U.S-European Armed-Forces deepening in Norwegian icy water in joint NATO Cold Response 16

UK RN in NATO excercise Norway 2016March 2016© The UK Royal Navy 

From February 19 until March 22, the NATO Allied encompassing 16,000 Military personnel are participating in one of the NATO’s largest Training Multinational Military Exercise to upgrade and intensify the Allied Capability of Combat Operation in the cold environment.

SNMG1 Cold Response 16,Norway 2016Commanding General National Joint Headquarters Norway, Lt. Gen. Rune Jakobsen, addresses a Multinational Panel on the Training aspects of the Exercise, Norway March 2016 ©The U.S. Army Europe/ Sgt. 1st Class Crista Mary Mack.

 

Cold Response 16   is held in the Tr​øndelag of Norway and the Participants are from the  Armed-Forces of: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland​, France, ​Germany, Latvia,  Norway,  the Netherlands​, Poland, Spain, Sweden,  the United Kingdom  and the United States.

Remarks by the Commanding General of the U.S Army Europe LTG Ben Hodges during an interview at Cold Response 16

March 4, 2016 Norway © The U.S Army Europe

 

Standing NATO Maritime Group-1 is positioned for ‘COLD RESPONSE 16’

Standing NATO Maritime Group-1 ( SNMG1) visited Trondheim Norway, as a routine visit to the North and Baltic Sea, before launching one of the biggest NATO Maritime Military Training- Exercise ‘COLD RESPONSE 16’, which will take off in early March.  Most European States, with the U.S Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force are taking part in it. 

                                                SNMG1 VISITS TRONDHEIM The SNMG1 in Trondheim Norway, February 25, 2016 ©NATO Maritime Command

At the present time under the command of Rear Admiral José Enrique Delgado from Spanish Navy, the SNMG1 is combined of :

The United Kingdom Royal Navy Frigate HMS IRON DUKE (F234)
• The Spanish Flagship F100 class Frigate ESPS ÁLVARO de BAZÁN (F101)
• The Spanish Combat Replenishment Ship ESPS CANTABRIA (A15)
• The Norwegian Coastal Corvettes Skjold-class HNoMs STORM (P961) and HNoMs STEIL (P963)
 

 “SNMG1 just completed one more week of training off the Norwegian Coast, to make sure we are ready to provide NATO with a continuous presence and Maritime capability for Operations.”   “I´m looking forward to increasing SNMG1 readiness and proficiency by our participation in exercise COLD RESPONSE 16 where our Task Group capabilities will be upgraded with the addition of Allied units from Denmark and France”.  stated Rear Admiral Delgado. February 25, 2016  ©NATO Maritime Command

“This exercise provides a great opportunity for Allies to train together and better understand how we each operate and communicate,”  “The increased understanding and cooperative efforts between our Countries enable us to work together effectively, while also addressing any and all Security challenges that may arise in the Region or other parts of the World.” emphasized Lt. Col. Dennis Cummings from the U.S Air Force. February 27, 2016 © U.S Air Force Europe

Standing NATO Maritime Group-1 is  part of NATO’s  Immediate Reaction Forces which operates to enhance NATO Allied Maritime capability in peacetime, as well as in  conflict.

The Netherlands’ initiative to enhance Europe’s Cyber-Security

“The Netherlands wants to unite Countries, Businesses, Think Tanks and internet Experts, so that the world will be better equipped to prevent Cyberattacks on Political or Military targets.” February 12, 2016 © Dutch MFA

‘Cyberattacks are the key threat of the future,’  ‘They target Countries, Individuals, Companies and Infrastructure Networks. The World is still too passive about this issue.’  highlighted Foreign Minister Bert Koenders.  February 12, 2016 © Dutch MFA        Continue to read

European CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team)

See also:   Report a Cyber Crime, EUROPOL

 Logo kleur hoge resolutie Protected by Copyright LawThe Netherlands EU Presidency 2016

The United States and European Law-Enforcement in a closer Partnership-4

The Director of EUROPOL Rob Wainwright and the Executive Associate Director of U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Peter Edge, met in the Hague and singed a new agreement which brings the two Law-Enforcement Agencies from the both sides of Atlantic closer, enabling them to work in more synchronized and effective ways in the Operations against organized crimes.

US ICE-EUROPOL Feb.2016

 

The Director of EUROPOL Rob Wainwright and the Executive Associate Director of U.S ICE  Peter Edge. The Hague  February 17, 2016 © EUROPOL

 

With this Agreement, the U.S  ICE  enters a new membership in Europol’s Focal Point Sustrans  the ongoing Operations that targets organized crimes,  money laundering, Human trafficking/smuggling and the irregular migration.  This Agreement is an addition to the EUROPOL’s Focal Point Checkpoint Operations, to which the U.S ICE is already part of it. 

 “Simply put, when we follow the money, we find criminals. Some criminal enterprises focus on smuggling and Cybercrime, others drugs and arms trafficking, but all of them – including those engaged in terrorism finance – try to manipulate financial systems for their gain, which is another avenue we can use to disrupt and dismantle their operations. Today’s signing signals HSI’s commitment to the International Cooperation that is crucial to Law-Enforcement success in this arena.”  highlighted  US ICE Executive Associate Director Peter Edge. The Hague February 17,2016 © EUROPOL

“In this technological era, nations around the World cannot tackle criminality on their own. Money laundering is a complex and relentless offence which requires a concerted International response. I am therefore delighted to see such an important partner join our continued efforts to build a borderless Law-Enforcement community.” stated the Director of EUROPOL Rob Wainwright. The Hague February 17, 2016 ©EUROPOL

 

By Catherine Stella Schmidt 

European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia ‘EUMM’

The European Union External Action Service ‘EEAS’ is a Diplomatic Department of European Union based in Brussels that is responsible for EU’s Foreign and Security Policy.  As of present time–  EEAS  is engaged in 11 Civilian Deployment Missions in various parts of the World. 

With the high scope of success, the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia ‘EUMM is one of them. 

EUMM 2015 (2) ©The EUMM

The Mission was launched in  September 2008 following the EU-mediated Six Point Agreement, which ended the August war in Georgia.

The Objectives of the Mission:

  • To ensure that there is no return to hostilities; 
  • To facilitate the resumption of a safe and normal life for the local communities living on both sides of the Administrative Boundary Lines (ABL) with Abkhazia and South Ossetia; 
  • To build confidence among the conflict parties; 
  • To inform EU policy in Georgia and the wider region ©The EUMM
The EUMM has about 200 Monitors from various EU Member States , with Patrolling  and Monitoring on the ground.  The Deployment has its Headquarters in Tbilisi and the Field Offices in Gori, Mtskheta and Zugdidi. 

 

The Leadership of Israel and its Armed-Forces in the World-1

Israel is a Member State of NATO’s Mediterranean Dialogue, which with the aim of maintaining Security and Stability in the region, was established in 1994. 

With the spiral upheaval and the un-ceased mayhem in the Middle-East the Leadership of Israel and its Armed-Forces has been and will remain to be, eminently, crucial. A Role, for which, Israel is highly prepared.

Related official documents:

Speech by the NATO Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow at the conference on NATO-Israel cooperation, La Hulpe, Belgium  November 2014

Standing NATO Maritime-2 visited Israel, December 2015 

Israel and its Leadership in the World, the Armed Forces

Hungary is one of the most stable European States

“ Hungary  is now one of Europe’s most stable Countries”, highlighted Prime Minister Viktor Orbán

Prime Minister Orbán 2016 15 February 2016 © The Office of Prime Minister  

“…..in general Europeans have successfully shrugged off censorship, and it has emerged that, on the subject of Hungarian Border Protection Policy, many more people on the Continent agree with Hungary than are against it. Today Hungary’s standpoint is the standpoint of the majority of people in Europe, and Europeans cannot understand why their governments are not doing the same as Hungary’s government is doing” highlighted Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in the Parliament.  February 2106 © The Office of Prime Minister Orbán    

Continue to read the Prime Minister’s Speech at the Hungarian National Assembly

As it is greatly audible that the Policy of some of EU States in regard with European Security is outdated, irrelevant –that is neither applicable any more to the challenges of  2016 and beyond– nor effective in a real time. 

Europe needs a Strong and Coherent Border Security Policy, as many EU Leaders have been voicing for a long time. From every aspects of Political science, it is time for Europe to go beyond its old orbit and move…… into the belated Realm of  Multifaceted EU Reform, notably –also on the Security of its Border fronts. (by the Editor)

Cyprus-Israel-Greece Trilateral Summit Declaration

On January 28, following the meeting of the Prime Minister Netanyahu with the President of the Republic of Cyprus and the Prime Minister of Hellenic Republic, a closer partnerships and cooperation between Cyprus-Greece and Israel was established.

PM Netanyahu, President of Cyprus Anastasiades and Greek PM Tsipras 2016Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades and Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras. Nicosia 28, 2016 ©The office of PM Netanyahu/Haim Zach, GPO

“We, Nikos Anastasiades, President of the Republic of Cyprus, Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of the State of Israel, and Alexis Tsipras, Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, having met in Nicosia today, 28th January 2016, have agreed to strengthen the cooperation between our three countries in order to promote a Trilateral Partnership in different fields of common interest and to work together towards promoting Peace, Stability, Security and Prosperity in the Mediterranean and the wider Region.” January. 28, 2016 ©The office of Prime Minister Netanyahu

Continue to read

The Leadership of Finland and its Armed-Forces in the World-1

         Minister of Defence Jussi Niinisto visited UNIFIL 2016 Finalnd MoD January 14, 2016 ©Ministry of Defence of Finland

The Minister of Defence of Finland, Jussi Niinistö, travelled to Lebanon, 13-15 January, and visited Finland’s Armed-Forces deployed in the Peacekeeping Mission and the Finish Crisis Management Force, in the UNNIFIL Headquarters. Finland is one of the major contributors to the UN Peacekeeping Forces in various Deployments, and in UNIFIL since 2006.

Finish Armed-Forces in UNIFIL

Simultaneously, Finland is one of the leading Country in Europe that Deploys Crisis Management Forces for various International Conflicts and Emergencies.

On the Law-Enforcement front, Finland has been also one of the largest Contributors and  the Head of the European Union Police Mission EUPOL, in Afghanistan since 2010.

Medal Parade at EUPOL HQ Kabul Nov.2015

 

 

 

EUPOL Mission Members were awarded the European Union Common Security and Defence Policy Medals. ©EUPOL Kabul, November 2015

 

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