NATO defense ministers will meet in Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday to discuss the new NATO post 2014 mission to train and assist the Afghan forces as well as the political crisis in Ukraine, according to a NATO press release.
U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday ordered the Pentagon -- the U.S. Department of Defense -- to begin preparations for a total withdrawal of all U.S. forces at the end of this year because Washington and Afghan leaders are unlikely to sign a bilateral security agreement (BSA).
Meanwhile, NATO officials stressed that the Afghan government must sign the security deal before NATO can sign its own agreement on the status of its forces.
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen will make a statement that will focus on defense capabilities, at the two-day meeting.
They will also focus on building defense capabilities, cyber defense and maritime security, along with NATO’s Connected Forces Initiative, which involves improving operational collaboration with other military forces.
On the last day of the meeting, the defense ministers will meet with the International Security Assistance Force contributing partners and Afghanistan’s defense minister.
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