The US Secretary of Defence, Mr Donald Rumsfeld, warned yesterday that the September 11th attacks on the US could be a "dim preview of what is to come" unless NATO members acted to improve their military capability to deal with new threats.
He told fellow defence ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels: "As we look at the devastation unleashed in the US, contemplate the destruction they could wreak in New York, or London, or Paris or Berlin with nuclear, chemical or biological weapons."
The NATO ministers pledged that the alliance "must adapt its capabilities to these changes in the conditions of security and stability", according to an official communique.
They expressed concern about long-standing deficiencies in the ability to deploy and sustain troops abroad and in intelligence, surveillance and precision targeting.
NATO military authorities were asked to develop a "military concept for defence against terrorism". Mr Rumsfeld underlined the importance of NATO taking collective action in these areas, even though defence officials acknowledge that the alliance's direct role in the war has been limited.
"NATO in the post-cold war period is taking on increasing importance as member democracies face deadly new threats," he said.
Mr Rumsfeld said NATO needed to prepare to defend against "cyber-attacks, attacks on space assets and information networks, advanced conventional weapons . . . cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and nuclear, chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction."
Both he and Lord Robertson, NATO secretary-general, warned that dealing with new threats would require additional defence spending by alliance members. "You can't get defence on the cheap," Lord Robertson said.
Ministers were careful to present a united front of support for US actions, though the extension of the war to other countries was not specifically discussed. Lord Robertson said on the possible presence of the al-Qaeda network in other countries: "Members of the alliance would want to look at the evidence and then decide for themselves what needed to be done about it."
The planned UK-led peacekeeping force for Afghanistan took further shape in bilateral meetings at NATO, with military officers due to hold a second meeting in London today to finalise its size and composition.
Britain's Maj-Gen John McColl was returning from Kabul after negotiating a "military/technical agreement" with Afghan leaders that would define the mission's role.
Rachel Donnelly adds from London:
Up to 200 Royal Marine commandos could be on the streets of Kabul this weekend as part of an advance guard of the multi-national force deployed in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said last night.
Defence sources said that "in all likelihood" the British troops would be in place by Saturday when the new administration takes power in Afghanistan.
But as senior military officials from 16 potential contributing nations prepared to meet in London today to discuss technical arrangements for the multi-national force, Downing Street stressed that no final decisions had been taken on deploying troops, which requires the authorisation of a United Nations Security Council resolution.
The spokesman for the Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, commented that "planning is taking place but no decisions have been taken," but speculation in Whitehall suggested the Defence Secretary, Mr Geoff Hoon, may make a statement in the Commons later today outlining the composition of the force.