Global Research

U.S. Air Forces Europe
U.S. Air Force Africa
March 18, 2015

USAFE, Romanian Airmen kick off Dacian Warhawk
By Staff Sgt. Armando A. Schwier-Morales
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

CAMPIA TURZII, Romania: More than 100 personnel and six F-16 Fighting Falcons landed at Campia Turzii, Romania, to kick off a bilateral Romanian and U.S. Air Force training event March 10 to 27.

Exercise Dacian Warhawk featured U.S. and Romanian Airmen working side-by-side to establish a base and conduct both ground and air operations with NATO partners.

“It’s been a great experience to work alongside the 52nd Fighter Wing to strengthen our alliance with the Romanian air force,” said Col. Steven Edwards, 435th Contingency Response Group commander. “I’m extremely proud of all the 435th AGOW Airmen helping to make this exercise a success–from the 2nd Air Support Operations Squadron joint terminal attack controllers supporting operations on Cincu Range, to the 435th Construction and Training Squadron installing aircraft arresting systems here, to 1st Combat Communications Squadron supporting all players with a robust communications capability. Not to mention the air advisors from Detachment 1 working a multitude of events designed to build partnerships with our Romanian counterparts–everyone is stepping-up.”

The 435th Air Ground Operations Wing hosted a series of events designed to build partnerships by sharing knowledge, skills and best practices. Airmen from airfield operations, air traffic control, medical and logistics developed training plans to effectively share knowledge between the two nations…

UNIAN
March 19, 2015

Biden: US military to train Ukraine’s National Guard soldiers soon

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has discussed the situation in the Donbas with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, and informed him about the latest laws adopted by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to implement the Minsk agreements, the Ukrainian president’s press service reported on Wednesday.

Speaking by phone with Poroshenko, Biden said U.S. President Barack Obama had decided to send U.S. servicemen to conduct the training of 780 Ukrainian soldiers of the Ukrainian National Guard in the near future.

The Vice President also said that a first shipment of U.S. military vehicles, which Washington is sending to enhance the country’s defense, would arrive in Ukraine in late March.

Ukrainian President thanked the United States for its strong stance with regard to Crimea and consistent support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Interfax-Ukraine
March 19, 2015

British military begin training Ukrainian army – media

A group of 35 trainers of British military personnel have already begun training members of the Ukrainian army fighting pro-Russian rebels, the BBC learned.

The 35 trainers are working in the southern city of Mykolaiv and will spend about two months in the country.

According to BBC, Ukrainian forces will learn medicine aid algorithm and defensive tactics.

The decision to send British military men to Ukraine was announced by UK Prime Minister David Cameron last month.

Ministry of Defence of Georgia
March 19, 2015

Visit of NATO Survey Team

Georgia is hosting the NATO survey team. The scoping team arrived in Georgia to conduct initial assessment of Georgia’s capabilities and exiting infrastructure in order to identify the requirements and plan specific actions to successfully implement the Joint Training and Evaluation Center’s Project. The team is led by the representative of Norway, with officers from Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark and Germany, supported by the United States of America.

Establishment of the Joint Training and Assessment Center (JTEC) in Georgia is one of the most ambitious and key initiatives under the NATO-Georgia Substantial Package. One of the aims of the JTEC is to train and evaluate military representatives of the Georgian Armed Forces and NATO member and partner countries. The Centre will be designed to conduct a pre-deployment training and certification of units assigned to the NATO-led and other international operations. The Centre will have capabilities to host multinational, joint and combined exercises and training in support of the Connected Forces Initiative (CFI)

Deputy Minister of Defence of Georgia Levan Girsiashvili and Head of NATO Liaison Office William Lahue held a briefing for the representatives of media to inform them about establishment of the JTEC…

U.S. Department of Defense
March 18, 2015

Missile Agency Director: Budget Request Supports Development
By Claudette Roulo

WASHINGTON: The Missile Defense Agency’s fiscal year 2016 budget request continues the development of defenses for the nation, deployed forces and allies and international partners against increasingly capable ballistic missile threats, the agency’s director told Congress today.

Navy Vice Adm. James D. Syring told members of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s defense subcommittee that the $8.127 billion request will also continue his agency’s support of the needs of warfighters and combatant commanders.

The agency’s budget request maintains its commitment to operate and sustain national defenses, he said, including the planned deployment of ground-based interceptors: 40 to Fort Greely, Alaska, and four to Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, for a total of 44 by the end of 2017.

Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle

In June, the CE-II Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle successfully intercepted an intermediate-range ballistic missile target. The demonstration proved that earlier vibration problems affecting the system’s inertial measurement unit have been overcome, Syring said.

The EKV is the heart of the ground-based midcourse defense, or GMD, interceptor program, which uses land-based missiles to intercept ballistic missiles before they reenter the atmosphere. Tracking begins in the boost phase, and uses data from numerous long-range sensors — including satellites, early-warning radars and the sea-based X-band radar…

North Atlantic Treaty Organization
March 18, 2015

Statement by the NATO Secretary General on the so-called treaty between the Russian Federation and the South Ossetia region of Georgia

NATO does not recognize the so-called treaty on alliance and integration signed between the South Ossetia region of Georgia and Russia on 18 March.

This so-called treaty is yet another move by the Russian Federation that hampers ongoing efforts by the international community to strengthen security and stability in the region.

It violates Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and blatantly contradicts the principles of international law, OSCE principles and Russia’s international commitments….

North Atlantic Treaty Organization
March 16, 2015

NATO and Moldova discuss ways to strengthen partnership

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Moldovan Prime Minister Chiril Gaburici to NATO on Monday (16 March 2015) for talks on strengthening the partnership between the Alliance and Chișinău. Calling Moldova “a valued NATO partner”, the Secretary General underlined that “all NATO Allies support Moldova’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, and respect its constitutional neutrality.”

During their meeting, the Prime Minister and the Secretary General took the next step towards establishing a Defence Capacity Building Initiative for Moldova. “This initiative will help your country modernize the defence and security sectors,” Mr. Stoltenberg said. He further noted that Moldova has agreed to an “impressive” Individual Partnership Action Plan with the Alliance, and the NATO remains committed “to support Moldova in all reform areas it has chosen…”

Ukrinform
March 18, 2015

Government to allocate 865 mln to build fortified border with Russia

KYIV: The Ukrainian government will allocate UAH 865 million from the reserve fund to build fortifications on the border between Ukraine and Russia.

Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatseniuk has said this at the government’s meeting on Wednesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“Today the government should urgently decide on the allocation of 865 million from the reserve fund to build the fortifications, which will help to save the lives of Ukrainian military and provide security throughout the border,” the PM said.

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Ukrinform
March 18, 2015

Ukraine to strengthen border with Transnistria

KYIV: Ukraine has developed the program to strengthen the borders in “dangerous areas”, particularly in Odesa and Kherson regions.

First deputy head of the Presidential Administration Vitaliy Kovalchuk has said this at a briefing in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“Today it is necessary to distinguish between construction of fortifications and strengthening the border areas, where we can expect the risk. It is clear that the program to strengthen dangerous border areas in certain regions of the country, including in Odesa and Kherson regions, has been developed,” Kovalchuk said.

Interfax-Ukraine
March 18, 2015

Ukrainian army to grow to 250,000 within month – minister

The Ukrainian Armed Forces will grow to 250,000 men within a month, Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak said.

“This will happen within a month,” Poltorak said in Kyiv on Wednesday. The reporters asked when the army size might grow to 250,000 men.

Ukraine has approximately 230,000 army servicemen at present but the 250,000 man target will be achieved through mobilization, the minister noted.

The Verkhovna Rada passed a presidential bill increasing the size of the army to 250,000 men, including 204,000 military servicemen, on March 5.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Allied Command Operations
March 18, 2015

Exercise Ramstein Dust I 2015 is underway in Italy

RAMSTEIN, Germany: NATO is continuing to develop deployable air surveillance and tactical air mission control capabilities with the “DARS”. This is the Deployable Air Control Centre, Recognised Air Picture Production Centre and Sensor Fusion Post. This capability currently includes 100 NATO Airmen from 16 Allied nations ready to deploy with their equipment on short notice.

From 4 to 30 March 2015, the DARS is deployed for Exercise RAMSTEIN DUST I 2015 to exercise and validate these operational tasks. In the early hours of 9 March 2015, some 100 DARS Airmen embarked on a 750-km move from the home base at Poggio Renatico in the north east of Italy to Gioia del Colle Air Base on the country’s eastern coast.

After setting-up and conducting integration testing, the DARS conducted both live and simulated control of various aircraft missions. The majority of training was supported by the Eurofighter Typhoon jets of 36th Stormo Fighter Squadron collocated at Gioia del Colle Air Base…

U.S. Army Europe
March 17, 2015

Freedom Shock: Army Europe, ready at a moment’s notice
By Sgt. Daniel Cole, U.S. Army Europe Public Affairs

Soldiers, assigned to the 1-214th Aviation Regiment, load a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter, assigned to the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, onto a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, Dec. 8, 2015, as part of an emergency deployment readiness exercise.

WIESBADEN, Germany: Moving a Soldier from one location to another can be a relatively simple task, but when real-world events arise and an entire unit is called to action, not to mention hundreds of pieces of equipment, how does Army Europe stay ready?

“Freedom Shock” is Army Europe’s name for emergency deployment readiness exercises, or EDRE, the program that enables commanders to activate units at a moment’s notice and move Soldiers and equipment anywhere in the European operational field, often within hours.

A unit, from the 173rd Airborne Brigade, recently participated in an EDRE in October 2014. In less than two days, the paratroopers were packed up, had drawn weapons, secured chutes and were headed to Romania on an Air Force C-130 Hercules…

U.S. Air Forces in Europe
U.S. Air Force Africa
March 13, 2015

A-10s arrive at Lakenheath

U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Trevor T. McBride

An A-10C Thunderbolt II sits on the flightline as an F-15E Strike Eagle flies over at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, March 13, 2015. The A-10s and Airmen are deployed out of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., as part of a Theater Security Package in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.

While deployed, they have conducted training alongside NATO allies to strengthen interoperability and demonstrate U.S. commitment to the security and stability of Europe.

Focus Information Agency
March 18, 2015

General Sir Adrian Bradshaw, NATO: We will not allow aggression by a state to any of our allies

Sofia. NATO Deputy Supreme Allied Commander for Europe General Sir Adrian Bradshaw is on an official two-day visit to Bulgaria, the press office of the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence announced.

In the frames of his visit to Bulgaria the deputy commander of NATO forces in Europe met with Bulgarian Deputy Minister of Defence Dimitar Kyumyurdzhiev, Head of the Defence Vice-Admiral Rumen Nikolov, and will visit tomorrow the 68th Special Operations Brigade.

“Russia’s actions in Crimea and eastern Ukraine demonstrated the readiness of Russia to begin a process of change in the sovereign borders of sovereign states by force, which was a major deviation from internationally accepted legal norms.” That is what Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Sir Adrian Bradshaw, said at a briefing, a reporter of FOCUS News Agency announced.

“This would have implications not only for Bulgaria, but for all EU member states of the Alliance, particularly those of the eastern flank. We need to show clearly that we are steadfast in that we stand behind the provisions of Article 5. Our response so far has been entirely defensive…but again it is necessary to assure our allies, especially those from the Eastern flank that we stand firmly behind the principles laid down in Article 5, the principles of collective defence and that we will not allow aggression by a state to any of our allies,” he said…

U.S. Department of Defense
March 13, 2015

U.S., Poland to Conduct Patriot Missile Exercise
By Nick Simeone

WASHINGTON: U.S. and Polish forces will conduct an exercise later this month involving a U.S. Patriot missile battery and Poland’s 3rd Warsaw Air Defense Missile Brigade, Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren announced today.

The exercise will involve some 100 U.S. soldiers and 30 vehicles at a location on Polish territory.

Warren called the exercise part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, which is designed to reassure allies, demonstrate freedom of movement and deter regional aggression on the eastern flank of NATO. The mission began in response to Russia’s armed support for separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine and its annexation of Crimea a year ago.

U.S. Air Forces in Europe
U.S. Air Force Africa
March 13, 2015

F-16s depart for Romanian-US exercise
By Staff Sgt. Joe W. McFadden
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany: Airmen and aircraft assigned to the 480th Fighter Squadron departed Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, March 13 to participate in Dacian Warhawk 2015, a bilateral flying training deployment with the Romanian air force.

The exercise will take place at Campia Turzii, Romania, March 16-27 and aims to strengthen interoperability between the U.S. and Romanian air forces while enhancing their readiness to conduct combined air operations.

Approximately 100 Airmen and six F-16s from the 52nd Fighter Wing will participate in the training alongside the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, which will exercise a full spectrum of capabilities to support the 480th FS’s air operations…

Interfax-Ukraine
March 14, 2015

Ukraine plans joint military exercises with U.S., Poland for 2015 – bill

Polish and Ukrainian troops in last year’s U.S.-led Rapid Trident NATO war games

President Petro Poroshenko has introduced a bill to parliament to let foreign armed forces into Ukraine to take part in five joint exercises with Ukrainian forces.

According to the draft law, Ukraine plans three Ukrainian-American command post exercises, Fearless Guardian 2015, Sea Breeze 2015 and Saber Guardian/Rapid Trident 2015, and two Ukrainian-Polish exercises, Secure Skies 2015, and Law and Order 2015, for this year.

Fearless Guardian will take place in Yavoriv district, Lviv region, in the period from March to November and will bring together a maximum of 2,200 troops. Ukraine is providing up to 200 armed forces troops and up to 1,000 National Guard personnel, and the U.S. will be represented by a maximum of 1,000 servicemen…

North Atlantic Treaty Organization
March 11, 2015

NATO Allies and partners discuss Ukraine crisis

Ambassadors of NATO Allies and twenty-two partners met in the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council on Wednesday (11 March 2015) for an exchange of views on the current situation in Ukraine. Chaired by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the session was convened at the request of Ukraine.

The meeting, attended by Russia’s Ambassador to NATO, took place almost one year after the illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea by Russia, which NATO Allies do not recognise.

Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) nations expressed deep concern over the ongoing conflict in Eastern Ukraine, urging Russia to withdraw its forces and its support for the separatists. All members of the EAPC agreed that the full implementation of the Minsk agreement is the only path to a lasting and peaceful solution. Secretary General Stoltenberg stressed that the ceasefire remains fragile and sporadic violations continue. He said that all parties should fully implement the Minsk agreement in good faith, including Russia, whose support for the separatists has further fuelled the conflict. As a first step, he called for a “withdrawal of heavy weapons from the line of contact in a transparent and verifiable manner”, with full access to the OSCE monitors…