Hagel in Brussels for NATO Defense Meetings

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel arrived in Brussels on Monday to meet with NATO defense ministers as part of the alliance’s two-day defense ministerial. The meetings, which kick off on Oct. 22 , will focus on improving alliance capabilities, progress in Afghanistan, and NATO-Russia cooperation, according to an alliance release. The defense ministers also will discuss cyber defense, ballistic missile defense, and NATO training and education following the 2014 end of combat operations in Afghanistan, states the release. On Monday, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen issued a statement announcing that NATO allies have agreed to “respond positively” to a request from the Libyan government “to provide advice on defense institution building in Libya, as part of the overall efforts of the international community.” He said the alliance would establish a small advisory team for the effort. “We stand ready to consider providing assistance to Libya in areas where the alliance can add value,” said Rasmussen. (Includes AFPS report by Karen Parrish.) (For more on the alliance, read NATO, v. 4.0 from October’s issue of Air Force Magazine.)