Gates Stops in Belgium En Route to NATO Summit
BRUSSELS, Belgium, March 31, 2008 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates stopped here briefly today for a fact-finding visit on his way to the NATO Summit in Bucharest, Romania.
Gates will spend only a few hours at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, receiving operational updates on NATO efforts in Afghanistan and Kosovo from Army Gen. Bantz J. Craddock, the alliance's top commander.
"The secretary's looking to get a feel for the situation on the ground ... and how it's looked at from the headquarters perspective," a senior defense official, speaking on background, told reporters traveling with Gates during the flight from Andrews Air Force Base, Md., to Brussels.
"He thought it would make sense to go to SHAPE before going to Bucharest to get a better sense how SHAPE plays in the whole decision-making process, ... and in particular, he wants to get some operational briefs on Afghanistan and on Kosovo," the official said.
This is Gates' 11th trip to Europe, but his first visit to SHAPE as defense secretary. Gates also will stop in Copenhagen, Denmark, for meetings with his Danish counterpart before going on to the summit.
Join Us and Debate Military, Defense Issues Now!
Latest Reports
- Historian Charts Six Decades of Racial Integration in U.S. Military
- President Truman Championed Military Integration
- Mercy Nears Halfway Point in Humanitarian South Pacific Deployment
- Coalition, Iraqi Forces Kill Six, Detain 17
- National Guard Unveils New Lakota Helicopters at Fort Indiantown Gap
- Future Military Docs Hone Field Medicine Skills
- Army Captain Receives Silver Star in Afghanistan
- Coalition Forces Kill Enemy Fighters, Detain Dozens in Iraq Operations
- Dozens of Militants Killed, Four Detained During Operations in Afghanistan
- Chairman Commends Marines for Impact, New Mission
- Australian Soldier Killed in Afghanistan
- Cluster Munitions Policy Released
- Coalition Forces Kill Two Militants, Detain 35 Suspects, Capture Weapons (Iraq)
- Command Flies Historic American Flag in Afghanistan
- Troops in Afghanistan Kill, Detain Militants, Seize Weapons