Latest news with #AllisonHart
Russia Today
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
NATO rocked by corruption scandal
Police have conducted arrests and searches in several countries as part of a corruption investigation into current and former employees of the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA). The raids, coordinated by Eurojust – the EU's criminal justice agency – took place in Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, and the US. The alliance told Luxembourg Times on Wednesday that NSPA's main headquarters in the Grand Duchy had initiated the probe. 'NATO – including the NSPA – is working closely with law enforcement to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice,' spokeswoman Allison Hart said. 'We are actively strengthening our ability to mitigate risks and root out misconduct,' she added. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told reporters in Ankara on Thursday that the military bloc was working with the authorities. 'We want to get to the root of this,' Rutte said. The public prosecutor's office in Luxembourg said that documents had been seized pertaining to suspicions that NSPA staffers had 'used their positions to enrich themselves.' Two people were arrested in Belgium and three in the Netherlands, officials said. Belgian prosecutors stated that the investigation centers around 'possible irregularities in awarding contracts to defense contractors for the purchase of military equipment for NATO such as ammunition and drones.' The probe is also investigating the possible sharing of confidential information by NSPA employees with defense companies and money laundering. Authorities in the Netherlands have said they arrested a former official with the Dutch Defense Ministry at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol on Monday. The former civil servant is suspected of taking bribes in 2023 related to the awarding of defense contracts. The investigation takes place as NATO members are looking for ways to boost their own defense and produce more weapons to be delivered to Ukraine. In March, the European Commission unveiled a plan to raise €800 billion ($896 billion) to 'rearm' the EU.
Russia Today
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
NATO hit by corruption scandal
Police have conducted arrests and searches in several countries as part of a corruption investigation involving current and former employees of the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA). The raids, coordinated by Eurojust – the EU's criminal justice agency – took place in Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, and the US. The alliance told Luxembourg Times on Wednesday that NSPA's main headquarters in the Grand Duchy had initiated the probe. 'NATO – including the NSPA – is working closely with law enforcement to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice,' spokeswoman Allison Hart said. 'We are actively strengthening our ability to mitigate risks and root out misconduct,' she added. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told reporters in Ankara on Thursday that the military bloc was working with the authorities. 'We want to get to the root of this,' Rutte said. The public prosecutor's office in Luxembourg said that documents were seized pertaining to suspicions that NSPA staffers had 'used their positions to enrich themselves.' Two people were arrested in Belgium, and three in the Netherlands, officials said. Belgian prosecutors stated that the investigation centers around 'possible irregularities in awarding contracts to defence contractors for the purchase of military equipment for NATO such as ammunition and drones.' The probe also looks at possible sharing of confidential information by NSPA employees with defense companies and money laundering. The Dutch authorities said they arrested a former official with the Dutch Defense Ministry at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol on Monday. The former civil servant is suspected of taking bribes in 2023 regarding the awarding of defense contracts. The investigation takes place as NATO members are looking for ways to boost their own defense and produce more weapons to be delivered to Ukraine. In March, the European Commission unveiled a plan to raise €800 billion ($896 billion) to 'rearm' the EU.
Business Recorder
15-05-2025
- Business Recorder
Several suspects held over NATO arms contract graft
BRUSSELS: NATO said Wednesday that several suspects had been detained over alleged corruption in procurement contracts, as authorities in Belgium and in Luxembourg announced an inquiry. 'Law enforcement authorities in a number of countries have arrested a number of individuals accused of corrupt activities related to NATO contracts,' NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart said. 'NATO — including the NSPA (NATO Support and Procurement Agency) — is working closely with law enforcement to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.' Prosecutors in Belgium said one person had been formally arrested in the country after anti-corruption officers carried out searches. "The investigation concerns possible irregularities in awarding contracts to defence contractors for the purchase of military equipment for NATO such as ammunition and drones," the Belgian prosecutors said. "It would be more specifically about the possible passing on of confidential information by employees of NATO Support & Procurement Agency based in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, to defence contractors eligible to win these contracts." The Belgian authorities said several former employees of NATO's procurement agency "are said to be involved". Prosecutors in Luxembourg meanwhile said police in the country had carried out "various searches" and seized documents related to the case. "Belgian, Dutch, Italian, Spanish and American authorities conducted simultaneous operations, leading to the arrest of suspects," the Luxembourg authorities said.
Straits Times
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Several suspects arrested over Nato arms contract graft
National flags representing the members of the Nato defence alliance flying at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels. PHOTO: REUTERS BRUSSELS - Nato said on May 14 that several suspects had been detained over alledged corruption in procurement contracts, as authorities in Belgium and in Luxembourg announced an inquiry. 'Law enforcement authorities in a number of countries have arrested a number of individuals accused of corrupt activities related to Nato contracts,' Nato spokeswoman Allison Hart said. 'Nato – including the NSPA (Nato Support and Procurement Agency) – is working closely with law enforcement to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.' Prosecutors in Belgium said one person had been formally arrested in the country after anti-corruption officers carried out searches. 'The investigation concerns possible irregularities in awarding contracts to defence contractors for the purchase of military equipment for Nato such as ammunition and drones,' the Belgian prosecutors said. 'It would be more specifically about the possible passing on of confidential information by employees of the Nato Support and Procurement Agency based in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, to defence contractors eligible to win these contracts.' The Belgian authorities said several former employees of Nato's procurement agency 'are said to be involved'. Prosecutors in Luxembourg meanwhile said police in the country had carried out 'various searches' and seized documents related to the case. 'Belgian, Dutch, Italian, Spanish and American authorities conducted simultaneous operations, leading to the arrest of suspects,' the Luxembourg authorities said. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
USA Today
27-03-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
4 US soldiers still missing in Lithuania, NATO walks back statement on deaths
4 US soldiers still missing in Lithuania, NATO walks back statement on deaths A search for four American soldiers that disappeared during a training exercise in Lithuania is underway Wednesday. The United States Army said in a statement that the soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division were conducting tactical training in an area near Belarus when they went missing. NATO had to walk back a false confirmation of the solders' death after Secretary General Mark Rutte spoke in Poland. "He was referring to emerging news reports & was not confirming the fate of the missing, which is still unknown," acting NATO spokesperson Allison Hart posted on X following the Secretary General's remarks. The Lithuanian Army wrote on X that it had, "no evidence or information confirming the death of the troops" and that a rescue operation was still ongoing. The Army said that the M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle the soldiers had been operating was found submerged in a body of water on the training ground in a joint search with Lithuanian military and civilian agencies Wednesday. "The equipment and machinery that would be needed are now concentrated (here), the terrain is swampy, which will require heavier equipment and some extra supplies," Lithuanian Chief of Defense Raimundas Vaikšnoras told the country's public broadcaster LRT. The U.S. Army said in an email to USA TODAY that the search continues. This is a developing story.
