Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
NATO agrees bigger Mediterranean mission to stop smugglers
Source: Reuters
World | Thu May 19, 2016 3:10pm EDT
NATO agrees bigger Mediterranean mission to stop smugglers
BRUSSELS | BY ROBIN EMMOTT AND LESLEY WROUGHTON
NATO agreed on Thursday to broaden its operations in the Mediterranean to help the European Union stop criminals trafficking refugees from North Africa but will not act until the fate of rescued migrants is cleared up.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said a meeting of NATO foreign ministers supported the wider role as Europe struggles with failing states on its fringes and said NATO should link up with the EU's "Sophia" naval mission in the area.
This could be a step toward NATO helping stabilize Libya by patrolling coastal waters to uphold a U.N. arms embargo and counter the growing presence of Islamic State, a step that would likely need U.N. Security Council support, diplomats said.
"NATO can play a maritime role in terms of assisting operation Sophia in order to prevent illegal migration, illegal human trafficking from taking place," Kerry told reporters.
"There was a unanimous sense in the discussions we had today that NATO could help," he said, stressing NATO would have no combat role in the region.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
NATO agrees bigger Mediterranean mission to stop smugglers
BRUSSELS | BY ROBIN EMMOTT AND LESLEY WROUGHTON
NATO agreed on Thursday to broaden its operations in the Mediterranean to help the European Union stop criminals trafficking refugees from North Africa but will not act until the fate of rescued migrants is cleared up.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said a meeting of NATO foreign ministers supported the wider role as Europe struggles with failing states on its fringes and said NATO should link up with the EU's "Sophia" naval mission in the area.
This could be a step toward NATO helping stabilize Libya by patrolling coastal waters to uphold a U.N. arms embargo and counter the growing presence of Islamic State, a step that would likely need U.N. Security Council support, diplomats said.
"NATO can play a maritime role in terms of assisting operation Sophia in order to prevent illegal migration, illegal human trafficking from taking place," Kerry told reporters.
"There was a unanimous sense in the discussions we had today that NATO could help," he said, stressing NATO would have no combat role in the region.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-nato-foreign-libya-idUSKCN0YA1RO
