THE NEW MARITIME ORDER AND GREEK PERSPECTIVE IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN

070813-N-5459S-543 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug. 13, 2007) - The ships of Standing NATO Maritime Group (SNMG) 1 transit in formation for a photo exercise. From left, Portuguese frigate NRP Alvares Cabral (F331), Canadian frigate HMCS Toronto (FFH 333), guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), German replenishment tanker FGS Spessart (A 1442), Dutch frigate HNLMS Evertsen (F805), and Danish corvette HDMS Olfert Fischer (F355). Normandy is flagship for SNMG-1, which is conducting NATOÕs first maritime out-of-area deployment by circumnavigating Africa. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Vincent J. Street (RELEASED)

George X. Protopapas Executive Director, Center for International Strategic Analyses (KEDISA) The Eastern Mediterranean has become the epicenter of maritime and geopolitical developments as great powers, regional actors antagonise for influence and access to energy resources. Greece a traditional maritime nation could play a constructive role on the stabilisation of the region. Since 2012 US… Continue reading THE NEW MARITIME ORDER AND GREEK PERSPECTIVE IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN

NORTH KOREA MAY HAVE MORE NUCLEAR BOMB MATERIAL THAN THOUGHT

Sourced : NBC News Thermal images of North Korea’s main nuclear site show Pyongyang may have reprocessed more plutonium than previously thought that can be used to enlarge its nuclear weapons stockpile, a U.S. think tank said on Friday. The analysis by 38 North, a Washington-based North Korean monitoring project, was based on satellite images… Continue reading NORTH KOREA MAY HAVE MORE NUCLEAR BOMB MATERIAL THAN THOUGHT

CHINA OFFICIALLY SETS UP ITS FIRST OVERSEAS BASE IN DJIBOUTI

Sourced : The Diplomat By Charlotte Gao On July 11, China officially dispatched military personnel to set up its first-ever overseas base in Djibouti, the small country in East Africa. While foreign media call the new facility a “military” base, China instead calls it a “support base,” which “will ensure China’s performance of missions, such as escorting, peace-keeping,… Continue reading CHINA OFFICIALLY SETS UP ITS FIRST OVERSEAS BASE IN DJIBOUTI

ALL EYES ON TURKEY AS TOTAL-ENI VESSEL READIES TO DRILL OFFSHORE CYPRUS

West Capella at sea trails

Sourced New Europe By  Kostis Geropoulos As the West Capella drilling vessel, contracted by France’s Total in association with Italy’s ENI, is about to start drilling at Block 11 off Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) only a few days after UN-sponsored reunification talks collapsed in Crans-Montana, there are concerns that Turkey may cause tensions in… Continue reading ALL EYES ON TURKEY AS TOTAL-ENI VESSEL READIES TO DRILL OFFSHORE CYPRUS

FRANCE AND GERMANY WANT TO BUILD THEIR OWN 5TH GENERATION FIGHTER JET

Sourced : The Warzone By Joseph Trevithick France and Germany have announced their intention to work together to develop a new advanced “European” fighter jet. Though the final plan is still in the works, the decision appears to be wrapped up in a number of political and economic considerations and could potentially see the end… Continue reading FRANCE AND GERMANY WANT TO BUILD THEIR OWN 5TH GENERATION FIGHTER JET

UK DEFENCE SECRETARY ANNOUNCES NEW MARITIME PATROL AIRCRAFT SQUADRONS

Sourced : Defence Blog The UK Defence Secretary, the Rt Hon Sir Michael Fallon, announced on the 13th of July the numbers of the UK’s two new Maritime Patrol Aircraft squadrons. Nine new P-8A Poseidon aircraft will be operated by number 120 Squadron and number 201 Squadron from RAF Lossiemouth in Moray. Read more at : http://defence-blog.com/news/uk-defence-secretary-announces-new-maritime-patrol-aircraft-squadrons.html

TYRKEY CHOOSES RUSSIA OVER NATO FOR MISSILE DEFENCE

Sourced : Bloomberg By Selcan Hacaoglu Turkey has agreed to pay $2.5 billion to acquire Russia’s most advanced missile defense system, a senior Turkish official said, in a deal that signals a turn away from the NATO military alliance that has anchored Turkey to the West for more than six decades. The preliminary agreement sees Turkey… Continue reading TYRKEY CHOOSES RUSSIA OVER NATO FOR MISSILE DEFENCE

NANOSATELLITES FOR FUTURE NAVAL AND MARITIME APPLICATIONS

Article written by Dr Chris Lavers Principal Scientist at the Dartmouth Centre for Sea Power and Strategy Space provides critical mission access for naval and maritime tactical communications, missile warning, intelligence, and surveillance. However, many problems limit its use: development and operational costs, long construction time, with space increasingly congested and contested, and hostile satellites… Continue reading NANOSATELLITES FOR FUTURE NAVAL AND MARITIME APPLICATIONS

EGYPT FRANCE LAUNCH JOINT NAVAL EXERCISE CLEOPATRA 2017

Sourced : Ahram online Egypt and France are set to launch naval military exercise Cleopatra 2017 on Monday, which will run for several days on Egyptian territorial waters in the Mediterranean and Red Seas. In a statement on Monday, the Egyptian armed forces said the training encompasses several units and naval forces, including Egyptian and… Continue reading EGYPT FRANCE LAUNCH JOINT NAVAL EXERCISE CLEOPATRA 2017

ALL EYES ON SOUTHERN MEDITERRANEAN AS DRILL SHIP ARRIVES TO CYPRUS EEZ

Sourced : In Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades says he hopes that there will not be any Turkish provocations as drill ship ‘West Capella’ arrived off the southern Cypriot coast in the early hours of Wednesday morning. French energy company Total in consortium with Italian Eni, is set to start drilling in Block 11 of Cyprus’… Continue reading ALL EYES ON SOUTHERN MEDITERRANEAN AS DRILL SHIP ARRIVES TO CYPRUS EEZ