The Defense Department has issued a new directive that aims to help foreign allies develop their capacity and capabilities as part of DoD’s international security cooperation strategy, the Federation of American Scientists reported Thursday.

Steven Aftergood writes the directive outlines responsibilities of DoD components to execute the Defense Institution Building initiative in U.S. partner nations.

The DIB program will work to “increase a partner nation’s ability to organize, administer, and oversee its defense institutions to meet its security needs and contribute to regional and international security more effectively,” according to the directive.

It also calls for the “establishment of defense institutions that are effective, accountable, transparent, and responsive to national political systems, especially regarding good governance, oversight of security forces, respect for human rights, and the rule of law.”

The order establishes a DIB Coordination Board that will explore strategies to address challenges related to department’s DIB activities.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said NATO member countries ceased to implement cuts to their defense budgets in 2015 amid emerging challenges and threats, DoD News reported Thursday.

Jim Garamone writes Stoltenberg told the press in Brussels during the presentation of his annual NATO report that five allies have spent at least 2 percent of their gross domestic product on defense programs and equipment.

“We implemented the greatest strengthening of our collective defense since the end of the Cold War,” Stoltenberg said, according to the report.

He also outlined the efforts NATO has launched to fight hybrid warfare and address security challenges in the eastern and southern parts of the alliance.

These include updates to cyber defenses, the spearhead force’s initial deployment exercise under NATO’s response force and the presence of aerial warning and control system aircraft in Turkey.

Stoltenberg also mentioned the initial test flight of one of NATO’s Northrop Grumman-built Global Hawk unmanned aerial systems that will work to support the alliance’s intelligence missions.

The secretary general told the press that NATO plans to bolster the number of allied military exercises in 2016 as well as start construction work on a new facility for the Aegis Ashore ballistic missile defense system in Poland by spring of this year.

The Defense Department will collaborate with researchers from the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct studies on the Zika virus, DoD News reported Wednesday.

Cheryl Pellerin writes DoD personnel with previous experience working with the mosquito-borne disease will help HHS professionals convene experts and stakeholders for the research effort.

“This is an area where the DoD has done some research in the past,” Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook told reporters.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently issued a travel advisory for Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela and Puerto Rico, where Zika transmission currently occurs, according to the report.

Cook also told reporters President Barack Obama met with Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work and health and national security experts to discuss steps intended to address the spread of the virus, Pellerin reports.

The virus spreads through mosquito bites and symptoms include fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis, according to CDC.