On the NATOVET Radar Weekly (23-30 September 2022)
Focus Point: Migration and Asylum- Violations at All Borders
Two years after the EU Pact on Migration, migrants’ and refugees’ rights are still violated
23.09.2022 In the Mediterranean, a record number of pushbacks by proxy were registered between Italy and Libya with 32,425 people returned to Libya in 2021 alone. Evidence of atrocious pushbacks at the Greek-Turkish borders have been adding up and came under scrutiny of the European Parliament. At the Spanish border, an unprecedented number of 4,404 deaths were registered in 2021 and recently 64 people went missing at the Nador-Melilla border. euromedrights.org
NATO: Open Door Policy- A Must Read
Finland Gets Russia: So Listen
23.09.2022 While in some respects it makes sense to view Sweden and Finland’s application to join NATO as a package deal, there are significant differences between the two in terms of their history, their strategic cultures, and how they see themselves in relation to Russia.
Sweden’s experience with Russia is steeped in its own imperial history, including competition with Russia to dominate the region; meanwhile, Finland’s experience is one of struggling against Russia for its very existence as a state, its sovereignty, and continued independence. In this respect, Finland has more in common with the three Baltic States, Poland, and other Eastern Flank countries. Unlike Sweden, all have experienced Soviet Russia’s brutality in the 20th century and paid a lasting price for it.
The Finns know all too well what a revanchist Russia is capable of, and what it costs to resist the Kremlin’s depredations. In that sense, it is not just their military capabilities that will strengthen NATO. It is first and foremost their determination to stand up and fight, should it come to that. Once in NATO, Finland’s voice will amplify other Eastern Flank countries, from the Baltic States to Poland and Romania. cepa.org
Russia-Ukraine War: The So-called “Referenda” in Parts of Ukraine
Statement by the North Atlantic Council on the so-called “referenda” in parts of Ukraine
22.09.2022 NATO is a defensive Alliance and will continue to strive for peace, security, and stability in the whole of the Euro-Atlantic area. We stand united to defend and protect every inch of Allied territory. nato.int
Russia-Ukraine War: Russia’s Illegal Annexation of Ukrainian Regions
Putin illegally claims annexation of Ukrainian regions, escalating war
30.09.2022 Amid patriotic pageantry hyped up by the fervor of war, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday proclaimed the annexation of four Ukrainian regions, a flagrant violation of international law that stands to escalate and prolong the military conflict in Ukraine, sharpen Moscow’s confrontation with the West and add to the Kremlin’s growing global isolation.
At a ceremony in the gilded Grand Kremlin Palace, attended by senior political and military officials, members of parliament and even Russian war bloggers, Putin on Friday signed so-called accession treaties to absorb the Ukrainian regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. washingtonpost
Russia-Ukraine War: China Effect
Has China's time really come?
29.09.2022 ... and most importantly, after the publication of NATO's new Strategic Concept, which targets China, "China" believes that its time has come and no longer wants to leave its fate to the others’ will. Whether the Chinese are rushing or being rushed, it seems China is starting to dare to take responsibility for the confrontation with the “Democracies” corner. Taiwan is now really under the spotlight. NATOVET INITIATIVE
Russia-Ukraine War: Ukraine’s NATO Memberships
Ukraine applies for Nato membership after Russia annexes territory
30.09.2022 In a speech filmed outside his presidential office in Kyiv, Zelenskiy said he was taking this “decisive step” in order to protect “the entire community” of Ukrainians. He promised the application would happen in an “expedited manner”.
“De facto, we have already made our way to Nato. De facto, we have already proven compatibility with alliance standards. They are real for Ukraine – real on the battlefield and in all aspects of our interaction,” he said. “We trust each other, we help each other, and we protect each other. This is the alliance. De facto. Today, Ukraine is applying to make it de jure.” theguardian
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Russia-Ukraine War: Russia’s ‘Partial Mobilization’
Address by the President of the Russian Federation
21.09.2022 Washington, London and Brussels are openly encouraging Kiev to move the hostilities to our territory. They openly say that Russia must be defeated on the battlefield by any means, and subsequently deprived of political, economic, cultural and any other sovereignty and ransacked.
They have even resorted to the nuclear blackmail. I am referring not only to the Western-encouraged shelling of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, which poses a threat of a nuclear disaster, but also to the statements made by some high-ranking representatives of the leading NATO countries on the possibility and admissibility of using weapons of mass destruction – nuclear weapons – against Russia.
I would like to remind those who make such statements regarding Russia that our country has different types of weapons as well, and some of them are more modern than the weapons NATO countries have. In the event of a threat to the territorial integrity of our country and to defend Russia and our people, we will certainly make use of all weapon systems available to us. This is not a bluff. kremlin.ru
Focus Point: Quantum Technologies
Using quantum technologies to make communications secure
27.09.2022 ATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme research and development projects have been examining the security-related applications of quantum technologies, addressing their three main fields: computing, sensing and communications. Quantum computing and sensing are improving the abilities of computer and remote measurement technologies to levels that they are not traditionally able to achieve. In the field of quantum communications, SPS activities are showing the most promising results. These projects develop systems for the encryption and secure transmission of information using quantum key distribution (QKD) and post-quantum cryptography (PQC). Through these techniques, they respond to rising security concerns related to new technologies – such as quantum computers, which can decipher secret communications – by preventing unauthorised access.nato.int
NATO: Press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
30.09.2022 This land grab is illegal and illegitimate. NATO Allies do not, and will not, recognise any of this territory as part of Russia. We call on all states to reject Russia’s blatant attempts at territorial conquest.
If Russia stops fighting, there will be peace. If Ukraine stops fighting, it will cease to exist as an independent sovereign nation in Europe. NATO reaffirms our unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. We remain resolute in providing support to Ukraine as it continues to defend itself against Russia’s aggression. For as long as it takes.
Russia must understand that nuclear war can never be won and must never be fought. And it will have severe consequences for Russia if they use nuclear weapons.
So yes, we are faced with a dangerous war in Ukraine. But it's not as if that war will not be dangerous anymore if we allow Putin to win. In many ways, it will at least increase the long-term risks for all of us. And that's the reason why we pay the cost of supporting Ukraine, and knowing that the cost, the price we have to pay if we don't support them, most likely will be much higher.
Q/A Session: National News Agency Ukraine, Dmitry Shurkho:
... My question, is NATO ready to consider that kind of application (Ukrania's NATO membership?) And the second part of the question, is it possible to consider this speedy procedure for that kind of membership, like it was done for Sweden and Finland? Thank you so much.
NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg:
Every democracy in Europe has the right to apply for NATO membership, and NATO Allies respect that right…
Our focus now is on providing immediate support to Ukraine, to help Ukraine defend itself against the Russian brutal invasion. And then that's the main focus and the main effort of NATO Allies, as we speak.
Read more: nato.int
Thank you very much for your reading.