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dreaminginthedeepsouth · 7 months

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Tim Campbell

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LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

February 29, 2024

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

MAR 1, 2024

Today’s story is that in the negotiations to fund the government and pass the national supplemental security bill, MAGA Republicans appear to be losing ground. Biden appears to be trying to weaken them further by making it clear it is Republicans, not Democrats, who are preventing new, strict border security legislation.

The first of two continuing resolutions to fund the government for fiscal year 2024 will expire tomorrow. Fiscal year 2024 began on October 1, 2023, and Congress agreed to a topline budget, but it has been unable to fund the necessary appropriations because MAGA Republicans have insisted on having their extreme demands met in those measures. In this struggle, former president Trump has urged his loyalists not to give way, telling them in September 2023: “UNLESS YOU GET EVERYTHING, SHUT IT DOWN!”

But a poll from last September showed that 75% of Americans oppose using brinksmanship over a government shutdown to bargain for partisan gain.

After kicking the can down the road by passing three previous continuing resolutions, House Republicans a week ago expected a shutdown. But today they backed off. The House passed a short-term continuing resolution that pushes back the dates on which the two continuing resolutions expire, from March 1 and March 8 to March 8 and March 22. The vote was 320 to 99 in the House, with 113 Republicans joining 207 Democrats to pass the measure. Ninety-seven Republicans opposed the bill, as did two Democrats who were protesting the lack of aid to Ukraine.

Tonight, the Senate approved the continuing resolution by a vote of 77 to 13. President Joe Biden is expected to sign it tomorrow. “What we have done today has overcome the opposition of the MAGA hard right and gives us a formula for completing the appropriations process in a way that does not shut the government down and capitulate to extremists,” Senate majority leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) said.

Trump opposes helping Ukraine in its fight to resist Russia’s invasion, and under his orders, MAGA Republicans have also stalled the national security supplemental bill, which contains Ukrainian aid, as well as aid to Israel, the Indo-Pacific, and humanitarian aid to Gaza. The measure passed the Senate on February 13 by a strong bipartisan vote of 70 to 29, and is expected to pass the House if Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) takes it up, but so far, he has refused.

Today, Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) told reporters that “several” House Republicans are willing to sign a discharge petition to force Speaker Johnson to bring a national security supplemental measure to the floor for a vote. A simple majority can force a vote on a bill through a discharge petition, but such a measure is rare because it undermines the House speaker. With Johnson refusing to take up the Senate measure, Fitzpatrick and his colleague Representative Jared Golden (D-ME) have prepared their own pared-down aid measure. Fitzpatrick told CNN’s Jake Tapper Tuesday that “[w]e are trying to add an additional pressure point on something that has to happen.”

Speakers from the parliaments of 23 nations wrote to Johnson yesterday and urged him to take up the Senate measure, saying that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has “challenged the entire democratic world, jeopardizing the security in the whole European and Euro-Atlantic area,” and that “the world is rapidly moving towards the destruction of the sustainable world order.”

On Tuesday, Johnson met with President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Senate majority leader Schumer, Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), and House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) to discuss the importance of funding the government and passing the national security supplemental bill. There, he was the odd man out as the other five pressed upon him how crucial funding for Ukraine is for U.S. national security.

Yesterday, Johnson told Fox News Channel personality Sean Hannity that the leaders told him he was “on an island by myself, and it was me versus everyone else in the room.” He went on: “What the liberal media doesn’t understand, Sean, is that if you’re here in Washington and you’re described as a leader that’s on an island by themselves, it probably means you’re standing with the American people.”

But an AP-NORC poll released today shows that it is not Johnson but the others at that meeting who are standing with the American people: 74% of Americans, including 62% of Republicans, support U.S. aid to Ukraine’s military.

The struggle between Biden and Trump for control over U.S. politics played out starkly today as both were in Texas to talk about immigration. Both say the influx of migrants at the southern border of the United States needs to be better managed. But Trump blames Biden for what he compares to a war in which an “invasion” of criminal “fighting-age men” are pouring over the border. (NBC News noted that “there is no evidence of a migrant-driven crime wave in the United States” and that, in fact, their review of crime data ”shows overall crime levels dropping in those cities that have received the most migrants.”)

Trump promises he would solve immigration issues instantly with executive orders, although his orders during his term faced legal challenges.

In contrast to Trump’s promise to dictate a solution, Biden emphasized that the government should work for the people. In Texas, he noted that the federal government has rushed emergency personnel and funds to the state to combat the deadly wildfires there that have burned more than a million acres, and he urged Congress to pass a law to address border issues, as he has asked it to since he took office.

Such a measure is popular, and earlier this month, Trump undermined a bill that was tilted so far to the right that it drew the support of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Wall Street Journal editorial board, and the U.S. Border Patrol union. Senators from both parties had spent four months hammering the bill out at the insistence of House Republicans, who then killed it when Trump, apparently hoping to keep the issue open for his campaign, told them to.

Today, Biden urged Congress to pass the $20.2 billion bipartisan border bill that would, he said, give border patrol officers the resources they need: 1,500 more border agents, 100 cutting-edge machines to detect and stop illegal fentanyl, 100 additional immigration judges to deal with the backlog of cases, 4,300 more asylum officers, more immigrant visas, and emergency authority for the president to shut the border when it becomes overwhelmed.

Biden spoke directly to Trump: “Instead of playing politics with the issue, instead of telling members of Congress to block this legislation, join me, or I'll join you, in telling the Congress to pass this bipartisan border security bill. We can do it together…. Instead of playing politics with the issue, why don't we just get together and get it done. Let’s remember who the heck we work for. We work for the American people, not the Democratic Party or the Republican Party. We work for the American people.”

Trump may not share that perspective. Last night, Maggie Haberman and Andrew Higgins of the New York Times reported that Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán, who has undermined democracy in Hungary, will visit Trump at Mar-a-Lago next week as Trump scrambles to find the more than half a billion dollars he needs to pay the fines and penalties courts have ordered. “We cannot interfere in other countries’ elections,” Orbán said last week, “but we would very much like to see President Donald Trump return to the White House.”

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

#GOPutin #political cartoons #Tim Campbell #Letters From An American #Heather Cox Richardson #American Foreign Policy #war in Ukraine #Russia #dictators #Orban #government funding #feckless Speaker of the House #National Security

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mariacallous · 1 day

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Threatened by values that are at the core of the NATO alliance and shared by Ukraine and many other countries around the world, the Kremlin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 with the intention to wipe the country off the map, crush freedom, and weaken democracy. In doing so, Russia receives significant support, including the provision of advanced technology, from its authoritarian friends, not least China, Iran, and North Korea. More than Ukraine’s survival, Europe’s security is at stake. As a global fight is being played out on the battlefield in Ukraine, innovative technologies are being rolled out at unprecedented speed.

For centuries, security in Western democratic societies has been tied to their ability to innovate. From the bow and arrow to battle tanks and from hand grenades to hypersonic missiles, new military inventions not only changed the way we fight and win wars. They also underpinned our ability to shape successful and resilient societies. Now, with a massive technological revolution underway, which has seen the rise of artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and quantum technologies, it is not enough to just be able to innovate. We must remain at the forefront of innovation. By leading innovation, we can continue to shape our security environment. If we don’t, others will.

NATO nations, and the United States in particular, have long had technological primacy. But they are being challenged. China is not only rapidly developing technologies, but it is also connecting new technologies together, multiplying their potential disruptive impact on our societies, our economies, and our security. Semiconductors from China are a critical component of the phones and computers we use every day—but also of the high-end military systems and capabilities we rely on for our security. Russia’s war against Ukraine is shedding light on the incredible speed of innovation. Ukrainians are innovating fast but not fast enough. In just weeks, Russians managed to neutralize the innovative software that Ukrainians have been putting into drones.

To keep its 1 billion citizens safe, NATO must ensure it out-competes any strategic competitor and potential adversary. That is why we are doubling down on efforts to accelerate technological innovation in the field of security and defense. This is not something NATO does alone but together with the drivers of innovation in the private sector. Today, they produce 90 percent of the dual-use technologies used for our defense and security. The private sector is an indispensable partner.

When I took up my job as deputy secretary-general at NATO in 2019, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg asked me to be NATO’s innovation champion. One of my first tasks was to help establish the NATO Innovation Board. As its chair, I prioritized innovation across the alliance, and as a result, NATO has significantly sped up its technological transformation. At the Brussels summit in 2021 and after, NATO leaders launched two breakthrough initiatives to tighten the links between NATO and the dual-use innovation ecosystem. One was the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic, which brings together innovators across the alliance to cooperate on critical technologies. The other was the NATO Innovation Fund, a 1 billion euro venture capital fund that provides strategic investments in start-ups developing technologies in areas that are critical to allied security. NATO has also already established a regular high-level dialogue with private sector leaders, including with companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services. More recently, NATO stood up a Transatlantic Quantum Community to ensure a secure, resilient, and competitive quantum ecosystem and launched a commercial space platform (SPACENET) to further cooperation with commercial space industries. The alliance has come a long way. Yet the epochal moment we are confronted with requires even bigger and bolder adjustments.

NATO needs to innovate more and faster. Above all, we need to dare to innovate differently. This means rethinking the way we structure our partnerships with the private sector in the area of defense. NATO has worked for decades to achieve interoperability between national militaries. Now, it needs to achieve interoperability with the trans-Atlantic innovation ecosystem to future-proof our security.

In particular, NATO needs to adjust the mechanisms and procedures it has built and relied on for decades to develop and purchase defense capabilities. Defense plans, procurement cycles, and acquisition models are important and necessary to guardrail innovation and help minimize financial risk. But they are also lengthy, rigid, and complex. They can be a roadblock to innovation and a risk for our security. Our procurement timelines are set to the acquisition of large pieces of hardware that we hang on to for decades. New aircraft that NATO is acquiring now to replace the aging fleet of Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft will only be operational in 2031. In the information technology arena, where requirements are different and change very rapidly, more flexible procedures are essential to ensure allied and partner nations get what they need when they need it—and not five or 10 years down the line.

At the same time, as we rethink our partnership with the private sector to accelerate innovation, we must stay aligned with our values. Technological innovation, especially in the field of defense, can be used to curb freedom and control and manipulate people. This is what our competitors do. Moscow and Beijing do not face up to the important ethical dimensions in their race to develop and deploy technologies. But NATO does. It has already integrated so-called principles of responsible use in all its strategies on emerging and disruptive technologies, including AI, autonomy, biotechnologies and human enhancements, space, and quantum. These principles ensure that the use of these new technologies complies with international law and respects our democratic values. Rather than stifling innovation, they enable it by creating a predictable, trustworthy, and responsible environment in which everyone—innovators, adopters, end users, and our publics—feels confident using these technologies and cooperating with one another.

Looking ahead to the next NATO summit in The Hague in June 2025, NATO will pursue its work to foster the development of the long-term revolutionary innovation required to maintain the alliance’s technological edge. A new Rapid Adoption Strategy, to be delivered at the summit next year, will provide recommendations to enable allies to streamline acquisition and procurement processes while at the same time respecting the fundamental principles of fairness, transparency, integrity, openness, competition, and accountability underlying acquisition and procurement in the defense and security environment. With work underway on this new strategy, the alliance is seeking to include small and medium enterprises developing battle decisive technology in the NATO procurement mechanisms. The immediate needs arising from the battlefield in Ukraine are lessons NATO is taking on board as it prepares for the future.

Last week, I concluded my tenure as NATO’s deputy secretary-general and ended my duties as NATO’s innovation champion. Looking back, I am impressed by how profoundly NATO has been adapting to technological advances in a fast-changing world. As threats have evolved and multiplied—on land, sea, and air and in space and cyberspace—so has NATO’s response, in both the physical and the digital world. I leave an alliance that is driving faster toward new, different, and responsible ways of innovating. Looking ahead, I am confident this will keep NATO competitive, our values safe, and the trans-Atlantic area more secure—now and for generations to come.

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thoughtlessarse · 21 days

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Nigerian saleswoman Ivy Junaid says her daily half-an-hour commute from mainland Lagos to the city's island business district has changed her life. What was once often a three-hour nightmare drive to work with a pre-dawn start and gnarly traffic has become a quick sprint skimming across the waters of Lagos lagoon by boat. "You can actually get out of bed when you need to. You have breakfast at home, strut in here, strut into the boat and 30 minutes across the water," the telecoms employee said. "It's really a life-saving situation for most of us." Flanked by lagoon waters and the Atlantic Ocean, Nigeria's economic capital Lagos has long used its waterways as an alternative to the megacity's chaotic roads. But soon more commuters like Junaid in the city of 20 million could be travelling by boat under plans to massively expand waterway transport and multiply passenger numbers. With an around 410-million-euro ($455-million) investment from France's AFD development agency and EU institutions, the progamme -- known as Omi Eko or Lagos Water in Yoruba language -- also aims to tackle carbon emissions with a fleet of electric-powered ferries. Whereas most Lagosians live on the mainland part of the city, a lot of offices and workplaces are on the islands area -- Victory Island, Ikoyi, Lagos Island and Lekki -- linked by a series of bridges.

#nigeria #lagos #green transport solution #commuting #electric ferries

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usafphantom2 · 2 years

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Dutch F-35 fighters intercept three Russian aircraft over Poland 🇵🇱

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 02/14/23 - 09:00 in Interceptions, Military

Two Dutch F-35 fighters performed a first interception while deployed in Poland. Earlier today, the Dutch rapid reaction alert (QRA) was activated to identify an aircraft formation in Poland.

The two fighters were aird to identify and escort the formation of then unknown aircraft approaching the area of responsibility of the Polish NATO of Kaliningrad. The mission was supported by Eurofighters jets of the German Air Force.

After identification, it was discovered that there were three Russian aircraft: an IL-20M Coot-A that was accompanied by two Su-27 Flankers fighters. The Dutch F-35 escorted the distance training and delivered the escort to NATO partners.

Russian Il-20 "Coot" aircraft intercepted by Dutch F-35s.

There are eight Dutch F-35 fighters in Poland that will remain in the months of February and March. Four of these combat aircraft are available at Malbork Air Base for surveillance of NATO airspace above Eastern Europe. When necessary, days aircraft take off in minutes to intercept another aircraft. This happens, for example, when an aircraft approaches NATO airspace without identifying itself. Two F-35s are on reserve for this task.

An ally training program is being completed with the other four combat aircraft. Of course, these can also be used immediately if the situation so requires it.

Tags: Military AviationF-35 Lightning IIInterceptionsNATO - North Atlantic Treaty OrganizationRFSAF - Russian Federation Aerospace Force/Russia Aerospace ForceRNLAF - Royal Netherlands Air Force / Royal Dutch Air Force

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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beardedmrbean · 2 years

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GERB’s candidate, Prof. Nikolay Gabrovski presented to President Rumen Radev the draft composition of the Council of Ministers:

Malina Valentinova Krumova – Deputy Prime Minister for the management of funds from the European Union

Miglena Yanakieva Tacheva – Deputy Prime Minister for Public Order and Security and Minister of Justice

Meglena Ivanova Plugchieva-Aleksandrova – Deputy Prime Minister for Climate Policies and Minister of Environment and Water

Marinela Pirinova Petrova – Minister of Finance

Blagorodna Hristeva Makeva-Naydenova – Minister of Internal Affairs

Atanas Dimitrov Zapryanov – Minister of Defense

Dragomir Valeriev Zakov – Minister of Foreign Affairs

Martin Ivanov Danovski – Minister of Economy and Industry

Dobromir Prodanov Simidchiev – Minister of Regional Development and Public Works

Proshko Nachev Proshkov – Minister of Transport and Communications

Sabina Todorova Sabeva – Minister of Labor and Social Policy

Blagomir Nikolaev Zdravkov – Minister of Health

Slavcho Tomov Tomov – Minister of Education and Science

Irinei Borisov Konstantinov - Minister of Culture

Vasil Georgiev Grudev – Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry

Milena Ivanova Stoycheva – Minister of Innovation and Growth

Krasimir Yordanov Simonski – Minister of Electronic Government

Nikolay Angelov Pavlov – Minister of Energy

Martin Georgiev Zahariev – Minister of Tourism

Boril Plamenov Krastev – Minister of Youth and Sports

According to the candidate for prime minister, it is necessary:

- forming a regular government with the aim of quickly overcoming the division in society, restoring the dialogue between parties and institutions, ending the political crisis;

- implementation of justice reform and effective countermeasures against corruption;

- the introduction of quick and effective anti-crisis measures to overcome the challenges of the economic crisis, inflation and the decline in economic growth, including achieving fiscal sustainability;

- a clear European and Euro-Atlantic orientation of the foreign policy and the security and defense policy;

- implementation of key reforms, including through the Recovery and Sustainability Plan;

- making active political and diplomatic efforts to accept Bulgaria into the Schengen area;

- mobilization and preparation of business, the banking sector and citizens for the accession of Bulgaria to the Eurozone in 2024;

- achieving energy independence, including by continuing efforts to ensure real diversification of supply sources;

- the implementation of targeted public investments in key sectors for the entire society, such as education, health care, social protection;

- Bulgaria should come out of the timelessness and spiral of elections an hour sooner.

"My main goal is to reduce the tension and find a normal tone between the political parties. I am convinced that the Council of Ministers and its composition is capable of guiding Bulgaria through this crisis. The candidates are well known to the public. They have also worked in high positions. Without we are wasting time, we will be able to vote on the budget, Schengen and the Eurozone. I am convinced that these professionals will do it in an extremely short time," said the GERB-SDS candidate for prime minister.

In turn, the head of state wished him success and stated that "today I will issue a decree with which I will propose to the National Assembly to vote on your cabinet".

Last week, Prof. Gabrovski held meetings with DPS, BSP, "Democratic Bulgaria" and "Bulgarian Rise".

"We Continue the Change" and "Vazrazhdane" refused the invitation to the GERB-SDS candidate for prime minister and are adamant that they will not give their support.

BSP also announced that it will stand against a cabinet with the mandate of GERB-SDS, "Bulgarian Rise" expressed readiness for dialogue, and DPS asked to hear the goals, priorities and personal composition of the possible future government.

The GERB-SDS government project is expected to be voted on either on Wednesday or Thursday.

"I expect full support from all political forces and I would be happy for this cabinet to be elected with a full majority", said the candidate for Prime Minister Prof. Nikolay Gabrovski after presenting his proposed cabinet composition and handing over the completed mandate to President Rumen Radev. Nikolay Gabrovski stated that he has outlined priorities on 7 topics on which there is a majority in the 48th National Assembly, and on the remaining topics "there may be arguments between the political forces".

Gabrovski defined the members of the proposed project cabinet as high professionals in their fields, people with careers, all with management experience and without a bright political color, who will give a chance and can lead Bulgaria out of the crisis.

#nunyas news

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darkmaga-retard · 17 days

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And now Ukraine's top diplomat is out, amid an ongoing major Zelensky shake-up of his cabinet - the biggest of the war. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, one of the country's most recognized faces after two-and-a-half years of war, has resigned Wednesday. This comes after the night prior six top officials, including several ministers, were also forced out. Some, however, are expected to take up other government positions.David Arakhamia, who is head of the ruling Servant of the People group in parliament, wrote on Telegram: "As promised, a major reboot of the government can be expected this week." He identified that Wednesday would be "the day of lay-offs, and the day after . . . the day of appointments."FM Dmytro Kuleba, via AP"Kuleba, 43, didn’t give a reason for stepping down. His resignation will be discussed by lawmakers at their next session, parliamentary Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk said on his Facebook page," Associated Press writes.Lawmakers said that Kuleba submitted to parliament a handwritten letter dated Sept.4 which asked the body to "accept my resignation from the post of the minister of foreign affairs of Ukraine."Kuleba was instrumental in helping to line up record-setting defense aid and deliveries of foreign arms for Kiev, including lobbying Washington last year to receive Patriot missiles. He's also been seen as key in getting the West to greenlight missile strikes inside Russian territory and has of late been arguing that restrictions on long-range systems should be removed.This brings to the number to at least seven Ukrainian officials, including several ministers, who have now resigned amid the broad cabinet reshuffle. President Zelensky has said this is part of an effort to "give new strength" to Ukraine’s institutions."Autumn will be extremely important for Ukraine. And our state institutions must be set up in such a way that Ukraine will achieve all the results we need — for all of us," Zelensky in a Tuesday night address to the nation. "To do this, we need to strengthen some areas in the government — and personnel decisions have been prepared."He said even after the large-scale resignations there are more changes or turnover soon to come within his cabinet and that "certain areas of our foreign and domestic policies will have a slightly different emphasis."The below list includes Tuesday nights resignations which had preceded Kuleba's stepping down by a matter of hours:Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integrationIryna Vereshchuk, deputy prime minister for the reintegration of temporarily occupied territories of UkraineOleksandr Kamyshin, the minister of strategic industriesDenys Malyuska, who was Zelensky's justice ministerRuslan Strilets, minister of environmental protection and natural resourcesVitaliy Koval, head of the state property fundUkraine officials have strongly hinted that more resignations are expected to come. Some of the above are likely to stay on in government, in other positions.Some pundits are viewing Kuleba's sacking as part of a downward and bleak turn for Kiev as the war tide is against it...

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head-post · 1 month

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Stagnant front, vehicle losses, request to NATO: AFU continues incursion into Kursk region

As the offensive on the Kursk region continues, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) continue to lose positions and scarce equipment. While Moscow is demonstrating new drones resistant to jammers, Kyiv is urgently requesting construction and engineering vehicles from NATO.

The AFU’s tactics have not changed significantly. It is trying to conduct raids in small groups along the roads, and to carry out quick assaults on Korenevo and Malaya Loknya. When an operation fails, the Ukrainian soldiers withdraw and then try again.

However, Ukrainian troops have begun to save vehicles, preferring to deploy Kozak and Roshel Senator armoured vehicles instead of Strykers. The main action is centred around the Rylsk-Korenevo-Sudzha Road.

According to Forbes, Russian troops have for the first time used UAVs resistant to electronic warfare on the frontline. It is reported that the FPV drone Vandal hit civilian vehicles used by AFU soldiers in the Kursk region.

The advantage of such drones is presence of a fiber-optic link. It protects Russian drones from jamming, allowing them to actively burn Ukrainian vehicles. The first video shows the destruction of the T-64BV of the AFU.

Kursk causes problems for AFU

Kyiv has reportedly made an urgent request for heavy civilian construction and engineering equipment, including tractors and excavators, dozens of firefighters and armoured ambulances. According to NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC), Ukraine requested a total of 17 tracked and 10 wheeled heavy excavators, 30 tractor-trailers for transporting loads weighing up to 100 tonnes, 25 armoured ambulances, and 27 fire-fighting vehicles.

Media reports limited information on the fighting in the Kursk region. Fierce combat is taking place in the south-western sector, where the Ukrainian side is claiming minor gains.

According to Ukrainian media, the AFU again attempted to take Korenevo, but retreated. To the east, Ukrainian soldiers are making their way through the woodlands to bypass Martynivka, but so far have also been unsuccessful. Each day of the protracted offensive brings the moment for a possible counterattack closer, military experts argue.

Donbas front

In the Donbas (common name for Luhansk and Donetsk regions), Russian troops are advancing towards Hryhorivka. Ukrainian media also report heavy losses for the AFU in the battles for Ptyche.

The Russians have taken the entire railway line from Mykolaivka to Novohrodivka, with locals writing about the start of the assault. Russian soldiers are also reportedly advancing in the Hrodivka area.

In the Toretsk area, the AFU has lost Kirove and almost the entire village of Druzhba, according to reports. This jeopardises the defence of Toretsk, making it possible for Russian forces to take the city. The Russian army also entered the Shakhtar gardening centre north of Kostiantynivka, Ukrainian media reported.

Meanwhile, Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov told the coordination council about the formation of the Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk groups. It is assumed that the formation of new units will help Russia to completely stop the AFU offensive in the Kursk region and switch to retaliatory measures.

More footage HERE

#world news #news #world politics #ukraine #war in ukraine #ukraine war #ukraine conflict #ukraine news #ukraine russia news #ukraine russia conflict #russia ukraine war #russia ukraine crisis #russia ukraine conflict #russia ukraine today #kursk #kursk oblast #battle of kursk #kursk region

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halfpricecabinets · 1 month

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Discover the Beauty of Pompano Beach, FL: A Coastal Gem

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Beyond the beach, Pompano Beach is home to a charming downtown area with a delightful mix of shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions. Stroll along the newly renovated pier, where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean and watch the sunset paint the sky in hues of orange and pink. For those who appreciate history, the Pompano Beach Historical Society offers insights into the area’s rich past.

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cyberbenb · 2 months

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Ukraine can't wait another 75 years to celebrate NATO accession, FM Kuleba says

Ukraine should become a NATO member sooner rather than later to ensure security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in an interview with CNN on July 12. The th Source : kyivindependent.com/ukraine-c…

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creativemedianews · 3 months

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#World News #89 dead #boat capsize #Mauritania

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gopaltarunias · 3 months

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Emerging Security Challenges and India's Engagement with NATO UPSC

The evolving global landscape presents a multitude of security challenges that transcend national borders. In this context, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), traditionally focused on Euro-Atlantic security, is redefining its role to address these emerging threats. India, a rising power with its own set of security concerns, has cautiously engaged with NATO in recent years. This article explores the emerging security challenges, examines India's strategic considerations regarding NATO UPSC (Union Public Service Commission), and analyzes the potential avenues for deeper engagement.

Emerging Security Challenges:

The world is witnessing a shift in the security paradigm. While traditional concerns like territorial disputes persist, new threats such as:

Cybersecurity: The increasing dependence on technology makes nations vulnerable to cyberattacks that can cripple critical infrastructure and disrupt essential services.

Maritime Security: The rise of piracy, illegal migration, and territorial disputes in key maritime regions like the Indo-Pacific necessitate robust naval cooperation.

Terrorism: The global threat of terrorism, with its evolving tactics and transnational networks, demands international collaboration for intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism operations.

Climate Change: The changing climate is triggering environmental disasters and resource scarcity, potentially leading to instability and conflict.

Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs): The continued existence of WMDs and the potential for their proliferation by rogue states pose a significant threat to global security.

These challenges require a collective response that transcends geographical boundaries. Here, established organizations like NATO, with its extensive member network and experience in collective security, can play a crucial role.

India's Strategic Considerations:

India, with its vast coastline, nuclear arsenal, and growing strategic weight, has a vital stake in maintaining global security. However, India's engagement with NATO UPSC needs to be viewed through the prism of its traditional foreign policy principles:

Strategic Autonomy: India cherishes its independent foreign policy, allowing it to make decisions based on its national interests without being bound by alliance obligations.

Non-Alignment: India has historically avoided formal military alliances, seeking partnerships based on shared interests rather than bloc politics.

Focus on Indo-Pacific: India's primary security concerns lie in its immediate neighborhood, including the rise of China and unresolved border disputes with Pakistan.

India-NATO Engagement: Potential Avenues:

Despite these considerations, India has recognized the value of cooperation with NATO on specific issues. This engagement can be further strengthened through the following means:

Dialogue and Information Sharing: Regular dialogue on emerging security threats like cyber and maritime security can foster mutual understanding and facilitate a coordinated response.

Joint Exercises: Participation in joint military exercises, even on a limited scale, can enhance interoperability between Indian and NATO forces and build trust.

Defense Cooperation: Collaborating on areas like defense technology development, training programs, and peacekeeping operations can benefit both parties.

Counter-terrorism Cooperation: Sharing intelligence and best practices in counter-terrorism can be crucial in tackling this global menace.

The Way Forward:

While full-fledged membership in NATO is unlikely for India in the foreseeable future, there is immense potential for a deeper and mutually beneficial partnership. India's engagement with NATO can evolve through a calibrated approach that prioritizes dialogue, information sharing, and cooperation on specific security challenges, all while preserving India's strategic autonomy.

Conclusion:

The world is at a crossroads, and navigating the complex security environment requires a collective effort. India, with its growing power and strategic significance, can play a vital role in shaping the global security architecture. By engaging constructively with NATO UPSC, India can contribute to international security while safeguarding its own national interests. This evolving partnership will be keenly observed in the context of the UPSC examinations, where an understanding of India's strategic calculus and its engagement with international organizations is crucial.

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#NATO UPSC

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dreaminginthedeepsouth · 10 months

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Mike Luckovich

* * * *

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

November 29, 2023

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

NOV 29, 2023

In the final exchange of hostages taken by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel under the current truce, Hamas released 16 people—10 Israelis and four Thai nationals, along with two Russian-Israeli women in a separate release—while Israel released 30 people from its jails.

Negotiators from Qatar, Egypt, Israel, and the U.S. are rushing to try to get another truce in place, even as far-right Israeli leaders are pressuring Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to restart the assault on Hamas. Far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir warned today that unless he does, Ben-Gvir’s faction will leave the government coalition Netanyahu leads. “Stopping the war = breaking apart the government,” Ben-Gvir said.

Losing that faction would not overturn the government, but it would weaken Netanyahu enough that he could have to call elections. Netanyahu, who remains under indictment for bribery and fraud, is eager to stay in power, but recent polls show his popularity is perilously low: only 27% of Israelis in one recent poll said they would vote for him. Two members of his staff told Sheera Frenkel of the New York Times he wants to avoid an election at all costs.

Shortly after Ben-Gvir’s statement, Netanyahu said: “There is no situation in which we do not go back to fighting until the end.”

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Israel today with a different agenda than Netanyahu’s. “We'd like to see the pause extended because what it has enabled, first and foremost is hostages being released and being united with their families,” Blinken said. “It's also enabled us to surge humanitarian assistance into the people of Gaza who so desperately need it. So, its continuation, by definition means that more hostages would be coming home, more assistance would be getting in.”

The foreign ministers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization met today in Brussels, Belgium, where they met with Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba as part of the NATO-Ukraine Council. Before the meeting, Kuleba noted that Ukraine is “pretty much becoming a de facto NATO army, in terms of our technical capacity, management approaches and principles of running an army."

A statement by the NATO-Ukraine Council agreed that it was deepening the NATO-Ukraine relationship, vowing that allies would “continue their support for as long as it takes” and declaring, “A strong, independent Ukraine is vital for the stability of the Euro-Atlantic area.” In the statement, Ukraine also committed to reforming the government and security sector as it moves toward a future NATO membership.

David Andelman, a former foreign correspondent for the New York Times and CBS News who now writes Andelman Unleashed, noted today in CNN that President Biden has brought a very clear-eyed set of principles to foreign affairs, making him “one of the rare presidents who has accomplished something quite extraordinary: He has carefully defined and quite successfully defended democracy and democratic values before a host of existential challenges.”

In the Middle East he has defended Israel, which The Economist’s Democracy Index identifies as the only democracy in the Middle East and North Africa, while also trying to restrain the Israeli government and to get humanitarian aid to the Palestinians, all while (so far) keeping Iran and Hezbollah from spreading the conflict. Andelman also called out that Biden avoided the direct conflict with Russia that Russia's president Vladimir Putin so clearly wanted, supporting Ukraine but delaying its admission to NATO and ratcheting up military aid slowly enough that the U.S. did not get directly involved.

Biden is defending democracy where it has a foothold and can survive and then prosper, Andelman says, noting that he had little interest in continuing to send U.S. troops to Afghanistan, where it seemed clear democracy “never really took root.” Andelman writes, “Its ill-conceived and improbable ‘elections’ were little more than window dressing on a deeply flawed and corrupt kleptocracy that America had been backing with the bodies of thousands of its troops.”

Defending democracy “is something that makes [Biden] tick,” Andelman writes, “and remain appealing to others, as I’ve seen in so many parts of the world.”

The administration has also been crystal clear that its approach to governance at home is also designed to protect democracy by demonstrating that a democracy can do more for people than an authoritarian government, but in a speech at a campaign reception in Houston, Texas, Vice President Kamala Harris acknowledged that voters somehow don’t seem to understand that transformation.

Even as former president Trump threatened to use the government to silence press outlets he doesn't like, Harris noted the billions of dollars invested in infrastructure and clean energy, allowing the U.S. to be a global leader in new technologies; the cap of insulin at $35; rural broadband and the clean-up of lead pipes; and pointed out that all of the things the Democrats have accomplished are “incredibly popular with the American people.” The challenge, she noted, is getting people to understand these transformations, and which party is responsible for them.

“[T]here’s a duality to the nature of democracies,” Harris said. “On the one hand, …it is very much about strength—the strength that it gives individuals in terms of the protection of their rights and freedoms and liberties. When a democracy is intact, it is very strong in its capacity to lift the people up.” But, she added, “It is also very fragile. It is only as strong as our willingness to fight for it.”

Today the Democrats’ economic program got another boost with the news that the economy grew faster in the third quarter than previously reported, coming in at a blistering 5.2%, and that a record 200.4 million shoppers visited stores and websites on the five days after Thanksgiving, the traditional start of the holiday shopping period. That number reflects people’s confidence in their own finances, but also that the economy appears to be cooling and there are therefore bargains to be had.

A new analysis by the Treasury Department shows that the Inflation Reduction Act, which puts money into climate change technologies, is delivering investment to communities that have benefited least from the economic growth of the past few decades. Today, President Joe Biden presented his case for his economic policy directly to one such community in the Colorado district of MAGA Republican mouthpiece Representative Lauren Boebert.

Biden visited CS Wind, the largest wind tower manufacturer in the world, which is expanding its operations in Pueblo, Colorado, thanks to the IRA. Boebert voted against the IRA, calling it “dangerous for America” and saying it was her “easiest no vote yet.” But the new $200 million expansion will create 850 new jobs, and CS Wind has already hired 500 new employees. And a solar project in the district will bring both power and as many as 250 jobs.

The White House listed the many projects underway in the district thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, including nearly $30.2 million to redesign and revitalize streets and $160 million for a 103-mile pipeline that will bring clean water from Pueblo to 50,000 people in southeastern Colorado. Boebert called the law “garbage” and “wasteful” and said it was “punishment for rural America.”

“President Biden made a commitment to be a President for all Americans, regardless of political party, and he’s kept that promise,” the White House said. “The Biden-Harris Administration will continue to deliver for workers and families in Colorado’s third congressional district and across the country—even if self-described MAGA Republicans like Representative Boebert put politics ahead of jobs and opportunities created by Bidenomics.“

Biden was even blunter. After listing the benefits the new laws have brought to Boebert’s district, he said: “She, along with every single Republican colleague, voted against the law that made these investments in jobs possible…. And then she voted to repeal key parts of this law, and she called this law a massive failure. You all know you’re part of a massive failure? Tell that to the 850 Coloradans who got new jobs.… It all sounds like a massive failure in thinking by the congresswoman and her colleagues.”

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

#Mike Luckovich #Heather Cox Richardson #Letters From An American #Biden Administration #Israel-Hamas war #Bipartisan Infrastructure law #defending democracy

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mariacallous · 9 months

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As NATO prepares to celebrate its 75th anniversary next year, the bloc’s original architects would have been stunned by its broad membership and growing agenda today. In helping design the new alliance for the purpose of containing the Soviet Union in Europe after World War II, the U.S. diplomat George Kennan argued that NATO should take its name literally and include only North Atlantic countries—excluding Mediterranean states such as Greece, Italy, and Turkey. His rationale was that only countries on the Atlantic seaboard could be effectively supplied by ship in the event of war with the Soviets, whereas including others would remove all limits to the bloc’s commitments and be unworkable. To ensure that Article 5 of its founding treaty—the collective defense clause—was ironclad, NATO kept a laser-sharp focus on military preparedness for much of its history.

Today, NATO has 31 members (though when Sweden joins, it will be 32) and more than 30 partner countries across the world. Its agenda has expanded to issues beyond territorial defense, such as cybersecurity and counterterrorism. Last year, the bloc established the Defense Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic, a 1-billion-euro (about $1.1-billion) fund for emerging and disruptive technologies.

Yet as the toolbox of statecraft has expanded in response to security challenges, NATO has retained a narrow focus on military objectives. And even in this area, it has been constrained in delivering on its goals. Defense ministers, for example, can make commitments at NATO meetings, but finance ministers may not find the required resources at home. For European countries, dual membership in NATO and the European Union has diffused responsibility and led to significant underinvestment in military preparedness. Too many European leaders still hope that Washington or Brussels will take care of it.

With the return of war to Europe and the Middle East, as well as great-power competition to the world, NATO’s vision and scope need to be broader. The alliance faces not only Russian aggression, but also the challenge from China and other autocratic, revisionist actors seeking to upend the global order. Security today involves a comprehensive toolbox, including economic sanctions and industrial policy, and needs to bring the relevant actors into the fold.

Consider the current state of play. Last month, 31 foreign ministers met at NATO headquarters in Brussels to discuss a range of security issues, from Russia’s war against Ukraine to the long-term challenge of China. Yet the only major decision achieved at the two-day gathering was a brief three-paragraph statement on Ukraine that echoed previously agreed-on language. The Israel-Hamas war and its effects across the Middle East, which was top of mind for many of the participants, was barely addressed at all, even though many European NATO members will be directly affected.

The allies’ ambition should therefore be to make NATO the premier forum not only for trans-Atlantic military cooperation, but also for better coordination among the world’s democracies. Europe and the United States should leverage NATO to buttress international order alongside their Indo-Pacific partners. To that end, the institution should globalize its agenda and find ways to work more closely with its partners outside the Euro-Atlantic region.

Currently, too many issues that are central to the security of NATO allies are dispersed across multiple forums, contact groups, and bilateral channels. NATO is charged with collective security for Europe and North America. The EU also has a mutual defense clause for its members and has moved forward on defense cooperation and funding. Both blocs have intensified their security outreach to countries in the Indo-Pacific. That, in turn, overlaps with the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue—comprising Australia, India, Japan, and the United States—as well as the Australia-United Kingdom-United States pact. Also involved is the G-7, which has evolved from a talking shop to a forum where the leading democracies deliberate on economic sanctions and technology policy. The U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council has a similar remit—but neither it nor the G-7 can make binding decisions. All this overlap produces confusion and lack of focus, restricting the ability of NATO members to develop an effective strategy, let alone make efficient decisions in times of conflict.

To remove these political detours and bureaucratic obstacles, it would make sense for many of these discussions and decisions to take place in a single forum—or at least, for the various strings to come together in one place. And that would be NATO, which has the strongest record on addressing collective security. Issues to be integrated with military defense would include economic sanctions, export controls, industrial policy, technology policy, foreign investment screening, outbound investment controls, secure supply chains, and trade measures.

For a start, there should not just be regular meetings of NATO defense and foreign ministers. Ministers responsible for finance, trade, commerce, and technology should convene within NATO as well. All these areas are vital for national security.

In addition to globalizing its agenda, NATO should also expand the participants in these discussions to include Indo-Pacific partners, such as Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea. Leaders of these four countries attended NATO’s annual summits in 2022 and 2023, but instead of cooperating on an ad hoc basis, it would be better to establish standing open invitations to NATO summits and ministerial meetings.

The bloc could also establish a council of NATO members and Indo-Pacific states—akin to the NATO-Ukraine Council—where those partners could convene meetings and be on equal footing with the NATO allies. Over time, additional partners could also be invited.

These changes require a shift in mindset within NATO. The bloc is rightly regarded by many as the most successful military alliance in history, but it could also be the most effective international institution for foreign-policy coordination and implementation. However, its primary focus on the Article 5 collective defense guarantee has developed into inherent institutional caution and constraint.

Yet not all security challenges trigger Article 5—and even then, the defense clause does not set off an automatic response. Article 5 states only that if armed attack occurs against a NATO member, each ally commits to assist the attacked country with “such action as it deems necessary.”

On the one hand, NATO’s focus on Article 5 has made the alliance an undisputed success, with every square inch of territory backed by the full weight of the alliance, which includes potential nuclear retaliation. In all of NATO’s long history, the bloc invoked Article 5 only once: after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States. On the other hand, the emphasis on Article 5 has also constrained the bloc’s potential for more nimble political action.

NATO would benefit from greater strategic flexibility to address security policy issues. A useful historical analogy is the shift in U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War, when Washington moved from the doctrine of massive retaliation to so-called flexible response. In the 1950s, the Eisenhower administration defined its deterrence and containment policy in terms of overwhelming response to any encroachment by the Soviet Union or the communist bloc. But this outsized commitment made foreign policy too rigid and limited: After all, not every nail around the world required a nuclear hammer. Thus, the Kennedy administration devised a more agile approach, including military and nonmilitary options for a particular crisis in proportion to the specific situation.

NATO already has the institutional mechanism for a broader approach to security. Article 4, for example, provides for political consultations whenever a member considers its “territorial integrity, political independence or security” threatened. This is both a broader remit and a lower threshold, allowing security threats short of a military attack to be addressed. It would be the institutional basis for the alliance to incorporate key tools of security policy, such as economic sanctions and export controls.

NATO also has a basis for addressing issues such as industrial and technology policy as means to develop defense and security capabilities. Under Article 3, allies have committed to “maintain and develop their individual and collective capacity to resist armed attack” through “self-help and mutual aid.” NATO should facilitate better coordination on defense investment and ensure that the allies maintain a long-term technological competitive edge over their adversaries.

A broader and more global NATO would help overcome the hobbled, overly complex decision-making processes among the Euro-Atlantic allies and their partners in the Indo-Pacific. That said, there should be no illusion that an institutional setup alone can escape the primacy of politics.

Organizations such as NATO are what their members make of them. Blaming them for failure or inaction is like blaming Madison Square Garden when the New York Knicks play badly, as the late U.S. diplomat Richard Holbrooke once quipped.

But a simplified and better-designed institutional setup would go a long way in facilitating sounder, more efficient decision-making during unavoidably turbulent times.

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thxnews · 3 months

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Biden, Zelenskyy Sign 10-Year Bilateral Security Agreement

In a historic move, President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement. This pact is designed to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities and deter future aggression, reflecting a long-term commitment to regional stability and international peace.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Joe Biden shake hands after signing the U.S.-Ukraine Bilateral Security Agreement during the G7 Summit in Fasano, Italy. Photo by DOD.

Details of the Agreement

The agreement, signed at a high-profile event, focuses on several critical areas to bolster Ukraine's defense and deterrence capabilities over the next decade. This includes: - Building and maintaining Ukraine's credible defense and deterrence capabilities. - Strengthening Ukraine’s capacity to sustain its fight over the long term. - Accelerating Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration. - Consulting in the event of future Russian armed attacks against Ukraine. "Our goal is to strengthen Ukraine's credible defense and deterrence capability for the long term," said President Biden. "A lasting peace for Ukraine must be underwritten by Ukraine's own ability to defend itself now and to deter future aggression anytime in the future." President Zelenskyy emphasized the significance of the agreement, stating, "This pact solidifies our partnership with the United States and ensures that Ukraine can defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity."

An airman with the 305th Aerial Port Squadron uploads munitions onboard a C-17 Globemaster III at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Photo by Air Force Alexis Kula. DOD.

Financial Support and Sanctions

In addition to the bilateral security agreement, the G7 has unlocked $50 billion in frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. This move aims to remind Russia that the international community stands firm against its aggression. Financial Measures: - Unlocking of $50 billion in frozen Russian assets. - Sanctions on countries aiding Russia's war efforts. Key Elements of the Agreement: - Long-term defense support. - Euro-Atlantic integration. During the signing ceremony, President Biden highlighted that the G7 recently achieved a "significant outcome" by freeing up some of the $280 billion in Russian assets frozen by G7 and European Union members following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. "I'm very pleased to share that, this week, the G7 signed a plan to finalize and unlock $50 billion in the proceeds of those frozen assets, to put that money to work for Ukraine a reminder to Putin we're not backing down," Biden said. " has been something that the United States has put a lot of energy and effort into, because we see the proceeds from these assets as being a valuable source of resources for Ukraine at a moment when Russia continues to brutalize the country — not just through military action on the front, but through the attempted destruction of its energy grid and its economic vitality," National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Joe Biden sign the U.S.-Ukraine Bilateral Security Agreement. Photo by DOD. Broader Implications The signing of this 10-year bilateral security agreement between the US and Ukraine marks a critical moment in ensuring long-term peace and stability in the region. As the international community continues to support Ukraine, this agreement underscores the importance of solidarity in the face of aggression. In addition to the bilateral security agreement and the distribution of proceeds from unlocked Russian assets to Ukraine, Biden also mentioned that the G7 has taken a third "major step" in support of Ukraine by agreeing on sanctions against countries contributing to Russia's war efforts. "Collectively, this is a powerful set of actions," Biden said. "And it will create a stronger foundation for Ukraine's success."

What it Means

The 10-year bilateral security agreement between the US and Ukraine represents a significant step toward ensuring Ukraine's defense and deterring future aggression. This comprehensive pact, supported by substantial financial measures and international sanctions, highlights the unwavering commitment of the US and its allies to support Ukraine in maintaining its sovereignty and territorial integrity. As the global community watches, this agreement sets a precedent for international cooperation and resilience against aggression. Sources: THX News & US Department of Defense. Read the full article

#BidenUkraine #bilateralsecuritypact #defenseanddeterrence #Euro-Atlanticintegration #G7Summit #Russiaaggression #Ukrainedefense #USaidtoUkraine #US-Ukrainepact #thxnews

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usafphantom2 · 2 years

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NATO starts the Ramstein Alloy 22-3 exercise

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 09/26/2022 - 14:00in Military, Military Operations

On September 26 and 27, the allies Hungary, Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as well as the NATO partner Finland, will hold the third Ramstein Alloy exercise in 2022 with a focus on the NATO Deter and Defender concept.

Latvia will host the third sequence of the live flight exercise of the Ramstein Alloy 2022 Allies/Partners. Search and rescue scenarios, approximate air support and air-to-air refueling. A special focus will be on the integration of a Spanish Ground-Based Air Defense Task Force into the activities. NASAMS' Spanish air defense systems will simulate the defense of Lielvarde Air Base in Latvia against air strikes - a set of skills that fighter pilots need to practice the establishment of air superiority during defensive operations, for example. in a situation of Article 5 of NATO.

“For the first time, we are including integrated air and surface-based air defense and anti-missiles activities in our exercises," said exercise planner Craig Docker, squad leader at the Uedem Combined Air Operations Center. "This highlights how the Allies are protecting the east flank and - at the same time - preparing for the significant execution of NATO's concept of Deter and Defense in the Baltic region," he added. "We are also training air-to-ground integration tactics, techniques and procedures with Czech jets and advanced battle group controllers of advanced presence or Latvian joint terminal attack controllers, improving the ability of our pilots and soldiers to work together in a multinational environment," he concluded.

Based on many years of cooperation in the Baltic Sea region and strengthening regional security with the Allies and Partners, the Ramstein Alloy exercise demonstrates cohesion and capacity. At the same time, it promotes cooperation by creating strong and reliable structures and relationships. The exercise series integrates more than two dozen fighters and support aircraft and NATO air early warning aircraft with NATO's national command and control centers. Realistic exercises train the allied forces to stop and - if necessary - defend against any aggression.

NATO's "Deter and Defend" concept increases the level of integration and planning of allied military activities. It seeks to combat threats by providing a common structure for deterrence and defense in peace, crisis and war. The concept leverages a deliberate pace of military activity throughout the Alliance and in all operational domains and functional areas. This clear demonstration of the Alliance's cohesion, capacity and determination aims to prevent challengers from spreading destabilization, increasing disorder or accumulating decisive military advantages that may harm Euro-Atlantic security. In essence, the concept changes NATO's efforts to react to crises to deter crises.

Tags: Military AviationNATO - North Atlantic Treaty OrganizationRamstein Alloy

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Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. It has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.