NATO Defence Ministers agreed that NATO will provide support to assist with the refugee and migrant crisis on Thursday (11 February 2016). “The goal is to participate in the international efforts to stem the illegal trafficking and illegal migration in the Aegean,” Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said. NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 is currently deployed… Continue reading NATO DEFENCE MINISTERS AGREE ON NATO SUPPORT TO ASSIST WITH THE REFUGEE AND MIGRANT CRISIS
SYRIA CEASE-FIRE BRINGS TURKEY CLOSER TO WAR
By Roy Gutman Foreign Policy Secretary of State John Kerry’s agreement with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, billed as an opening to the cessation of hostilities in Syria, turned out to be the starting shot for more intensive Russian bombing of cities and towns, hospitals, and schools in the north of the country. And Russia’s… Continue reading SYRIA CEASE-FIRE BRINGS TURKEY CLOSER TO WAR
LM AWARDED 141,9 MILLION DOLLARS CONTRACT FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF 4+1 HELLENIC NAVY’S P-3B ORION AIRCRAFT
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Marietta, Georgia, is being awarded a not-to-exceed $141,936,871 value firm-fixed-price, undefinitized contract action for the modernization program of the 4+1 Hellenic Navy’s P-3B Orion Maritime Patrol (MP)/Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)/Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW) aircraft. The contract provides for the reactivation of one P-3B Orion aircraft and the procurement of hardware kits for the upgrade/modernization… Continue reading LM AWARDED 141,9 MILLION DOLLARS CONTRACT FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF 4+1 HELLENIC NAVY’S P-3B ORION AIRCRAFT
CIA: ISIS HAS CHEMICAL WEAPONS
The director of the Central Intelligence Agency said Islamic State fighters in Syria have used chemical weapons. John Brennan said there are a number of instances where the terrorist group has used “chemical munitions on the battlefield.” His comments were featured in excerpts from the television news show 60 Minutes. The full interview with Brennan… Continue reading CIA: ISIS HAS CHEMICAL WEAPONS
SAUDI’S DECISION TO SEND TROOPS IN SYRIA “FINAL”
Saudi’s decision to send troops to Syria in an attempt to bolster and toughen efforts against militants is “final” and “irreversible,” the Saudi military spokesman announced on Thursday. Brig. Gen. Ahmed Al-Assiri, said that Riyadh is “ready” and will fight with its U.S.-led coalition allies to defeatISIS militants in Syria, however, he said Washington is… Continue reading SAUDI’S DECISION TO SEND TROOPS IN SYRIA “FINAL”
PUTIN PLACED THE AIRBORNE FORCES AND THE SOUTHERN MILITARY DISTRICT ON HIGH ALERT
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin on February the 8th, ordered the Southern Military District Forces, as well as the designated Airborne Forces and Military Transport Aviation units of this Military District, to undergo immediate combat readiness checks. The decision of the President was announced to the media by the Minister of Defence General Sergey Shoygu. According… Continue reading PUTIN PLACED THE AIRBORNE FORCES AND THE SOUTHERN MILITARY DISTRICT ON HIGH ALERT
PRINCESS ROYAL FORMALLY OPENS ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE NEW UNIT
Leeds’ first Royal Naval Reserve Unit HMS Ceres has been formally commissioned by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal. Princess Anne was the guest of honour at the ceremony as the headquarters was formally dedicated before attending the official reception. HMS Ceres has existed in various forms as a naval establishment in Yorkshire over the… Continue reading PRINCESS ROYAL FORMALLY OPENS ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE NEW UNIT
SPAIN DISMANTLES SUSPECTED ISIS CELLS IN ARRESTS ACROSS COUNTRY
By Jack Moore Spanish authorities dismantled a suspected Islamic State militant group (ISIS) cell on Sunday, arresting seven people in a number of raids across the country. The raids took place in the eastern provinces of Valencia and Alicante and the North African Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Police have been monitoring the cell since 2014.… Continue reading SPAIN DISMANTLES SUSPECTED ISIS CELLS IN ARRESTS ACROSS COUNTRY
HMS DEFENDER IN THE INDIAN OCEAN
HMS Defender’s helicopter ‘Joanna’ has been holding training drills in the middle of the Indian Ocean as the destroyer makes her way towards the port of Visakhapatnam in India. The Portsmouth-based warship is one of two dozen vessels from the navies of the world attending the Indian International Fleet Review, which formally opens on Friday,… Continue reading HMS DEFENDER IN THE INDIAN OCEAN
RAND REPORT QUESTIONS NUCLEAR ROLE IN DEFENDING BALTIC STATES
By Hans M. Kristensen FEDERATION OF AMERICAN SCIENTISTS The RAND Corporation has published an interesting new report on how NATO would defend the Baltic States against a Russian attack. Without spending much time explaining why Russia would launch a military attack against the Baltic States in the first place – the report simply declares “the… Continue reading RAND REPORT QUESTIONS NUCLEAR ROLE IN DEFENDING BALTIC STATES