Category Archives: The US-European Armed-Forces

The United Kingdom and the U.S in response to Syrian crisis

The United States and UK have been the two largest financial aid donor to the humanitarian crisis in Syria. 

Since the start of the internal conflict in Syria, the United States as the First largest financial aid provider, has contributed more than $4 billion to help the affected people and the refugees. Every months there is a new additional financial aid package by the U.S Government allocated in response to this crisis.

New U.S. Humanitarian Assistance to Respond to Syria Crisis, 21 September 2015

UK Humanitarian Help for Syria

At the same time UK and US with the initiative of la France have been trying to stop the civil war and to combat with the radical extremist groups in the region for years.

The United kingdom’s Leadership in refugee crisis in Europe

The result might have not been seen as the white and black outcomes– since there are more complexity involved in it, which comes mainly by those tyrannical systems that feed the radical groups either by weapons, other means of supports, or by blocking the UN Security Council’s decision by their veto– each time when the US-UK and France stood  resolutely to act in solving the Syrian internal conflict.

Please see the associated Official documents:

United Kingdom’s humanitarian aid in response to the Syria crisis, fact sheet by September 2015 by UK Foreign Office 

The UK will step up with nearly £115 Million in additional Emergency Funding in response to the migration crisis, Prime Minister David Cameron announced, 23 September 2015

Prime Minister David Cameron visits Lebanon and outlines details of the extra £100 million package to help Syrian refugees, 14 September 2015

The U.S Humanitarian Assistance to Syrians, by Department of State 

The UN Security Council fails to adopt resolution on Syria, the United Nations July 2012  

Russia, China block Security Council referral of Syria to International Criminal Court, the United Nations May 2014

 

 

The Royal Danish Navy in NATO

                          HDMS ABSALON of Denmark 2015 NATOHDMS ABSALON of Denmark 2015 ©NATO

On October 1st, the HDMS ABSALON of Royal Danish Navy joined NATO Counter-piracy Operation Ocean Shield. The Operation is to keep the region safe from the threats of piracy and to maintain the Maritime Security at all level.

The Royal Navy Ship will visit the port of the Mediterranean Dialogue Partner Nations and meet with the high level Military Leaders including the Royal Jordanian Naval Force.

By Catherine Stella Schmidt  (Copyrighted material)

 

 

The USS Carney in NATO Missile Defense

The U.S Navy Multi-Mission USS Carney has arrived in Europe, in south of Spain, to strengthen the NATO and European Missile Defense capability.

The Battle Ship as a part of NATO forces is missioned for a wide range of Operational Task for Security, Search and Rescue, and the NATO Multinational Training and Exercise.

U.S Navy Multi-Mission USS Carney arrived in EU Sep.2015USS Carney. 25 September 2015 ©NATO 

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the US Navy USS Carney by affirming:

“The arrival of the USS Carney marks an important step for European Security and for Transatlantic cooperation,” 

The four Missile Defense ships are key for building up Europe’s protection against Ballistic Missile threats. I thank the United States for their significant contribution to keeping our Nations safe©NATO

  ©NATO

NATO Ballistic Missile Defense was established and launched in 2010, by the NATO Member States to counter the threats poised by the proliferation of Ballistic Missile in various regions, countries and radical groups (possibly). The strategy is based on Protecting Europe from any sorts of perceived or unseen threats which had been multiplied in the last fifteen years.

By Catherine S. Schmidt, Editor in Chief  (Copy righted material) 

US-EU Law-Enforcement

US-EU furthering partnerships on Law-Enforcement

Europol Director Rob Wainwright with the Director of FBI James Comey 2015Director of FBI James Comey during a meeting with Director of EUROPOL Rob Wainwright. The Hague 24.September 2015 ©EUROPOL

The Director of U.S Federal Bureau of Investigation James Comey travelled to The Hague to meet with the Director of EUROPOL to discuss rage of subjects including furthering the  partnerships between the FBI and the Europe Law-Enforcement to the closer level on combating with Cybercrime.

In the European Police Chiefs Convention (EPCC) at Europol HQs the Director of FBI spoke on Global Threats ( Cybercrime and Terrorism) and highlighted:

“The perception that terrorism only happens in big cities like New York, London, or Paris is not true.There are troubled people all across the United States and in every country around the world. That’s why partnerships are critical. We all share a common interest in keeping our nations safe from both crime and terrorism.  Together, we can identify common threats and common needs, and by joining forces, we’re all better able to protect the people we serve,”

“No law enforcement or intelligence agency alone – no country alone – can defeat crime and terrorism and keep its streets safe. But all of us, standing together – we are strong, unbending, and unbreakable.”

On the same Subject during the convention the Director of Europol Rob Wainwright stated:

Now more than ever we understand the importance of cross-border Law-Enforcement cooperation to tackle global threats, such as terrorism and Cybercrime. In this challenging time, building up strong partnerships among international law enforcers, and ensuring fast and efficient information exchange, are key to safeguarding our citizens and our collective security.”

“In this respect, cooperation between Europol, the FBI and other international partners, has proved to be exemplary, in particular in combatting cyber attacks and the sexual exploitation of children online. This strong collaboration demonstrates what Law Enforcement agencies can achieve together when trusted relationships are established.”

 

The Czech Republic and NATO

 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited Czech Republic

Joint press point with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Bohuslav SobotkaNATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Bohuslav Sobotka. Prague 9.September 2015 ©NATO

During an official visit to Prague , on September 9th,  the Secretary General of NATO met with Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaorálek, Defence Minister Martin Stropnický, and other Officials.

Secretary General expressed his gratitude to Czech Republic for its continuous commitment and contributions to NATO and European Security, by spending 2% of GDP on  Defence :                                         “The Czech Republic is really contributing to our Alliance and collective Defence, and we are very grateful for that.”

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the US Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Andrew H. Shapiro, the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Bohuslav Sobotka and the Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic, Martin Stropnicky with soldiers of the US military convoyNATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg with Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, Minister of Defense of the Czech Republic Martin Stropnicky , the U.S Ambassador to Czech Republic  Andrew H.  Shapiro and the US Army Convoy. 9.September 2015 ©NATO

He also urged all NATO Member States to increase their investment on Defence and Security:  

“As  Security challenges grow, it is also vital that we invest more in our Defence.”

 

Europe needs one voice

 

In the mass influx of refugee crisis, all EU States need to remain in one voice and apply an objective strategic measures that could be sustainable in a long term.

In this scope United Kingdom, France, Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary are presenting the best solutions to the long term crisis.    As it is, evidently,  the German solution will not work for European problems.

In the frame work of European Union the crisis in our Territory need to be worked out with a team-work of all European governments, not a solo policy of one Land which could de-stabilize the others and the rest.  Hence Germany must listen to all EU States and act accordingly:

1- Protect its borders

2- Help other EU States to do the same

3- Deal with Crisis in Syria at the root just as France has declared yesterday.

Statement of the Heads of Governments of the Visegrad Group ( the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland )

Press Conference by President Hollande (President de la Republique Francaise)

UK will work with UNHCR not the Human trafficking groups that have taken so many life.

 

By Catherine Stella Schmidt

On Transatlantic Relations: Europe and the United States

In a world, where environmental, economic and humanitarian turmoil, added to proliferation of Nuclear and Cyber threats are looming on the horizon, more than ever E.U and the United States must team up and strengthen their close relations.

More–
Research and Educational; Political and Legislation; Economic and Commerce; Military and Security integration will be necessary, as we face so many unknown elements of the 21st century.
The relation between Europe and the United States has not been established based on series of signed Treaties or economic agreements, but this is a relationship, which was born with the existence of the New World:
“The United States of America”
–and is cherished by Europe who sees this super power as a direct creation of its own thoughts and adventure.
Yes, we have roots and relatives on both sides, even though we might not be aware of them. Europe has been and remains to be so the United States real Heritage and its roots.
Every aspect of history and every fact attests that the EU-US relation is the most complementary and complete one.
Between Europe and the United States–
there is a relationship that can be only portrayed as an unconditional commitments, a sense of harmony and creeds that delve deeper than, it can ever be described, touching every aspect of their beings.
And this relation, will be always magnified with our common Ideals; values and principles; culture and our political thoughts.

At the Empirical level:
more facts, which could substantiate further the significance of Transatlantic Relations.
* Europe and U.S are account for over 50% of global GDP (the White House press release 2010).
* The E.U and the U.S have the largest bilateral investment and trade relations. The Transatlantic trade and investment amount to over $1 billion a day.
* Only in 2009, European capital was 64% of the foreign investment in United States.
* About 50% of U.S investment goes to E.U States as well.
(The White House press release 2010).
* In recent years the transatlantic direct investment has created over 14.million jobs on the both sides of the Atlantic (announced by the U.S Secretary of Commerce in 2010.
* As indicated by European Union in 2010 in the EU- US Summit, the United States remains the European’s largest trading partner for both goods and services.

From the crises and conflicts in various regions and countries: Africa, Asia, the Middle-East, Kosovo, Georgia, Afghanistan, while the U.N struggled to get the other Nations for the aid on its board, Europe and United States in almost all 20 and 21 century’s Peacekeeping operations, have shouldered the main parts of the economic and peacekeeping efforts, to de-escalate the Humanitarian crisis and the Global conflicts.

The United States and Europe, as the Pillars of Western Civilization, not only have led the World towards a greater transformation but also paved the path for the global journey towards Democracy, Freedom and Human Rights.
While these are solely a few aspects of EU-US relations, yet it has to be emphasized that in reality our History, Philosophy, Cultural and Political spheres are so much attached to each other– so much embedded by one, another, that the rest of the world sees us as one– on every front.
We have to recognize this importance.

Thus it is necessary to keep these ties as strong as ever for maintaining our global Security, Prosperity, and the survival of Western Civilizations, which alone stands on the Ideal of the Rights of Mankind and defending Humanity.

 

 

By Article by Catherine S. Schmidt, Editor in Chief. (Copyrighted Material) 

This article was first published in Europe’s World 2012 

The US and European Armed-Forces in a joint Exercise

Rapid Trident the U.S. Army Europe-led Cooperative Training Exercise

From 20-31 July 2015 the U.S Army in Europe conducted a joint Exercise with its European Counterparts. 

Rapid Trident, was part of U.S Army Europe that had its Training intensity on Peacekeeping and Stability Operations.

There were over 1800 members of Armed-Forces from 18 EU States as well as Canada.

Participating Armed-Forces were from:  Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Estonia, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukrainian and the U.S.

 

©The US Army Europe

By Catherine Stella Schmidt  (Copy righted material) 

 

 

A view to U.S  European Command and its enduring partnerships with Europe

A view to U.S  European Command and its enduring partnerships with Europecombined-endeavor-2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The opening ceremony of Combined Endeavor in Grafenwöhr, Germany 2014 ©United States European Command

Within the NATO and Transatlantic Relations the U.S European Command is working closely with its European partners:

  • To maintain Peace and Security in Europe;
  • To work with its European Allies in solving global issues;
  • To provide Diplomatic, Military and Humanitarian interventions in the crisis and conflicts zones, in order to prevent the up rise and escalations of them that could otherwise expand to Europe and to the rest of the world.

The U.S European Command also provides the largest and most prominent Military Training and Cultural Exchange Center, in partnership with die Bundeswehr, for Training, Updating, Joint Exercise and the Military Maneuvers. Most European Armed-Forces are taking part in these programmes.

It is important to note that up to present day, the European and especially German Armed Forces are the largest Military stationed in the United States for various Exercises and other Military liaisons exchange programmes.

There has been explicitly a great desire announced by the United States to welcome more in U.S, the European Armed-Forces for forming closer partnerships and joint Military programmes which could lead to the crystallization of NATO’s latest strategy on the Smart-Defence and the joint Forces.

The U.S Command in Europe, simultaneously, is engaged in other Missions:

  • Helping people:  helping to build self-sustaining capability in the Eastern Europe and other locations that are recovering from conflicts or war. 
  • And working with its European inter-governmental, International as well as NGO partners by providing Humanitarian and Financial assistance to help rebuild stability and prosperity for the conflicts or natural disaster affected Countries. 

The latest illustrative projects in the recent years are:

  • Help for flood relief in Poland, Serbia, Albania and Moldova
  • Water pumps in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • 44 school renovations, 28 hospital/clinic renovations and equipment upgrades, 33 emergency services/water related upgrades in Romania.

 

Article by Catherine S. Schmidt, Editor in Chief ( Copyrighted material)

This article was first published in Europe’s World in 2013.

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