NATO’s new supreme commander to visit Turkish General Staff

As the new Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), Scaparrotti will visit the Turkish General Staff headquarters in Ankara on May 25, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported on May 24, citing a statement released by the Turkish Armed Forces. The statement noted that the visit would only be open to Anadolu Agency and state broadcaster TRT.

Upon taking over his new post at a May 4 ceremony at NATO’s military headquarters near Mons, in southern Belgium, Scaparrotti said NATO needs to stay agile and ready to “fight tonight” in the face of a “resurgent Russia” and other emerging challenges.

“We face a resurgent Russia and its aggressive behavior that challenges international norms,” he said, adding that the Atlantic alliance’s forces must be “ready to fight should deterrence fail.”

Scaparrotti’s appointment comes at a time when NATO regards Moscow as a threat to stability following its actions in Ukraine and has largely given up on military or civilian cooperation with Russia.

A former top-ranking U.S. military officer in Korea, Scaparrotti has been hailed by U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter as a proven warrior-diplomat and “a soldiers’ general.”