NATO, EU launch infrastructure protection task force

STORY: The joint announcement by the military alliance and the 27-member bloc came after an investigation into leaks to the two Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Danish part of the Baltic Sea showed the damages were caused by "powerful explosions".

Speaking ahead of a working meeting between the two organizations, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the new task force would seek to " identify key threats to our critical infrastructure".

The head of the EU executive added the meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg would also focus on improving the interoperability of the armed forces of the two organizations.