Category Archives: U.S Armed Forces in the World

Interview with Major General Martin Smith, Operation Commander European Union Naval Force Somalia

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An exclusive interview with Operation Commander of the European Naval Force in Somalia, Hon. Major General Martin Smith, on the legendary Triumph of the European Union Naval Force in ATALANTA, conducted by Editor in Chief, Catherine S. Schmidt

                                        Major General SMITH, Operation Commander of the EU Naval Force 2016Major General Martin SMITH, the Commander of European Union Naval Force in Operation Atalanta, during a press briefing in Brussels 2016 © European Union

Sir, it is real honor to have this interview with you. Thank you for accepting this invitation.

Q: The EU NAVFOR has achieved a resonating success, in its ongoing Operation. Yet the final outcomes requires a longer commitment of the EU Naval Force— that to imply the extension of its Mandate beyond 2016.

  • To what extend would you agree?

Major General Martin Smith: Over the coming months we will continue to work with WFP, Maritime Industry, counter-piracy partners, international organisations and regional states to assess the threat to shipping transiting off Somalia, and what type and level of security measures will be required post 2016 to ensure that piracy does not once again return to those waters. As you can see from a press release from the ‘Council of European Union’ Following a comprehensive review of this engagement, the Council confirms its intention to extend the mandates of the three CSDP  missions and operation until December 2018, with a view to further enhancing the EU’s Comprehensive Approach in Somalia and the Horn of Africa, in particular the security-development nexus. In this regard, the EU reiterates its resolve to implement as soon as possible its initiative for Capacity Building in support of Security and Development (CBSD).’

  • Please give us an overview of the Operational success up to present time.

Major General Martin Smith: At height of piracy in January 2011, 736 hostages & 32 ships were held from ransom.  As I speak to you today, there are still 26 hostages, but no ships are held.  If you look at factors such as intent, capability and opportunity, Operation Atalanta and the other counter-piracy task forces have, through close coordination, successfully deterred and disrupted pirates at sea and significantly reduced their opportunity to attack ships. 

The self-protection measures, Best Management Practice (BMP), employed by the Shipping Industry and their use of private armed security teams have also had a significant impact, as they have made it very difficult for the pirates to get on board and take a ship for ransom.

The legal process used by the EU to prosecute suspected pirates has also proven to be a notable deterrent, as pirates know that there could be a high price to pay if they go out to sea to attack ships. 

The EU operates a ‘detain and prosecute policy’.  We will always seek, where possible, a legal finish.  Legal handovers are made on the advice of the capturing nation’s Foreign Affairs Department and on the understanding that detainees would receive a fair trial and be treated appropriately. 

We assess pirates still have intent and capability, so International Community must remain vigilant.

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Interview with Minister Lucia Puttrich and her official visit to U.S Army European Command

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Interview with H.E.  Minister Lucia Puttrich, Minister of European and Federal Affairs and Representative of the State of Hessen at the Federal Government of Germany, conducted by U.S Europe World Affairs Editor in Chief.

 

Your Excellency thank you very much indeed for accepting this interview. 

Q: You had an official visit at the end of August to U.S Army Center Europe. Please tell about us your general impression of the US Army in Germany, especially in regard with a great relations between die Bundeswehr and U.S Armed Forces.

H.E.  Minister Lucia Puttrich: My visit to the US-Army Europe headquarters in Wiesbaden was very interesting. We, as state government, have a close and trusting relationship to the US armed forces in Hessen. This is certainly due to a long history. We, as Germans, are very grateful to the USA that we were given the chance to rebuild our country according to democratic principles after the Second World War. For this, important decisions were made in Hessen. In 1948, the Hessian Constitution was signed at the Headquarter of the US armed forces and on July 1, 1948, the eleven West-German Minister-Presidents were given the mandate to prepare a German constitution.

The good cooperation, including in the civil-military area, is highly important for the safety of our citizens, especially in the face of present threats and challenges. Meeting Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges and his team convinced me of this [necessity]. Speaking about the good relationship between the Bundeswehr and the US Army here in Europe, it is of course remarkable that a Bundeswehr-General serves as chief of staff here in Wiesbaden. This is not self-understood but a strong sign for the importance of the German-American cooperation in this area.

 Q:  How the American presence in the South is received and welcomed by the local community.

H.E.  Minister Lucia Puttrich:  We, the people of Hessen, are open-minded and good hosts. We make sure that the soldiers, the civil employees and their families feel at ease here. Moving the European headquarters of the US army from Heidelberg to Wiesbaden is a sign for the good relations between the USA and Hessen. This was a groundbreaking decision of the US army with a highly symbolic character. The people of Wiesbaden and the people in the region have gained new neighbors with the relocation. We want to maintain the same close and good relationship we are presently enjoying. The people of Hessen have a strong welcoming culture.

 Q: What are the outcomes/benefit of this friendship between your government and great community in the south with the Americans.

H.E.  Minister Lucia Puttrich:  The German-American friendship also has a positive influence on the civil-military cooperation – not only with the US armed forces but also with the local command of the Bundeswehr. The trusting cooperation and the continuous exchange of information between the State Government, the ministry of the interior and the respective armed forces is remarkable.

News from:  U.S Army Europe and Africa         Hessen Government 

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Image:  U.S. Army Europe headquarters welcomed Minister Lucia Puttrich, the Hessian Minister for European and Federal Affairs, who met with Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, Commander of Army Europe, and his staff.  August 24, 2015 Wiesbaden, Germany ©U.S Army 

References:  Strong Europe, German-US Military partnerships

Hessian Minister of European and Federal Affairs visits U.S. Army Europe

 

* The Interview is subject to Copyright Law.  All Rights reserved.

© Hessen government / US Europe World Affairs.com.  

 

On Transatlantic Relations: Europe and the United States

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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.

Further:
• E.U good exports to the U.S in 2009: €204.4 billion
• E.U goods imports from the U.S in 2009: €159.8 billion
• E.U services exports to the U.S 2009: €119.4 billion
• E.U services imports from the U.S in 2009: €127.0 billion
• E.U investment flows to the U.S in 2008: €121.4 billion
• U.S investment flows to the E.U in 2008: €50.5 billion
(Announced by the E.U in 2010)

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 

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

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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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