AP Interview: NATO military chief says national forces key

Published June 23, 2016

Chairman of the NATO Military Committee Czech General Petr Pavel is talking during an interview with The Associated Press at the Joint Force Training Center in Bydgoszcz, Poland, Thursday, June 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) (The Associated Press)

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NATO's top military officer says the alliance's upcoming summit should send a message to member states that the prime responsibility of defending their countries lies with their national troops.

Gen. Petr Pavel, chairman of NATO's Military Committee, said Thursday that the alliance has the "strength and the determination to cope with the challenges presented by Russia," but the first to respond to a crisis will always be the forces of the nation affected.

Pavel told The Associated Press that NATO's ability to act swiftly and defend its members shouldn't be underestimated, but also admitted that Russia has the advantage of quick, centralized decision-making.

He spoke after an exercise that tested the alliance's ability to cooperate in IT, and ahead of a NATO summit to be held in Poland July 8-9.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/ap-interview-nato-military-chief-says-national-forces-key