania's foreign ministry announced that US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun will visit Vilnius and Russia next week for talks on Belarus and the elections fallout. He is notably planning to meet with Lukashenko's election challenger Svetlana Tikhanovskaya in Lithuania, where she is now in exile, her representatives told AFP. Tikhanovskaya, who fled Belarus after the disputed ballot in which she claims victory, said Saturday "we are not afraid." "I am so proud of Belarusians now because after 26 years of fear they are ready to defend their rights," she told AFP. "I call them to continue, not to stop, because it's really important now to continue to be united in the struggle for the rights." Opponents of Europe's longest serving leader have organised strikes and the largest demonstrations in the ex-Soviet country's recent history to protest his re-election and demand that he stand down. The opposition has called for a major rally in Minsk on Sunday after more than 100,000 people flooded onto the streets of the capital and other cities in Belarus last weekend demanding Lukashenko's resignation. The European Union this week rejected his re-election and vowed to levy sanctions against what it said was a substantial number of people responsible for rigging the vote and cracking down on protests. The Belarusian authorities have opened a criminal investigation into the opposition's Coordination Council, whose members are seeking new elections and a peaceful transition of power. Lukashenko has rejected the idea of holding another ballot, dismissed calls to resign and accused the opposition of attempting to seize power. On Friday he vowed to "solve the problem" of the protest movement. Tikhanovskaya said this week that Belarusians would "never accept the current leadership again" after the crackdown on post-election protests.

Lukashenko warns of NATO troops near borders as Belarus opposition calls for Minsk rally

NATO dismissed on Sunday allegations by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko that it was conducting a military buildup near the country’s western border

NATO denies Belarus claim of military buildup

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has sealed a defence cooperation deal with Polish officials that will pave the way for the redeployment of American troops from Germany to Poland.

Pompeo and Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak signed an Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement in Warsaw that sets out the legal framework for the additional troop presence.

The pact supplements an existing NATO Status of Forces Agreement and allows for the enhancement and modernisation of existing capabilities and facilities by granting US forces to access additional Polish military installations. It also sets out a formula for sharing the logistical and infrastructure costs of an expanded US presence in the country.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-to-send-troops-from-germany-to-poland-to-send-signal-to-russia-308394">Trump to send troops from Germany to Poland to send signal to Russia</a>

Some 4,500 US troops are currently based in Poland, but about 1,000 more are to be added, under a bilateral decision announced last year.

Last month, in line with President Donald Trump's demand to reduce troop numbers in Germany, the Pentagon announced that some 12,000 troops would be withdrawn from Germany with about 5,600 moving to other countries in Europe, including Poland.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-orders-9500-us-troops-to-depart-from-germany-303873">Donald Trump orders 9,500 US troops to depart from Germany</a>

In addition, several US military commands will be moved out of Germany, including the US Army V Corps overseas headquarters that will relocate to Poland next year.

Trump has long and loudly complained that Germany does not spend enough on defense and has repeatedly accused Germany of failing to pay NATO bills, which is a misstatement of the issue. NATO nations have pledged to dedicate 2 per cent&nbsp;of their gross domestic product.

In addition, several US military commands will be moved out of Germany, including the US Army V Corps overseas headquarters that will relocate to Poland next year.

Saturday's signing came just a day after the Trump administration suffered an embarrassing diplomatic loss at the United Nations when its proposal to indefinitely extend an arms embargo on Iran was soundly defeated in a UN Security Council vote that saw only one country side with the US Pompeo will visit that country, the Dominican Republic, on Sunday for the inauguration of its new president.

Pompeo has used his Europe trip to warn the region's young democracies about threats posed by Russia and China and has received a warm welcome.

In Poland, the reception was particularly kind given the friendship between Trump and conservative Polish President Andrzej Duda, who was sworn in for a second five-year term earlier this month after a hotly contested election.

Many of Duda's Law and Justice party's policies have put Poland at odds with the European Union, which is concerned that government efforts to reshape the judiciary and other actions have eroded the rule of law and democracy in the EU member country.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has sealed a defence cooperation deal with Polish officials that will pave the way for the redeployment of American troops from Germany to Poland.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has sealed a defence cooperation deal with Polish officials that will pave the way for the redeployment of American troops from Germany to Poland. Pompeo and Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak signed an Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement in Warsaw that sets out the legal framework for the additional troop presence. The pact supplements an existing NATO Status of Forces Agreement and allows for the enhancement and modernisation of existing capabilities and facilities by granting US forces to access additional Polish military installations. It also sets out a formula for sharing the logistical and infrastructure costs of an expanded US presence in the country. Also read: Trump to send troops from Germany to Poland to send signal to Russia Some 4,500 US troops are currently based in Poland, but about 1,000 more are to be added, under a bilateral decision announced last year. Last month, in line with President Donald Trump's demand to reduce troop numbers in Germany, the Pentagon announced that some 12,000 troops would be withdrawn from Germany with about 5,600 moving to other countries in Europe, including Poland. Also read: Donald Trump orders 9,500 US troops to depart from Germany In addition, several US military commands will be moved out of Germany, including the US Army V Corps overseas headquarters that will relocate to Poland next year. Trump has long and loudly complained that Germany does not spend enough on defense and has repeatedly accused Germany of failing to pay NATO bills, which is a misstatement of the issue. NATO nations have pledged to dedicate 2 per cent of their gross domestic product. In addition, several US military commands will be moved out of Germany, including the US Army V Corps overseas headquarters that will relocate to Poland next year. Saturday's signing came just a day after the Trump administration suffered an embarrassing diplomatic loss at the United Nations when its proposal to indefinitely extend an arms embargo on Iran was soundly defeated in a UN Security Council vote that saw only one country side with the US Pompeo will visit that country, the Dominican Republic, on Sunday for the inauguration of its new president. Pompeo has used his Europe trip to warn the region's young democracies about threats posed by Russia and China and has received a warm welcome. In Poland, the reception was particularly kind given the friendship between Trump and conservative Polish President Andrzej Duda, who was sworn in for a second five-year term earlier this month after a hotly contested election. Many of Duda's Law and Justice party's policies have put Poland at odds with the European Union, which is concerned that government efforts to reshape the judiciary and other actions have eroded the rule of law and democracy in the EU member country.

Pompeo signs deal for US troops move from Germany to Poland

The training will allow the U.S. forces to integrate with their Polish-NATO Allies.

WION Fineprint: 'Defender Europe-20' kicks off in Poland | US-Polish troops | World

Russia-backed hackers have been&nbsp;engaged in a sustained campaign to compromise news websites to plant false stories aimed at discrediting Nato, according to a latest report.

The campaign is divided into several segments and a particular called ''Ghostwriter'' have was responsible for hacking news portals, gaining access for publishing and&nbsp;deleting stories. Hackers replaced&nbsp;the deleted stories&nbsp;with false news that sought to delegitimise the transatlantic alliance.

In September last year, a news site was compromised&nbsp;and a few false articles was inserted into its archive. Included one wrongly claiming that German soldiers serving with Nato had desecrated a Jewish cemetery.

Similarly in Poland, in May,&nbsp;a series of Polish sites were targeted and fake stories and quotes were published. They claimed the commander of the US army in Europe&nbsp;he&nbsp;ridiculed the capability of the Polish military.

According to&nbsp;research put together by an organisation called&nbsp;Mandiant, a specialist cybersecurity firm,&nbsp;14 isolated incidents of similar kind were reported. They have argued that they are part of a broader anti-Nato campaign that has been since running since at least March 2017.

“The method of hacking media sites to push fabricated narratives is a powerful one,” said&nbsp;John Hultquist, senior director of intelligence analysis at Mandiant.

It is being used&nbsp;“as a means to alter perception there” he added.

NATO has previously accused Russia Today and Sputnik of a&nbsp;“a number of specific disinformation attacks”.

The European Union on Thursday imposed travel and financial sanctions on a department of&nbsp;Russia's military intelligence service.&nbsp;In its first ever sanctions related to cybercrime, the EU targeted the department for special technologies of the&nbsp;Russian military intelligence service, known as Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the&nbsp;Russian Federation, it said in a statement.

Russia

Russia-backed hackers have been engaged in a sustained campaign to compromise news websites to plant false stories aimed at discrediting Nato, according to a latest report.

Russia-backed hackers have been engaged in a sustained campaign to compromise news websites to plant false stories aimed at discrediting Nato, according to a latest report. The campaign is divided into several segments and a particular called ''Ghostwriter'' have was responsible for hacking news portals, gaining access for publishing and deleting stories. Hackers replaced the deleted stories with false news that sought to delegitimise the transatlantic alliance. In September last year, a news site was compromised and a few false articles was inserted into its archive. Included one wrongly claiming that German soldiers serving with Nato had desecrated a Jewish cemetery. Similarly in Poland, in May, a series of Polish sites were targeted and fake stories and quotes were published. They claimed the commander of the US army in Europe he ridiculed the capability of the Polish military. According to research put together by an organisation called Mandiant, a specialist cybersecurity firm, 14 isolated incidents of similar kind were reported. They have argued that they are part of a broader anti-Nato campaign that has been since running since at least March 2017. “The method of hacking media sites to push fabricated narratives is a powerful one,” said John Hultquist, senior director of intelligence analysis at Mandiant. It is being used “as a means to alter perception there” he added. NATO has previously accused Russia Today and Sputnik of a “a number of specific disinformation attacks”. The European Union on Thursday imposed travel and financial sanctions on a department of Russia's military intelligence service. In its first ever sanctions related to cybercrime, the EU targeted the department for special technologies of the Russian military intelligence service, known as Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, it said in a statement. Russia

Russia-backed hackers running anti-NATO fake news campaign: Report

The U.S. military on Wednesday unveiled plans to withdraw about 12,000 troops from Germany. Trump announced his intention last month to cut by about a third the 36,000-strong U.S. troop contingent in Germany

U.S to withdraw about 12,000 troops from Germany; Trump says 'The move is strategic'

US Troops withdrawal from Germany | Trump's move hints at growing cracks in NATO

The White House national security advisor has said the US is "very sympathetic" toward France in its dispute with Turkey over a naval standoff in the Mediterranean Sea.

The row has also, in a way, exposed NATO's struggle to keep order among its ranks, demeaning US leadership under President Donald Trump.

"NATO allies shouldn't be turning fire control radars on each other. That's not good," national security adviser Robert O'Brien told reporters in Paris on Wednesday.

"We are very sympathetic to the French concerns," O'Brien said, while acknowledging differing accounts of what happened. "We're taking it very seriously."

He added Trump was available to help defuse tensions, thanks to his personal relationships with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and French President Emmanuel Macron.

According to French accounts of the June 10 incident, the frigate Courbet was illuminated by the targetting radar of a Turkish warship that was escorting a cargo ship.

France said it was acting on intelligence from NATO that the civilian ship could be involved in trafficking arms to Libya. The Courbet was part of the alliance's operation Sea Guardian, which helps provide maritime security in the Mediterranean.

Turkey's foreign minister accused France of lying, and Turkey's ambassador to France said the French navy was harassing the Turkish convoy.

Macron has also accused Turkey of flouting its commitments by ramping up its military presence in Libya and bringing in jihadi fighters from Syria.

The White House national security advisor has said the US is "very sympathetic" toward France in its dispute with Turkey over a naval standoff in the Mediterranean Sea.

The White House national security advisor has said the US is "very sympathetic" toward France in its dispute with Turkey over a naval standoff in the Mediterranean Sea. The row has also, in a way, exposed NATO's struggle to keep order among its ranks, demeaning US leadership under President Donald Trump. "NATO allies shouldn't be turning fire control radars on each other. That's not good," national security adviser Robert O'Brien told reporters in Paris on Wednesday. "We are very sympathetic to the French concerns," O'Brien said, while acknowledging differing accounts of what happened. "We're taking it very seriously." He added Trump was available to help defuse tensions, thanks to his personal relationships with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and French President Emmanuel Macron. According to French accounts of the June 10 incident, the frigate Courbet was illuminated by the targetting radar of a Turkish warship that was escorting a cargo ship. France said it was acting on intelligence from NATO that the civilian ship could be involved in trafficking arms to Libya. The Courbet was part of the alliance's operation Sea Guardian, which helps provide maritime security in the Mediterranean. Turkey's foreign minister accused France of lying, and Turkey's ambassador to France said the French navy was harassing the Turkish convoy. Macron has also accused Turkey of flouting its commitments by ramping up its military presence in Libya and bringing in jihadi fighters from Syria.

US backs France in stand-off with Turkey over warships

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