NATO Secretary General at Tapa Army Base, Estonia 🇪🇪, 23 OCT 2024

New NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited President Alex Karis of Estonia at Tapa Army Base,headquarters of NATO Enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup Estonia,which is UK-led,with additional troops from France and the US.Estonia has a land border with Russia,so the NATO efp Battlegroup Estonia bolsters deterrence and defence on NATO's Eastern Flank.

NATO Secretary General with the Prime Minister of Latvia 🇱🇻 Evika Siliņa,16 OCT 2024

Canada leads eFP Battlegroup Latvia to protect the Eastern Flank.Latvia participates in the KFOR peackeeping force in Kosovo and in NATO's training mission in Iraq.

A NATO First:Bomber Task Force Mission in Romania

Air Force Global Strike Command News Release:U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa 23 JUL 2024,Two U.S. Air Force Boeing B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers arrived at Mihail Kogaliceanu Air Base,Romania out of Barksdale Air Force Base,Louisiana for Bomber Task Force 24-4 on 21 JUL 2024.*While flying in international airspace and in accordance with international law,the U.S. B-52 aircraft were intercepted by two Russian aircraft over the Barents Sea,Arctic Region,at approximately 8 a.m. Central European Time.They did not change course due to the intercept and continued along their scheduled flight plan without incident,the Air Force said.The B-52s performed their pre-planned mission of integrating with NATO fighter aircraft before landing in Romania.While deployed,the B-52s will operate as the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron across the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR).Said GEN James B. Hecker,USAFE-AFAFRICA commander:In today's global environment,it is vital that we be postured to deliver a range of sustainable capability from great distances.This iteration of Bomber Task Force offers an excellent opportunity to refine our Agile Combat Employment (ACE) tactics,techniques and procedures (TTPs).Through collaborative efforts with our Allies,the U.S. enables our forces to combat current and future threats.*Bomber Task Force missions are not announced in advance to give potential adversaries pause.They emphasise Air Force Global Strike Command's ability to deploy forces anytime,anywhere throughout the globe.Through these missions,USAFE-AFAFRICA enables Dynamic Force Employment (DFE) to the European theatre,providing strategic predictability and assurance for Allies and Partners,while contributing to deterrence and defence by introducing greater operational unpredictability for potential adversaries.*Continued GEN Hecker:The U.S. is dedicated to work alongside our Allies and Partners along the Eastern Flank to ensure we have the combined skills and coordination capabilities to maintain regional safety,security and stability.*Regular routine deployments of U.S. strategic bombers demonstrate how the U.S. and NATO are ready,postured and well-prepared to deter threats,and,if necessary,defend the Alliance.*Boeing (BA)

NATO Land Forces:U.S. Army Europe and Africa Instills Warfighting Culture

According to its updated command video,U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAEURA) provides combat-credible forces to deter,and,if necessary,defeat aggression by any potential adversary both in Europe and Africa.USAEURA sets the essential conditions necessary and is prepared to serve as a combined joint force command to fight and win across the full spectrum of military operations.As USAEURA does this and campaigns on two continents,we focus on four lines of effort:first,we set the theatre.We stand united to provide sustainment,logistics and intelligence to ensure the success of joint and combined operations around the globe.Next,we present combat-credible forces for two combatant commands (U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command).We are trained,ready to deploy and fight beside our Allies to win by decisive action against a near-peer enemy anytime,anywhere.Third,we maintain interoperability with our Allies and Partners for joint training and operations;we are ready to deter and defend amongst our Allies against all adversaries.And finally,we must modernise the force.We are getting modern technologies into the hands of our Soldiers faster than ever.These lines of effort are important because they strengthen our warfighting culture,a culture that instills in each Soldier a sense of discipline and demands adherence to standards,leading to strong,cohesive teams.This culture is what takes Soldiers from different countries and backgrounds and makes them a force,prepared and empowered as warfighters ready to face evolving and growing challenges now and in the furture:Stronger Together.*For example,U.S. Army Garrison Poland on NATO's Eastern Flank welcomed a new commander on 28 June 2024.Leadership passed for the first time in its history as COL Jesse Chace took command of the first permanent Army home in the Republic of Poland during a change of command ceremony held at Camp Kosciusko.Chace took from COL Christopher Church,who played a pivitol role in transforming the small band of Soldiers and civilians into a 100-strong team capable of delivering base support services and infrastructure to 7500 Soldiers across the U.S. Army V Corps Area of Operations.Chace assumed command of 11 installations across the three military communities of Poznan,Powidz and Swiatoszow.His leadership will also include command and control of U.S. Army Garrison Black Sea,overseeing Mihail Kogalniceanu Airbase in Romania and Novo Selo Training Area in Bulgaria-further aligning the Army's home along NATO's forward edge,a USAEURA article pointed out.*Also,U.S. Army BGEN James Kent signed the V Corps distinguished visitors guest book during his visit to V Corps forward headquarters,Camp Kosciuszko,Poland to learn more about how he can help with the unique challenges of the camp and NATO relationships in the operational area.V Corps is America's forward-deployed corps in Europe,defending the Eastern Flank.LTGEN Charles Constanza is commanding general of V Corps.*A U.S. Army Corps consists of 20,000-45,000 troops.

NATO 2024: Strategic Defence Plans Against Russia - YouTube - UATV News

NATO Upgrades Deterrence and Defence,Develops Strategies to Deal With Contingencies - plus Finland's Key Role in NATO Land Forces

According to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg:Allies have agreed the most comprehensive defence plans since the Cold War to deter and defend against global threats,including Russia.Our military planners are translating these plans into concrete requirements,identifying the forces needed to defend us.Allies are offering forces to NATO's command at a scale not seen in decades.Today we have 500,000 troops at high readiness across all domains-significantly more than was set out at the 2022 Madrid Summit.NATO has also doubled the number of battle groups in the Eastern Flank.Allies are also taking on larger,more demanding exercises to test our capabilities.The many threats we face demand significant capability requirements from Allies in areas such as weapons and ammunition;air and missile defence;logisitics;and long-range weapons. Over the next five years,NATO Allies across Europe and Canada plan to acquire thousands of air defence and artillery systems;850 modern aircraft,including fifth generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighters;and also many other high-end capabilties.We have also invested in more innovation,including one millon in the NATO Innovation Fund...We also discussed the ongoing adaptation of our nuclear capabilities.We are a nuclear Alliance committed to being responsible and transparent,but clear in our resolve to preserve peace;prevent coercion;and deter aggression...Many Allies have already expelled a large number of Russian intelligence operatives.This is considered necessary to counter the hostile actions that Russia is accountable for.And there's a pattern here,an intensified campaign by Russia to conduct hostile actions:sabotage;arson;cyber attacks against NATO Allies.There have been several arrests across the Alliance:in the UK,Poland,Germany and in the Baltic countries-all people who have been accused of working with the Russian intelligence services to conduct sabotage against infrastructure and other facilities in our countries.Restriction of the movement of Russian intelligence officers has already been imposed,but we are welcoming further such actions by Allies.The South is of course important to NATO.NATO has the ability to pivot in any direction that is needed.And that is why I have asked for and established a group of experts that presented their report on how NATO can utilise the opportunities in our Southern neighbourhood;and also address some of the challenges we face there,at least in Africa.This report is part of something we are addressing at NATO,and I am sure it will lead to decisions,conclusions by Allies to further strengthen our approach to the challenges that we see in our Southern neighbourhood.NATO has a presence-we have a training mission in Iraq.We have Partnerships with Mauritania;with Iraq;with Tunisia and others;but of course we can do more.I think it's important to remember,when we are investing in new military capabilities,that it's also relevant to the South.*Moreover,according to the Reuters news agency,Finland will host a new land command unit of the NATO Alliance,Finnish Defence Minister Anti Hakkanen told reporters in Brussels on 13 June 2024.Said Hakkanen:I'm pleased to state today that all NATO member states have given their political consent to Finland's key goals in its NATO integration.Finland will host a NATO command and there will be land force presence in Finland.*According to Hakkanen,the NATO land command will be tasked with directing land warfare operations in Northern Europe and Scandanavia.He declined to specify the location of the command or how many NATO troops could be posted to Finland,as planning was still ongoing.*Under NATO's new command structure,all Nordic countries are under Joint Forces Command,Norfolk,Virginia,which are in charge of North Atlantic defence.*Said Hakkanen:With these decisions,the security of Finland and,at the same time,the security of Northern Europe is strengthened,and they significantly benefit the security of the entire Alliance.*

Germany sends first soldiers for permanent Lithuania force | DW News - 8 APR 2024

German Soldiers have arrived in Lithuania to shore up NATO's Eastern Flank.It opens a massive infrastructure project,including accomodations for families and schools for children,with the end state being about 5,000 troops,a full permanent brigade.It is unprecedented to permanently deploy this many Bendeswehr troops,not seen since World War II.The first 21 Soldiers will interface with the Lithuanian authorities to get the project going.

Exercise Brilliant Jump is underway

Defence Cooperation:US and Finland Bulk Up NATO's Eastern Flank

According to a Government of Finland Press Release,in its plenary session on 14 December 2023,the Finnish Government decided to propose that the President of the Republic,Sauli Niinisto,authorise Minister of Defence Antii Hakkonen to sign the Defence Cooperation Agreement with the United States.This was carried out on 18 December 2023 in the State Department Treaty Room in Washington,DC,with Secretary of State Antony Blinken signing along with Defence Minister Hakkonen,in the presence of Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen.The agreement is subject to ratification by the Finnish Parliament and the US Senate.*The US is one of Finland's most important allies.Negotiations for the DCA were opened in August 2022.It is a binding agreement under international law.The negotiations concluded in October 2023.President Niinisto and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy decided in favour of approving the result of the negotiations on 27 November 2023.Parliament was kept informed on the progress of the negotiations in accordance with sections 47 and 97 of the Constitution.*The DCA will strengthen Finland's defence as it enables the presence and training of US forces on and the prepositioning of defence materiel on the territory of Finland,according to the Press Release.Thus it will also bolster NATO's deterrence and defence policy.According to Foreign Minister Valtonen,the DCA will:strengthen Finland's defence and enable cooperation in all security situations.The DCA also has regional importance,and it will help Finland contribute to NATO's collective defence efforts.*Said Minister of Defence Antii Hakkonen:The signature of the DCA is not an end point,but a new step towards even closer cooperation between Finland and the United States.The agreement reflects the United States' committment to Finland's security and it creates the conditions for cooperation in times of crises.Finland is not alone in defending itself,but does so as a NATO Ally and together with the United States.*The DCA deals with such matters as US access to,and use of,the 15 agreed facilities and areas;prepositioning of defence equipment,supplies and materiel on the territiory of Finland;entry and movement of US aircraft,vessels and vehicles;ensuring the protection,safety and security of US forces and the facilities and areas they use;and devises practical matters related to US forces on the territory of Finland,including the activity of US and Finnish contractors.The 15 agreed facilities and areas are listed in Annex A to the agreement.Finland will authorise the United States unimpeded access to and use of the facilities and areas for activities listed in the DCA.As a rule,the cooperation between Finland and the United States will focus on the agreed facilities and areas.However,the DCA will apply to the entire area of Finland.*The United States will commit to conducting all activities under the DCA with full respect for the sovereignty,laws,and international obligations of Finland.No nuclear weapons are permitted on Finnish territory.Regular provisions of the DCA contain obligations of the parties regarding consultations,respect for shared views,and coordination of measures to ensure the proper implementation of the agreement.*According to Annex A,the facilities and areas include:Ivalos Border Guard Base;Kuopio,Rissala,Konelin Air Command Base;various storage and training areas;Roveniemi (on the Arctic Circle) Lapland Air Command Base and Jaeger Brigade Garrison;Tampere-Pirkkala,Satekune Air Command Base;Jyvaskyla-Tikkakoski Air Force Academy Air Base;and Upinniemi Navy Base and Garrison in Kirkonummi including Russaro Island.*Finalnd's border with Russia runs for 1340 km/830 mi.It mainly crosses taiga forests and sparsely populated rural araeas.The border has been completely closed until at least 14 January 2024 because of an influx of undocumented migrants into Finland at two border crossings-an act of suspected hybrid warfare by Russia to destabilise Finland.

NATO. E-3A AWACS airborne early warning aircraft in Lithuania.

Staffed with multinational aircrews,the E-3A Sentries were recently deployed to Lithuania to strengthen NATO's Eastern Flank.

Army 3rd Infantry Division to Europe for NATO Operation

Some 4500 U.S. Army Soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division are headed for Europe,or have alredy arrived there,to bolster NATO's Eastern Flank.Members of the 3rd Infantry Division's Headquarters began departing from Hunter Army Airfield,Georgia on 5 September 2023.On 9 September,a change of command ceremony was held as the Army's 4th Infantry Division transferred authority for Poland-Baltic States protection to 3rd Infantry Division,Task Force Marne-referring to the unit's history in the World War I Battle of the Marne.Task Force Marne will serve in support of Operation Assure,Deter and Reinforce,working alongside NATO Allies and regional security Partners to provide combat-credible Forces to U.S. Army V Corps,America's forward deployed corps in Europe,the Army said.Thus Task Force Marne assumes control of infantry,armored,aviation,and logisitics units across Poland and the Baltic Sea Region.Said 3rd Infantry Division commander,Major General Christopher Norrie:Once again,we have the privilege of standing together with our Polish Allies,the Baltic States,and the rest of NATO.We have stood shoulder-to-shoulder against tyranny and oppression,and we pray that this Alliance will continue to be a beacon of hope for all who aspire for freedom and justice around the world.Added Lt.Gen.John Kolasheski,commanding general of V Corps:Your presence here on the Eastern Flank of NATO is essential to gauranteeing a free and open Europe.We will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our Allies from across the Alliance during this deployment,which is critical.And should deterrence fail,we will be prepared to defend every inch of sovereign NATO territory.*The Army explained that the Marne Division is the hammer of the U.S. Army's XVIII Airborne Corps,able to raidly deploy,fight,and win against near-peer competitors in large-scale combat operations.The 3rd Infantry Division is the most modernised and lethal formation in the U.S. Army and is fully trained and ready for this important mission.About 4500 Soldiers from 3rd Infantry Division HQ,3rd Infantry Division Artillery Brigade,3rd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade and 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team are deploying to various locations across Europe to support NATO Allies;deter further aggression against NATO member states;and train with host-nation Forces to build readiness and interoperability.They join about 2,000 Soldiers from the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade who deployed to Europe earlier this year,as well as other U.S. Army units currently serving in Europe from Task Force Marne.To prepare for this mission,3rd Infantry Division conducted multiple complex exercises,modernisation,and a culminating training event at Fort Irwin,California.* Should deterrence fail,US Army troops in Poland would be tasked with keeping the Suwalki Gap open,retired Marine Corps Colonel Mark Cancian,a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies,told the Task and Purpose newsletter.The Suwalki Gap is a stretch of rural land on the Poland-Lithuania border that is of great strategic significance.It is the only land crossing from Poland to the Baltic States of Lithuania,Latvia and Estonia.The 3rd Infantry Division troops are joining the approximately 85,000 U.S. Forces already in Europe.The deploying Soldiers represent the U.S. commitment to uphold the principles of democracy,territorial integrity,sovereignty,and respect for the international rules-based order.

Deterrence and Defence:NATO's New Plan for the Eastern Flank

According to NATO,the Alliance has increased its military presence in the Eastern Flank as a direct result of Russia's behaviour,which reflects a pattern of aggressive actions against its neighbours and the wider transatlantic community.Russia is the most significant and direct threat to Allies' security and to peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area.* Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022,Allies reinforced the existing Enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroups.It was decided to form four more Battlegroups in Bulgaria,Hungary,Romania and Slovakia.This has brought the total number of multinational Battlegroups to eight,and has effectively doubled the number of troops on the ground and extended NATO's forward presence along the Alliance's Eastern Flank,from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Black Sea in the south.* At the 2022 NATO Summit in Madrid,the Allies decided to scale up the multinational Battlegroups from Battalion (US Army 100-1,000 troops under a Lieutenant Colonel) up to a Brigade (US Army 2,000-5,000 Soldiers under a Brigadier General or Colonel) where and when required.This scaling up of rapidly available forces would take place during a crisis and is being practised in drills.* Besides this capability,Allies have sent additional ships,planes and troops to NATO territory in Eastern Europe,further reinforcing the Alliance's Forward Defence and Deterrence Forces.The Battlegroups are not identical;their sizes and compositions are tailored to specific geographical sectors and threats.Forces from contributing nations rotate in and out of the Battlegroups at any given time.They may be deployed to Battlegroups or stationed in their home countries with the ability to deploy rapidly if needed.* All eight Battlegroups are integrated into NATO's command structure to ensure necessary readiness and responsiveness.The rapid reinforcement strategy ensures that Forward Defence and Deterrence Forces will be reinforced by NATO's Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF),the broader NATO Response Force (NRF),Allies' additional high-readiness forces and NATO's heavier follow on forces as needed.* Also at the 2022 NATO Summit in Madrid,Allies agreed a new NATO Force Model that represents a broader expansion of our higher-readiness forces potentially available to NATO when and where required.The NATO Force Model is still being developed for implementation later in 2023.Further measures to boost NATO's ability to reinforce include developing more pre-positioned equipment and weapon stockpiles;more forward-deployed cacpabilities,including air and missile defence systems;strengthened Command and Control;and upgraded regional defence plans,with specific forces pre-assigned in the defence of specific Allies.The pre-assigned forces will work with in-place forces-both national home defence and Allied forward presence forces-and become familiar with local terrain,facilities and pre-positioned stock so that they can reinforce the Allies even faster.* At the 2023 NATO Vilnius Summit,Allies approved a new generation of regional defence plans,which will significantly improve coherence of NATO's collective defence planning with Allies' national defence planning of their forces,posture,capabilities and Command and Control.The Alliance will continue to ensure that its posture remains credible,coherent and resilient,able to act immediately in response to any aggression.

US Army, NATO. Tanks at combined arms exercises with live firing in Poland.

NATO. US and UK deployed troops to Lithuania from Poland.

Poland reinforces border troops, claims airspace incursion by Belarusian helicopters

Mi-8 and Mi-24 Belarusian military helicopters were ascertained to have crossed into Poland at only 50-60 metres/164-196 feet in altitude,below the radar level.Polish residents and tourists submitted videos and photos proving an incursion had occurred and NATO was notified.Lithuania,Latvia and Estonia,as well as NATO,have gone on alert in consequence of the Belarusian incursion and the insertion of Russian Wagner Group mercenaries into the Belarus border with Poland.

Dozens F-16 Fighter Jets Arrive Near Russian Border Amid Russian Nuclear Threats

Bulletin:Rapid Response to Russia's Deployment of Tactical Nuclear Weapons in Belarus

In recent weeks,NATO has been bulking up its forces-especially on the Eastern Flank of the Alliance-apparently in response to Russia's threat to deploy,and then actual deployment of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus.President Vladimir Putin has warned that Russia has many more tactical nuclear weapons than NATO does.Last week,the NATO Nuclear Committee held its classified meeting and very likely discussed the potential crisis.* The US Air Force has deployed a squadron of eight fighter jets to Lithuania;the US Army deployed members of an Armored Brigade Combat Team to Germany;the British Army has been deployed to Poland;the US Army deployed a massive 5,000+ troops to Latvia's border,all in apparent response to the new threat.It is in line with Operation Atlantic Resolve,the deployment of US troops to reassure Allies and deter adversaries in light of Russia's illegal aggression against Ukraine.The US has warned Russia that any use of tactical nuclear weapons would have unspecified devastating consequences for the Kremlin regime.* At the NATO Summit in Vilnius,Lithuania in July,NATO will agree further deterrence and defence measures in response to Russia's brutal war against Ukraine.* This blog is hearing about even more troop movements than these going on.

U.S. Army. NATO. Multinational Division "Northeast" on Exercises in Poland.

U.S. Air Force, NATO. Powerful F-15 Eagle fighters intercept in Eastern Europe

Allied Air Command:Combined Air Operations for the Eastern Flank

On 9 March 2023,Allied Air Command led a dynamic,long-range operation above Romania.The Combined Air Operations Centre at Torrejon,Spain coordinated Allied bomber and fighter aircraft,NATO said.Romania is one of the Allies closest to the Ukraine War,being on NATO's Eastern Flank.During the drill,Italian Eurofighter Typhoons and US Air Force Boeing F-15E Strike Eagles supported by USAF B-52H strategic bombers carried out a simulated combined air offensive against adversary Air Defence systems simulated by Romanian F-16 Fighting Falcons,Spanish F/A-18 Hornets and the French Mamba Surface-Based Air and Missile Defence system (SBAMD) deployed in Romania. The participants were pitted against an intricate scenario based on near-peer threats,thus demonstrating Alliance readiness and capability for air control.The Allied units practised techniques,tactics and procedures (TTPs) designed to defeat a complex set of potential real-world challenges in a congested air domain,applying NATO standards against a full spectrum of threats.The operation was part of a programme of regular and repeated Vigilance Activities aimed at shielding NATO's Eastern Flank and reassuring Allies in the region.* The Boeing B-52Hs are currently on rotational deployment to Moron Air Base (pronounced Mor-OWN),Spain.Moron AB provides expeditionary combat support as an expandable Forward Operating Base to support transient/bed-down of aircraft operations;to provide staging of aircraft and personnel in support of US and NATO plans,exercises and contingency operations;and to provide Base Operating Support to tenant units. The B-52Hs at Moron are out of the 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron,Minot Air Force Base,North Dakota.Such Bomber Task Force missions familiarise air crews with air bases and operations in different geographic combatant command Areas of Responsibility,validating our always-ready global strike capability.* Boeing (BA)