NATO Defence Ministers Agree on NATO support to assist with the Refugee and Migrant Crisis

NATO Defence Ministers agreed on the 11 February 2016 that NATO would provide support to assist with the refugee and migrant crisis. 'The goal is to participate in the international efforts to stem the illegal trafficking and illegal migration in the Aegean', Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.

NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 was currently deployed in the region and would be tasked to conduct reconnaissance, monitoring and surveillance of illegal crossings in the Aegean. It would also establish a direct link with the European Union’s border management agency, Frontex.

The development came following calls by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Turkish Prime Minister Ahmed Davutoğlu, plus Greece, in the preceding days for Nato patrols in the Aegean to combat the smuggling of refugees between Turkey and Greece.

Politico, 11.02.16: NATO sails to Aegean to patrol Turkey-Greece border http://www.politico.eu/article/nato-sails-to-aegean-to-patrol-turkey-greece-border-jens/

NATO: Events: Meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence, Brussels, 10-11 February 2016 http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/events_127660.htm

Euro|Topics: Debates, February 2016: Nato operations against people smugglers in the Mediterranean? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/153591/nato-operations-against-people-smugglers-in-the-mediterranean

ESO: Background information: EU pleads with Turkey to accept refugees fleeing Aleppo offensive http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-pleads-with-turkey-to-accept-refugees-fleeing-aleppo-offensive/

ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/

BBC News, 11.02.16: Migrant crisis: Nato deploys Aegean people-smuggling patrols http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35549478

Kathimerini, 11.02.16: NATO warships ordered to Aegean to help with migrant crisis http://www.ekathimerini.com/205886/article/ekathimerini/news/nato-warships-ordered-to-aegean-to-help-with-migrant-crisis

EUObserver, 11.02.16: Nato to 'stem flow' of refugees in Aegean https://euobserver.com/justice/132231

The Conversation, 16.02.16: Who are NATO’s ships in the Aegean really keeping an eye on? https://theconversation.com/who-are-natos-ships-in-the-aegean-really-keeping-an-eye-on-54665

EUObserver, 18.02.16: [Opinion] Nato enters the migration control business https://euobserver.com/opinion/132309

EurActiv, 18.02.16: Greek minister: NATO will deal a blow to refugee traffickers http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/greek-minister-nato-will-deal-a-blow-to-refugee-traffickers/

EUObserver, 23.02.16: Nato to take migrants back to Turkey, if rescued https://euobserver.com/foreign/132418

EurActiv, 24.02.16: NATO mission criticised for sending refugees back to Turkey http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/nato-mission-criticised-for-sending-refugees-back-to-turkey/

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