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After American threats to impose sanctions against Germany over the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project with Russia have escalated into a letter by US senators Ted Cruz, Tom Cotton und Ron Johnson promising the management of the involved sea port "total annihilation", Germany ponders imposing sanctions against the United States.
On Sunday, the Foreign Office issued a note of protest to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wherein it pointed to the illegality of extraterritorial sanctions under international law. Meanwhile, the semi-public Chamber of International Commerce has surged ahead and calls for an import ban against American liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), a proposal receiving support in the Federal Diet.
Whereas the senators and the US government argue that the pipeline endangers Europe's security, Berlin believes the real reason for Washington's unfriendly demeanour is that the current administration views Russian gas exports to Germany as an obstacle to its plans of selling (less afordable) LPG through European ports. (Source 1, Source 2, German)
Not since 1945 – and not even during the row between George W. Bush and Gerhard Schroeder over the Iraq War – have American-German relations been this bad. What's bizarre is the timing of these threats against Germany.
Right now, America seeks to sell Berlin 45 F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet and 60 CH-47F Chinook in a deal estimated to be worth $16 billion. That deal has now effectively been shelved; Trump and Cruz ensured that voting in favour of it has become tantamount to political suicide.
On Sunday, the Foreign Office issued a note of protest to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wherein it pointed to the illegality of extraterritorial sanctions under international law. Meanwhile, the semi-public Chamber of International Commerce has surged ahead and calls for an import ban against American liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), a proposal receiving support in the Federal Diet.
Whereas the senators and the US government argue that the pipeline endangers Europe's security, Berlin believes the real reason for Washington's unfriendly demeanour is that the current administration views Russian gas exports to Germany as an obstacle to its plans of selling (less afordable) LPG through European ports. (Source 1, Source 2, German)
Not since 1945 – and not even during the row between George W. Bush and Gerhard Schroeder over the Iraq War – have American-German relations been this bad. What's bizarre is the timing of these threats against Germany.
Right now, America seeks to sell Berlin 45 F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet and 60 CH-47F Chinook in a deal estimated to be worth $16 billion. That deal has now effectively been shelved; Trump and Cruz ensured that voting in favour of it has become tantamount to political suicide.
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Two dozen European governments formally delivered a démarche to the US State Department today, criticising Washington's interference with internal European matters as a violation of international law and undue infringement of their sovereignty. Voicing their resolve "not to allow other nations to govern our own affairs", the protest note also announced that in areas marked by disagreements the involved governments would cease to coordinate their foreign policies with the US for the time being.
The US embassy in Germany responded by reiterating that Nord Stream 2 would threaten "the national security and foreign interests of the United States". It also accused Russia of pursuing the pipeline project in order to "divide the nations of Europe, sabotage the economy of Ukraine and impede with the efforts of countries overly reliant on Russian gas imports to diversify their sources of energy supply." (Source, German)
~ I'm afraid this escalation is bound to protract the trade conflict and further divide the US and the European NATO members apart from one another. What's sort of curious about the American justification note is even the Kremlin-subservient Russian media seem to concede that whilst this pipeline will be highly beneficial to Russia's economy, her ability to project power into Europe will receive a blow.
When Russia cut off the gas supply to Ukraine back in 2005 (and by extension to Poland and Czechia), she knew Ukraine's neighbours had no choice but to influence Kiev to get the gas flowing again. This new pipeline, however, will allow countries like Poland to be supplied with Russian gas from the West. They can't be cut off anymore, unless Russia also stops supplying gas to Germany. Which she's never done, not even at the height of the Cold War.
It's kinda funny that only now Uncle Sam has begun to object to a deal struck fifty years ago.
The US embassy in Germany responded by reiterating that Nord Stream 2 would threaten "the national security and foreign interests of the United States". It also accused Russia of pursuing the pipeline project in order to "divide the nations of Europe, sabotage the economy of Ukraine and impede with the efforts of countries overly reliant on Russian gas imports to diversify their sources of energy supply." (Source, German)
~ I'm afraid this escalation is bound to protract the trade conflict and further divide the US and the European NATO members apart from one another. What's sort of curious about the American justification note is even the Kremlin-subservient Russian media seem to concede that whilst this pipeline will be highly beneficial to Russia's economy, her ability to project power into Europe will receive a blow.
When Russia cut off the gas supply to Ukraine back in 2005 (and by extension to Poland and Czechia), she knew Ukraine's neighbours had no choice but to influence Kiev to get the gas flowing again. This new pipeline, however, will allow countries like Poland to be supplied with Russian gas from the West. They can't be cut off anymore, unless Russia also stops supplying gas to Germany. Which she's never done, not even at the height of the Cold War.
It's kinda funny that only now Uncle Sam has begun to object to a deal struck fifty years ago.
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Six U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber aircraft from the 5th Bomb Wing, Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, arrived Aug. 22, 2020, at RAF Fairford, England for a long planned training mission where the aircraft will conduct theater and flight training across Europe and Africa.
The strategic bomber missions, which have been occurring since 2018, provide theater familiarization for aircrew members and opportunities for U.S. integration with NATO allies and regional partners. The bomber missions enhance readiness and provide the training necessary and respond to any potential crisis or challenge across the globe. There have been more than 200 successful flight sorties coordinated with allies and partners since the Bomber Task Force missions began.
“B-52s are back at RAF Fairford, and will be operating across the theater in what will be a very active deployment. Our ability to quickly respond and assure allies and partners rests upon the fact that we are able to deploy our B-52s at a moment’s notice,” said Gen. Jeff Harrigian, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa commander. “Their presence here helps build trust with our NATO allies and partner nations and affords us new opportunities to train together through a variety of scenarios.”
Ongoing planned bomber missions showcase the Air Force’s ability to continue to execute flying missions, sustain readiness and support our allies and partners, regardless of any external challenge to include the current global COVID-19 crisis response or other current events within Europe and Africa.
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/376607/us-air-force-b-52s-return-europe-ally-partner-training
The strategic bomber missions, which have been occurring since 2018, provide theater familiarization for aircrew members and opportunities for U.S. integration with NATO allies and regional partners. The bomber missions enhance readiness and provide the training necessary and respond to any potential crisis or challenge across the globe. There have been more than 200 successful flight sorties coordinated with allies and partners since the Bomber Task Force missions began.
“B-52s are back at RAF Fairford, and will be operating across the theater in what will be a very active deployment. Our ability to quickly respond and assure allies and partners rests upon the fact that we are able to deploy our B-52s at a moment’s notice,” said Gen. Jeff Harrigian, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa commander. “Their presence here helps build trust with our NATO allies and partner nations and affords us new opportunities to train together through a variety of scenarios.”
Ongoing planned bomber missions showcase the Air Force’s ability to continue to execute flying missions, sustain readiness and support our allies and partners, regardless of any external challenge to include the current global COVID-19 crisis response or other current events within Europe and Africa.
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/376607/us-air-force-b-52s-return-europe-ally-partner-training
"Today (1 September 2020), the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) received the first of three shipments of Precision Guided Munitions (PGMs) for 2020, acquired through one of NATO’s multinational High Visibility Projects involving 13 Allies and one NATO partner. Participants are Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain and the United Kingdom. The PGMs, produced in the United States, are arriving between three to twelve months ahead of schedule. The total value of this acquisition is over 44 million US dollars.
Launched in 2014 at the Wales Summit, the NATO project offers participants a framework to acquire air-to-ground PGMs in a cost-effective and flexible way. Working through this initiative, the participants have already succeeded in lowering their acquisition costs by 15-20%. Another added benefit is that participants are able to draw upon each other’s PGM stocks much more easily, for instance during air operations or in a possible crisis. This flexibility means that processing times can be reduced from months to weeks or days.
Recognizing these benefits, the participants have increased their orders through the NATO project. The most recent order, valued at 44 million US dollars, is more than double the first multinational order. The number of different munitions and components procured through the project has also expanded – from four to 15. In 2021, the project is expected to offer further benefits by opening the doors of a first multinational munition warehouse facility to participants. “This effort has set the standard across our portfolio of multinational High Visibility Projects. Having successfully added a wealth of new benefits and features, it has built a compelling and attractive case for Allies and partner nations to take full advantage of all it can offer,” said NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defence Investment, Camille Grand.
NATO also has similar projects for the acquisition of land and maritime munitions offering comparable benefits. This is part of NATO’s work to increase joint investments in critical capabilities that the Alliance needs.
Launched in 2014 at the Wales Summit, the NATO project offers participants a framework to acquire air-to-ground PGMs in a cost-effective and flexible way. Working through this initiative, the participants have already succeeded in lowering their acquisition costs by 15-20%. Another added benefit is that participants are able to draw upon each other’s PGM stocks much more easily, for instance during air operations or in a possible crisis. This flexibility means that processing times can be reduced from months to weeks or days.
Recognizing these benefits, the participants have increased their orders through the NATO project. The most recent order, valued at 44 million US dollars, is more than double the first multinational order. The number of different munitions and components procured through the project has also expanded – from four to 15. In 2021, the project is expected to offer further benefits by opening the doors of a first multinational munition warehouse facility to participants. “This effort has set the standard across our portfolio of multinational High Visibility Projects. Having successfully added a wealth of new benefits and features, it has built a compelling and attractive case for Allies and partner nations to take full advantage of all it can offer,” said NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defence Investment, Camille Grand.
NATO also has similar projects for the acquisition of land and maritime munitions offering comparable benefits. This is part of NATO’s work to increase joint investments in critical capabilities that the Alliance needs.
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The House of Representatives has approved a defence policy bill which, amongst other things, axes plans by President Donald Trump to withdraw American troops from Germany and reallocate them to other European countries. Passed with a substantial majority that included 40 Republican lawmakers, the president cannot veto the bill anymore. (Source, English)
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No matter who wins elections the military-industrial complex always wins. Offshore bank accounts make everyone bipartisan.
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The U.S. is no longer actively preparing to move nearly 12,000 troops out of Germany, putting an initiative proposed by the Trump administration on ice while the Pentagon reviews it, the top American general in Europe said Wednesday.
The plan, which called for relocating U.S. European Command from Stuttgart to Belgium, returning the Vilseck, Germany-based 2nd Cavalry Regiment to the U.S. and a host of other moves, would have been one of the largest repositioning of forces in Europe in decades.
“At this very moment, every single one of those options, they are all on hold. They will all be reexamined from cradle to grave,” U.S. European Command’s Gen. Tod Wolters told reporters.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has begun “a very thorough review” of the proposed drawdown, which was announced in July by his predecessor, Mark Esper, Wolters said.
Then-president Donald Trump had ordered the Pentagon to come up with a plan to reduce the U.S. military presence in Germany, saying that there were too many American troops in the country, which he repeatedly said was not investing enough in its own defense.
https://www.stripes.com/news/europe/us-halts-plans-to-move-12-000-troops-out-of-germany-1.660818
The plan, which called for relocating U.S. European Command from Stuttgart to Belgium, returning the Vilseck, Germany-based 2nd Cavalry Regiment to the U.S. and a host of other moves, would have been one of the largest repositioning of forces in Europe in decades.
“At this very moment, every single one of those options, they are all on hold. They will all be reexamined from cradle to grave,” U.S. European Command’s Gen. Tod Wolters told reporters.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has begun “a very thorough review” of the proposed drawdown, which was announced in July by his predecessor, Mark Esper, Wolters said.
Then-president Donald Trump had ordered the Pentagon to come up with a plan to reduce the U.S. military presence in Germany, saying that there were too many American troops in the country, which he repeatedly said was not investing enough in its own defense.
https://www.stripes.com/news/europe/us-halts-plans-to-move-12-000-troops-out-of-germany-1.660818
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China-operated ports raise security fears for US, NATO
Experts divided on security risk that could expose warships to intelligence-gathering by electronic, visual and human techniques
asiatimes.com
On the other side you have this:
China refuses to allow US warships to make port calls in Hong Kong
www.bangkokpost.com
Quite naive behaviour (NATO) if you ask me.
Experts divided on security risk that could expose warships to intelligence-gathering by electronic, visual and human techniques
China-operated ports raise security fears for US, NATO - Asia Times
Concerns are being raised over the security threat posed at Chinese-operated ports throughout Europe that also service US and NATO warships. While
asiatimes.com
On the other side you have this:
China refuses to allow US warships to make port calls in Hong Kong
China refuses to allow US warships to make port calls in Hong Kong
HONG KONG: China has refused port visits to Hong Kong by two US warships amid continued trade tensions and diplomatic spats between the two sides over pro-democracy protests in the Asian financial hub.
Quite naive behaviour (NATO) if you ask me.
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Watch Out For China Buying Spree, NATO Warns
Watch out for Chinese companies swooping in with buckets of cash to buy strategic stakes, or majority control in U.S. and European companies as asset prices fall due to the pandemic.
www.forbes.com
Watch out for Chinese companies swooping in with buckets of cash to buy strategic stakes, or majority control in U.S. and European companies as asset prices fall due to the pandemic.
Watch Out For China Buying Spree, NATO Warns
NATO general tells member states not to be enticed to sell out to foreign firms as asset prices weaken due to the pandemic.
www.forbes.com
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An officer with Italy's Defence Staff has been caught red-handed selling secret NATO documents to a Russian agent. Italian media reported the arrests were made in a car park and that the Italian, a Lieutenant Commander, received €5,000 in exchange for the classified files. In response to the incident, Italy has already expelled two Russian diplomats. Russia confirmed the arrest and is pondering a response. (Source, English)
Five grand? Five grand? Bugger me. Does that dude owe the mafia money, or why did he sell his honour so cheaply? Like, seriously. I'm fully aware "one million dollars in unmarked bills" is a terrible spy thriller cliché but an Italian Lieutenant Commander makes five grand in six weeks.
Five grand? Five grand? Bugger me. Does that dude owe the mafia money, or why did he sell his honour so cheaply? Like, seriously. I'm fully aware "one million dollars in unmarked bills" is a terrible spy thriller cliché but an Italian Lieutenant Commander makes five grand in six weeks.
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A B-1B Bomber Suffered Significant Engine Damage While Deployed To Norway
The incident remains under investigation, but has already led to a squadron commander getting removed from their post.
www.thedrive.com
The 7th Bomb Wing's public affairs office confirmed that the mishap occurred and that it took place in Norway in a statement to The War Zone on Apr. 16, 2021.
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The first flight of F-35A fighters from the 48th Fighter Wing of the US Air Force arrived at the British airbase Lakenheath.
These are the first fifth-generation fighters of the US Air Force to be permanently based in Europe. The remaining fifty are due in the next year and a half.
These are the first fifth-generation fighters of the US Air Force to be permanently based in Europe. The remaining fifty are due in the next year and a half.
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Russia has issued interesting demands to NATO over the Ukraine situation. Among military and proliferation assurances, Moscow demands that
At best, this is a negotiation tactic along the lines of "advance three stepts, retreat two steps". However, it rather feels as an overture for more aggressive steps in Russia's foreign policy. NATO has no choice but to reject these demands, which Mr. Putin must surely know. So, in all likelihood he'll want to use the rejection of his so called olive branch to justify further measures to "secure" the Russian sphere of influence.
Slowly but steadily one has to grow concerned. That document speaks volumes about the world view of the Kremlin and its inability to understand the sensitivities of Eastern European countries like Poland. I always advocated taking Russian sensitivities into concern, no matter how strange they appeared to us, but with this draft Russia has officially declared its disregard for the sovereignty of the peoples of Eastern Europe.
The right to self-determination is enshrined in the alliance's charters. Demanding that NATO ignores this very corner stone of its foundation is as if NATO would've demanded in 1980 that the erstwhile Warsaw Pact should renounce communism. As if that's not enough, Russia demands that
In other words, in order to defuse the current tensions NATO should concede not to defend members which joined NATO after 1997. This would be literally the end of NATO. A military alliance that allows a foreign power to determine whether or not it defends itself is useless.
At best, this is a negotiation tactic along the lines of "advance three stepts, retreat two steps". However, it rather feels as an overture for more aggressive steps in Russia's foreign policy. NATO has no choice but to reject these demands, which Mr. Putin must surely know. So, in all likelihood he'll want to use the rejection of his so called olive branch to justify further measures to "secure" the Russian sphere of influence.
Slowly but steadily one has to grow concerned. That document speaks volumes about the world view of the Kremlin and its inability to understand the sensitivities of Eastern European countries like Poland. I always advocated taking Russian sensitivities into concern, no matter how strange they appeared to us, but with this draft Russia has officially declared its disregard for the sovereignty of the peoples of Eastern Europe.
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^^
Very reasonable response by Russia considering NATO political hysterics about location of the Russian army units on Russian territory.
This political saga shows NATO as an aggressor who disregard principal of sovereignty of Russia in their attempt to justify the waste of taxpayers money so NATO top political brass can keep filling up their pockets.
I just hope that NATO greedy and silly politicians won't subject poor European people to horrors of another "great" European war.
Very reasonable response by Russia considering NATO political hysterics about location of the Russian army units on Russian territory.
This political saga shows NATO as an aggressor who disregard principal of sovereignty of Russia in their attempt to justify the waste of taxpayers money so NATO top political brass can keep filling up their pockets.
I just hope that NATO greedy and silly politicians won't subject poor European people to horrors of another "great" European war.
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Greece accuses Turkey of 42 airspace violations - World Today News
Greek F-16 fighters forced intruders to leave the country’s airspace – – Greek military aircraft rose to intercept the armed Turkish F-16 fighters. On Friday, Turkish military aircraft violated Greek airspace dozens of times. This is reported on December 17 TASS with reference to the General...
www.world-today-news.com
The General Staff added that Greek military aircraft rose to intercept Turkish fighters, which, in accordance with international practice, forced the violators to leave the country’s airspace.
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