NATO may join anti-IS coalition – US Defense Secretary
February 12, 2016
US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said that NATO is considering joining the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq, AFP reported on Thursday. The news came after an alliance meeting in Brussels. “Thanks to the leadership of NATO, we are exploring the possibility of NATO joining the coalition as a member itself” he said. The alliance can bring “significant development” and “unique capabilities” which include “building partner capacity, training ground forces and providing stabilization support” he added. On Thursday, NATO members agreed to send its AWACS surveillance aircraft to gather intelligence on IS over Iraq and Syria, replacing US jets. According to Carter, this will “increase the ability of the coalition to degrade and destroy the terrorist group.”