Australia Plans Partnering With NATO to Increase Role in Global Crises
16:02 02/09/2014
MOSCOW, September 2 (RIA Novosti) - Australia is planning on strengthening its ties with NATO in hopes of attaining a greater role in global crises, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Tuesday.
"Tomorrow the defense minister and I will travel to Wales to attend the NATO summit and I can confirm that Australia will be accepting a formal invitation to become what is called an enhanced partner," Bishop was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Australia is not a NATO member, but has fought alongside the coalition in Iraq and Afghanistan, motivating the move toward a more powerful role in ongoing global conflicts such as between Iraq and Syria and in Ukraine.
Becoming a member of the Enhanced Partnership Program will allow Australia earlier access to plans regarding military operations as well as a voice in NATO’s decision-making mechanisms, Bishop said, Reuters reported.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is scheduled to host Russian President Vladimir Putin and other world leaders at a G20 summit in November.
Australia has sent military equipment and aid to Kurdish forces in northern Iraq fighting the Islamic State (IS) and is considering following the United States’ lead in an airstrike operation.
Australia has also made its opinion known over the situation in Ukraine by releasing new sanctions against Russia on Monday.
The NATO summit will take place on Thursday and Friday in Wales, where US President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and French President Francois Hollande are expected to attend alongside other world leaders and senior ministers.
|
This one caught my attention.
Guess NATO really is colonising the world.
Someone's Twitter comment: when's Australia going to be towed to the Atlantic.
Or something like that. Thought that was rather funny.
Got to sign off.
