Commentary: Meanwhile, Over at the Massive Russian Military Buildup

25 Wednesday Sep 2013

Posted by Bruce K. Anderson in Baltics, European News, Russia

Tags

Baltic, Military exercise, NATO, Russia, Russian Armed Forces, Steadfast Jazz, Zapad 2013

A military exercise of the Russian Northern Fleet. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Kristopher Rikken, ERR News – Estonian Public Broadcasting, Sept. 25, 2013

With Zapad 2013, Russia’s answer to NATO‘s Steadfast Jazz military exercise, continuing in parts east, ERR News profiles a piece that originally ran on February 13.

One year ago, Russia unveiled a new doctrine: then presidential candidate Vladimir Putin openly avowed an intention to radically expand and upgrade the Russian military. As of February 2013, the country continues to pursue the biggest military buildup in years in its western military district, which is flush up against Baltic borders and already easily the country’s most powerful in conventional military terms…

It’s unclear how much NATO’s own actions are driving the escalation, but only one side (Russia) has mentioned a “pre-war state,” which has drawn a response…

For a year now, the main theme in the Russian military doctrine has been a “prewar situation.”

“It took just three years for the ‘prewar state’ meme to make it from a retired colonel’s interview to a speech delivered by the President to the Federal Assembly… (more)

Commanders Discuss NATO-Russian Observations of Military Exercises (news.err.ee)
Russian Military Exercise Focuses on Western Nations, Says Reinsalu (news.err.ee)
HS: Large-scale Russian military exercises begin close to Finland (rusfinrelations.wordpress.com)
Russian military exercises trigger Baltic concern (stratrisks.com)

Bloomberg: Russian War Games on Baltic Border Spark Security Fears

24 Tuesday Sep 2013

Posted by Bruce K. Anderson in Baltics, European News, Foreign Policy, Russia

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Baltic, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, NATO, Russia, Soviet Union, Steadfast Jazz, Zapad 2013

Post-Soviet states in alphabetical order: 1. Armenia, 2. Azerbaijan, 3. Belarus, 4. Estonia, 5. Georgia, 6. Kazakhstan, 7. Kyrgyzstan, 8. Latvia, 9. Lithuania, 10. Moldova, 11. Russia, 12. Tajikistan, 13. Turkmenistan, 14. Ukraine, 15. Uzbekistan (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Ott Ummelas & Aaron Eglitis, Bloomberg, Sept. 20, 2013

Baltic officials said regional security had been weakened as Russia led military exercises on their doorstep involving almost 12,000 troops.

A week of land and sea maneuvers dubbed “Zapad 2013,” or “West 2013,” began today as part of biennial exercises with Belarus, Russia’s Defense Ministry said on its website. Troops in both nations tested coordination in destroying “illegal armed formations,” it said.

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which regained independence in 1991 after half a century of Soviet rule, joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 2004 amid Russian opposition. NATO has held exercises in the Baltic region since 2010, while Russia has opened new military bases and deployed more troops on its western border in recent years, according to the defense ministers of Estonia and Latvia… (more)

Related articles

Russian war games with 12,000 troops trigger Baltic concern (stripes.com)
Commanders Discuss NATO-Russian Observations of Military Exercises (news.err.ee)
Russian Military Exercise Focuses on Western Nations, Says Reinsalu (news.err.ee)
Defense Forces Express Surprise at Scale of ‘Zapad’ (news.err.ee)
Russian paratroopers arrive in Belarus for Zapad-2013 military exercises (indrus.in)
HS: Large-scale Russian military exercises begin close to Finland (rusfinrelations.wordpress.com)
Verkkouutiset.fi: Russia simulates occupation of Baltic countries (rusfinrelations.wordpress.com)
[Photo] Eight Russian combat planes skirted Estonian airspace on their way to huge Zapad 2013 exercise (theaviationist.com)
“Immense” Russian – Belarusian military exercise (possibly focused on neutralizing an ethnic unrest) taking place in eastern Europe (theaviationist.com)

The security concerns of the Baltic States as NATO allies

04 Wednesday Sep 2013

Posted by Bruce K. Anderson in Baltics, European News, Foreign Policy, Military and Defense

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Baltic States, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, NATO, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Steadfast Jazz

Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Dr. James S. Corum, Strategic Studies Institute and U.S. Army War College Press,The three Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania hold a special position among the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) nations, as they are the three full members of the Western Alliance that were once republics of
the Soviet Union… (more)

Belgium Takes Baton in Baltic Air-Policing Mission (news.err.ee)
Military conflict in the Baltics – the worst-case scenario (phantomreport.com)
NATO may consider Estonian backup base for Baltic air policing mission (stratrisks.com)
Principled Stand of the U.S. with the Baltics Still Resonates Today (heritage.org)
U.S. – Baltic relations: Laying the groundwork for deeper cooperation (estonianworld.com)
Baltic States Divided On Merging Armed Forces (historychannelfromthewar.com)
Steadfast Jazz to Feature Baltic Invasion Scenario (news.err.ee)
Joint Statement by the United States of America, Republic of Estonia, Republic of Latvia, and Republic of Lithuania + Fact Sheets + Action Alert (#TPP #TTIP) (dandelionsalad.wordpress.com)
Exercises, Training to Posture NATO for Future Challenges (defense.gov)
NATO Response Force 2014. & NATO’s Upcoming Exercise “Steadfast Jazz 2013” (12160.info)

Exercises, Training to Posture NATO for Future Challenges

06 Tuesday Aug 2013

Posted by Bruce K. Anderson in Baltics, European News, Foreign Policy, Military and Defense

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NATO, NATO Response Force, Steadfast Jazz

By Donna Miles, American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5, 2013 – Sharpened by the past decade of combat operations, NATO forces are launching an ambitious effort to build on that foundation and to enhance the capabilities of the NATO Response Force, the top U.S. and NATO commander reported.

“After more than 10 years of experience fighting together in Afghanistan, we have achieved an unprecedented level of cohesiveness among allies and partners,” Air Force Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, NATO’s supreme allied commander for Europe and commander of U.S. European Command, said in his new blog posting…(more)

Steadfast Jazz to Feature Baltic Invasion Scenario (news.err.ee)
NATO Response Force 2014. & NATO’s Upcoming Exercise “Steadfast Jazz 2013” (12160.info)
Breedlove: Detachment in Poland Reflects Commitment to Europe (defense.gov)
Russia Furious About NATO Drill Centered Around “Foreign Invasion” of Poland (usahitman.com)
Sweden registers Nato force interest (thelocal.se)
The Necessity of NATO in the Post Cold War World (thomasheier.wordpress.com)

Sweden registers Nato force interest (thelocal.se)
The Necessity of NATO in the Post Cold War World (thomasheier.wordpress.com)

The Case for U.S. Troops in Europe Today

16 Tuesday Jul 2013

Posted by Bruce K. Anderson in Foreign Policy, Military and Defense

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NATO, U.S. forces in Europe, United States, United States Armed Forces

Taken from The Future of U.S. Bases in Europe: A View from America

By Luke Coffey, Heritage Foundation, July 15, 2013

… “In my opinion, however, basing American troops in Europe directly serves U.S. national security interests.

Of course, the presence of U.S. forces in Europe contributes to the collective defense of U.S. allies on the continent, but this is a consequence of, not the reason for, maintaining a robust presence. The challenge for U.S. decision makers is to keep a military force that can promote U.S. interests in the region without creating a culture of dependence on the U.S. security umbrella among some of America’s European allies.

The commonly held belief that U.S. forces are in Europe to protect European allies from a threat that no longer exists is wrong. In fact, forward basing U.S. troops in Europe is just as important now as it was during the Cold War, albeit for different reasons… (more)

Withdrawing US Forces From Europe Weakens America – Analysis (albanytribune.com)
U.S. Presence in Europe Critical in the Years Ahead (heritage.org)
Poland Welcomes U.S. Troops (freebeacon.com)
US Army Creates NATO Rapid-Deployment Forces (stratrisks.com)
DOD Announces U.S. Force Posture Revision in Europe (waronterrornews.typepad.com)

Exercise Rapid Trident 2013 – Multinational exercise in the Ukraine

16 Tuesday Jul 2013

Posted by Bruce K. Anderson in European News, Military and Defense

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Interoperability, NATO, NATO-Ukraine, Partnership for Peace, Rapid Trident, Ukraine, United States, United States European Command

Location map of Ukraine within Europe (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Rapid Trident supports interoperability among Ukraine, the United States, NATO and Partnership for Peace member nations. The exercise helps prepare participants to operate successfully in a joint, multinational, integrated environment with host-nation support from civil and governmental agencies.

Rapid Trident is a part of U.S. European Command’s Joint Training and Exercise Program, designed to enhance joint combined interoperability with allied and partner nations.

The exercise also supports Ukraine’s Annual National Program to achieve interoperability with NATO and commitments made in the annual NATO-Ukraine work plan.

Ukraine hospitals treating 19 soldiers during international war game (upi.com)
NATO Advise Ukraine on Military Education Reform (sys-con.com)
Slovakia: NATO Conducts Largest-Ever Logistics Exercise (rickrozoff.wordpress.com)
NATO starts large-scale security drills in Baltic region (panarmenian.net)

Exercise Saber Strike 2013 – Multinational exercise hosted in the Baltics

16 Tuesday Jul 2013

Posted by Bruce K. Anderson in Baltics, Military and Defense

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Baltic States, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Multinational Corps Northeast, NATO, Saber Strike, U.S. Army Europe, United States, United States Army

Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Saber Strike is a long-standing, multilateral, multifaceted, U.S Army Europe-led security cooperation exercise primarily focused on the three Baltic States. The exercise spans multiple locations in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia and involves approximately 2,000 personnel from 14 countries.

In addition to major contingents from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, Saber Strike 2013 includes participation from Finland, France, the United Kingdom, Poland, NATO’s Multinational Corps Northeast (MNC NE), U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), the U.S. Army and Air National Guard, U.S. Army Cadet Command and observers from Norway and Sweden.

The exercise trains participants on command and control as well as interoperability with regional partners and is comprised of a brigade-level command post exercise and computer assisted exercise, as well as company-level field and situational training exercises. It also features the integration of U.S. close air support with partner nation ground forces and the demonstration of U.S. Expeditionary Medical Support (EMEDS) capability.

This theater security cooperation exercise provides commanders and their staffs practical experience in organizing, controlling and supporting coalition operations and allows the United States, NATO and participating nations to demonstrate their own unique roles in contributing to regional and global stability by strengthening international military partnerships, enhancing multinational interoperability and preparing participants for worldwide contingency operations.

Saber Strike 2013 successfully concluded (video) (estonianworld.com)
Baltic States Prepare for International Saber Strike Exercise (nosint.blogspot.com)
Saber Strike 2013 to take place in early June (estonianworld.com)
NATO starts large-scale security drills in Baltic region (panarmenian.net)

New report on European military capabilities

07 Tuesday May 2013

Posted by Bruce K. Anderson in European News, Foreign Policy, Military and Defense

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European Union, Institute for Security Studies, Military of the European Union, Multilateral

By James Rogers, European Geostrategy, May 6, 2013

Chairman of the European Union Military Committe visits EUFOR HQ (Photo credit: European External Action Service – EEAS)

The European Union’s Institute for Security Studies published a report commissioned by the European Union’s Military Committee to provide further reflection during 2013 about the future of European military capabilities.

The report argues that we are likely to face a series of growing threats and challenges, particularly in relation to the changing balance of global power… (more)

Related articles

UK to lead largest European military exercise, Joint Warrior (stratrisks.com)
EADS CEO Sees European Military Cuts Eroding Defense Industry – Bloomberg (bloomberg.com)
Nato chief: EU soft power is ‘no power at all’ (euobserver.com)
NATO chief urges EU nations to invest in security, defence Brussels (en.trend.az)
[Interview] Sweden: who needs Nato, when you have the Lisbon Treaty? (euobserver.com)
NATO: Responsible for the “territorial defence of Europe” and “peace-making” ? (latestnewssyria.wordpress.com)
Hillary Clinton sends a stern message to Europe to invest in NATO’s future (upi.com)
The E.U. Must Take on a Military Role (carnegie.ru)
Coping with Sweden’s neutrality dilemma after Russian mock attack (pleventhinkers.wordpress.com)
Europe ignores collective security system flaws at own peril (indrus.in)

Europe’s defense capabilities gap

30 Tuesday Apr 2013

Posted by Bruce K. Anderson in European News

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The European Defence Agency (EDA) members: Blue: European Union Light blue: Opt-out (Denmark) Green: Opt-in (Norway) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Jorge Benitez, NATOSource, April 29, 2013From Thomas Enders and Wolfgang Ischinger, Munich Security Conference: Demands are growing – as the recent crises in Mali and Libya illustrate – even as defence budgets steadily decline. . . .

In light of this situation, Europe – especially Germany, France, and Great Britain – should reach agreement on three aspects of joint defence:

1. The strategic objective.

2. The extent of shared sovereignty.

3. The design of the market… (more)

(A longer, German version of this article appeared in the German newspaper Handelsblatt [translated here] on April 26, 2013.)

European Defence Matters: Report on the European Defence Agency Annual Conference (ec.europa.eu)
Europe Must Invest More in Security, Demand Wolfgang Ischinger and Thomas Enders (regards-citoyens.com)
America, our great protector, is looking the other way (telegraph.co.uk)
[Interview] Sweden: who needs Nato, when you have the Lisbon Treaty? (euobserver.com)
NATO Holds Annual Cyber Defense Exercise (tech.slashdot.org)
Germany`s Defense Minister Gives Some Blunt Opinions (warnewsupdates.blogspot.com)

DOD Conducts ‘BRAC-like’ Review in Europe

29 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by Bruce K. Anderson in European News, Military and Defense

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Tags

EUCOM, James G. Stavridis, U.S. Army Europe, United States Department of Defense, United States European Command, USAREUR

Europe - Satellite image - PlanetObserver

Europe – Satellite image (Photo credit: PlanetObserver)

By Donna Miles, American Forces Press Service, April 26, 2013While the U.S. continues to reduce its military presence in Europe, the Defense Department is conducting a review to identify more Europe-based installations and training areas to recommend for closure or realignment….In fact, the U.S. force in Europe has decreased about 80 percent from the height of the Cold War, when the United States had 450,000 service members serving at some 1,200 bases, Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis, the U.S. European Command commander and supreme allied commander for Europe, told Congress last month.

Today, Eucom consists of 64,000 joint forces, representing less than 5 percent of the U.S. military, spread across 21 major bases and smaller supporting sites, Stavridis reported… (more)

Official Makes Case for More Base Closures, Realignments (defense.gov)
Stavridis: Europe Remains Strategically Vital to U.S. (defense.gov)
DOD hopes to save money with more base closures, fewer civilians (stripes.com)