Dear all, due to the increased number of articles, news, and interviews on our media platform for the rest of 2021 our Newsletters will be published monthly. The interviews with Ambassador Liselotte Plesner, Permanent Representative of Denmark to NATO and Captain Erik Anthony, USAFE-AFAFRICA Public Affairs Spokesperson will be featured in August edition. Thank you for your interest. Editor in Chief
In honour of the World Freedom Defenders the U.S Army and the United States Flag June 14, 1775
June 13, 2018 © U.S Army
Follow us @USEUWAffairs
The Austrian Special Forces ‘The Elite’
©Austrian MOD/Army
President Obama, President Clinton, most European Royal family and PM Ministers/Foreign Ministers attended on September 30th in Jerusalem to pay respect and farewell to former President and Prime Minister of Israel and Novel laureate Shimon Peres.
Earlier this year, Danish parliament adopted the Resolution B 197 on August 19 which authorized Danish Armed-Forces to take the lead in the international maritime operation for removing chemical from Libya. The original request was made by Libyan government on February 3, 2016 and approved by the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on July 20th.
Following that Royal Danish Navy led the Operation in international maritime transport for removing Libya’s chemical weapons stockpile, starting from August 27, 2016. The chemicals have been transformed from port of Misrata in Libya to a special facility destruction in Germany.
Danish Ministry of Defence reaffirmed its commitment to this operation by stating:
“Denmark brings substantial experience from its effort in the removal of Syria’s chemical weapons in 2013 and 2014. Denmark has both the capacity and skill to take on this important task in a safe and secure manner”
On Denmark’s Military leadership in the operation, Defence Minister Peter Christensen stated:
“The Danish Defence has with great distinction – quickly and safely – solved the problem of removing chemicals out of Libya, and these substances can now be destroyed. The Danish Defence has substantial experience with tasks like this, and has once again shown that it is ready when needed to provide a contribution to peace and stability in the world. High praise for our soldiers and deployed personnel from the Danish Emergency Management Agency as well as the Customs and Tax Administration.” August 31, 2016 © The Royal Danish MFA
“We have now removed the chemical remnants from Libya and have ensured that they will not fall into the wrong hands. This is an important contribution from Denmark to a safer world free of chemical weapons and a contribution that aims to support a more stable Libya. I am proud that the international community through the United Nations and OPCW has asked for Danish assistance, and very pleased that Danish ships and personnel once more has delivered on an important security policy agenda.” elaborated Foreign Minister Kristian Jensen. August 31, 2016 © The Royal Danish MFA
Additional: Denmark will bolster its Military Support to Afghanistan
News from Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Denmark
News from Minister Kristian Jensen for Foreign Affairs
News from Danish Mission to NATO
News from former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen
Image: Danish Vessel in the Operation. August 31, 2016 courtesy of MFA of Denmark.
By Catherine Stella Schmidt (Copyrighted material)
As a crucial partner with NATO, the U.S Naval Forces in Europe-Africa have a central part in establishing and re-enforcing the Maritime Security in European Waters, the Mediterranean Sea….. and to the Oceans far beyond.
September 14, 2016 © U.S Mission to NATO
News from U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria
News from US Naval Forces Europe-Africa
News from U.S Air Force Europe-Africa News from Strong Europe U.S Army Europe
The memorial service for 15th Anniversary of September 11 held by the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY). September 10, 2016 © FDNY
Proclaimed by President Obama from September 9 to September 11 — the days of Remembrance and Prayers for September 11, 2001.
“On September 11, 2001, a group of small and hateful minds conspired to threaten the very fiber of our country, seeking to break the American spirit and destroy our way of life. From the Atlantic to the Pacific, Americans were struck with grief as devastation and senseless loss of innocent human life unfolded. In the empty shadow of the World Trade Center, the remains of the Pentagon, and a charred Pennsylvania field where courageous passengers saved countless lives, what emerged from the ashes of that day was not defeat — it was the heroism, compassion, and unity of the American people, which no act of terror or hate could ever take away. On September 11, we recall the true spirit of our Nation following these heinous attacks, and we resolve to enshrine the enduring compassion and love of our people forever in the heart of America.” Presidential Proclamation National Days of Prayer and Remembrance, 2016 © The White House
Presidential Proclamation National Days of Prayer and Remembrance, 2016
U.S-European Armed-Forces fortifying their Capabilities-2
(view the article/the video on the above link)
Launched in December 2008 under auspices of the European Common Security and Defence Policy, EU NAVFOR in Operation Atalanta is the first European Union Naval Force for countering the Piracy threats in the western Indian Ocean and the Horn of Africa covering 4,700,000 square nautical miles.
A view to the Naval history delineates that particularly from 17th century onward–British Royal Navy, the Royal Navy of the Netherlands along with la France, in a permanent and consistent paradigm have maintained the enduring supremacy at Sea, while interlacing their ancient puissance to the presence time.
Since 2009, the Royal Netherlands Navy has been an important part of EU NAVFOR– holding a crucial role in Operation Atalanta, not only for deploying its Naval troops yet also by providing the Flagships for the operation. Its Naval warship, HNLMS Johan de Witt since 2010 has been routinely in the Indian Ocean as the operational HQ at Sea for many Force Commanders– and the long term Flagship for the operation.
The HNLMS Johan De Witt, seemingly an ordinary Naval Vessel commissioned to live with the waves– yet has proved its life beyond that …… The white Ship of Den Helder, with its extraordinary mode of speed and maneuver, has held many predominant historical occasions from Marines para jump, to the Military medal ceremony— and as the host to the numerous historical convene, like the one which took place in October 2013 between the three Force Commanders from EU NAVFOR, Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), and the NATO Operation Ocean Shield on its board to confirm their operational joint efforts.
Force Commander Combined Maritime Forces, Commodore Jeremy Blunden (leftt) the Force Commander from EU Naval Force, Commodore Peter Lenselink (centre) and Force Commander from NATO, Commodore Henning Amundsen ( right) on board of the EU Naval Force Flagship, HNLMS Johan de Witt. October 7, 2013 © EU NAVFOR
The last time that the HNLMS Johan De Witt was missioned as the EU NAVFOR Flagship was in May 2015, under the Command of Commodore Luyckx, the current Force Commander. While the Royal Netherlands Naval leadership will continue to be as often in the EU NAVFOR– the return of its white Ship, the HNLMS Johan De Witt, with its legend will be also on the affirmative side.
News from EU NAVAL Force in Operation Atalanta
News from Royal Netherlands Navy News from UK Royal Navy
News from Royal Australian Navy
Source: EU NAVFOR. Image-1 the EU Naval Force Flagship HNLMS Johan de Witt August 8, 2013 © EU NAVFOR
By Editor in Chief (Copy righted material)
On August 6, in the Naval ceremony Royal Netherlands Navy assumed the Force Command of the Operation Atalanta from German Navy.
Commodore Luyckx of Royal Netherlands Navy (right) Rear Admiral González-Aller Lacalle of Spanish Navy (centre) and Rear Admiral Kaack of German Navy (left) during the handover Command ceremony. August 6, 2016 © EU NAVFOR
The Royal Dutch Air Defence and Command Frigate HNLMS Tromp equipped with NH90 Chopper, will be for the next approximately four months the Flagship of Operation Atalanta, the HQ of Force Commander Commodore René Luyckx, and his crew added with 10 other European State’s personnel and several EU partners in the Counter-Piracy Operation.
“The EU Naval Force, in co-operation with counter-piracy partners, has been highly effective in reducing pirate attacks. At the height of Somali piracy in January 2011, 736 hostages and 32 Ships were being held by Pirates. As of May 2015, no Merchant Vessels are being held in captivity.” Elaborated the new Force Commander Commodore René Luyckx of Royal Netherlands Navy. Djibouti, August 6 2016 © EU NAVFOR
This is the second time that Commodore René Luyckx leads the Operation. In May 2015 he was the Commanding Officer of HNLMS Johan de Witt in Operation Atalanta.
His current Flagship HNLMS Tromp of Royal Netherlands Navy, does also conjure up….. a well-known tale of a Ship, and the electrifying hostage Rescuing Operation…….. by the Dutch Marines …. in the chapters of the European Union’s Naval Operation Atalanta.
It was in the early hours of April 5 2010, in the abruptly hijacking situation the MV Taipan (German owned container Ship) and its crew were taken hostage by a group of Armed Pirates. The unclassified correspondence of European Naval Force indicates that as the negotiation attempts with the Pirates did not bring a positive result, the HNLMS Tromp launched an offensive course, by authorizing its Dutch Marines to a swift Disrupt….., Boarding, …. and Rescue Operation….. which ended in …..seizing the Vessel ……and rescuing the hostages unharmed. The Armed-Pirates were rounded up and captured…….later transported to the Netherlands for the trial.
News from EU NAVAL Force in Operation Atalanta
News from Royal Netherlands Navy
The second image Dutch Marine Boarding Team during its previous six months Mission in the OP. Atalanta. June 2015 courtesy of EU NAVFOR. Source: EU NAVFOR
Addition: Royal Netherlands Navy in Operation Atalanta-1
By Editor in Chief (Copy-Righted Material)
US-Europe World Affairs 