Generalul american Philip Breedlove a preluat comanda forţelor NATO
May 13, 2013
Generalul american Philip Breedlove a preluat luni postul de comandant suprem al forţelor NATO (SACEUR), anunţând că prioritatea sa este să garanteze “coeziunea” celor 28 de membri ai Alianţei Nord-Atlantice şi să încheie cu succes “tranziţia în Afganistan” la sfârşitul lui 2014, anunţăAFP, citată de Mediafax.
Generalul Breedlove, în vârstă de 57 de ani, l-a înlocuit în post pe un compatriot al său, amiralul James Stavridis, în cadrul unei ceremonii la sediul centrului forţelor armate ale Alianţei Nord-Atlantice (SHAPE), la Mons, în sudul Belgiei, o ceremonie prezidată de către secretarul general al NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen, potrivit AFP.
Noul şef militar al NATO, cu aproape o treime din carieră în cadrul US Air Force, a fost nominalizat la sfârşitul lui martie de către autorităţile americane, după retragerea generalului John Allen, fostul comandant al coaliţiei internaţionale în Afganistan, care a renunţat la postul de la SACEUR.
Generalul Breedlove, al 17-lea american ce ocupă postul de la SACEUR, inaugurat în 1951-1952 de generalul Dwight Eisenhower, a declarat că are ca prioritate “să asigure că NATO rămâne vigilent şi pregătit să facă faţă provocărilor şi ameninţărilor viitoare, cu forţe armate competente şi complementare”. “Garantarea coeziunii lor este prioritatea mea”, a precizat el.
Pe plan operaţional, el va conduce retragerea progresivă a forţelor internaţionale combatante din Afganistan până la sfârşitul lui 2014 şi lansarea unei noi operaţiuni destinate să “susţină şi consilieze” armata afgană începând din 2015.
Defense News
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According to the figures provided by the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), in 2017 the UK sold arms to Israel worth 221 million pounds ($294 million), indicating a huge increase from 86 million pounds in 2016 and 20 million pounds in 2015, The Guardian outlet reported. According to the newspaper, the list includes equipment, small arms ammunition, missiles, weapon sights and sniper rifles.
Trump accepts offer to meet Kim Jong Un
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The White House said Trump had agreed to the encounter. “He will accept the invitation to meet with Kim Jong Un at a place and time to be determined” said White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders.
Argentina Navy Chief fired after ARA San Juan submarine tragedy
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The ARA San Juan has not been heard from since, despite a multi-national search effort some 250 miles off the Argentinian coast. Hopes for finding the submarine and its crew faded when the search passed 10 days, which was the amount of time the San Juan would have been able to sustain life with its limited oxygen supply.
U.S. Displays Weaponry It Says Proves Iran’s Influence
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At a hangar on an Air Force base in Washington, D.C.—where weapons remnants were on display— Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., said the debris pointed to Iran’s threat to the region. Pentagon officials exhibited the weaponry to make their case that Tehran is actively fomenting instability, arming Houthi rebels inside Yemen who in turn have used the arms against American allies, particularly Saudi Arabia. Iran has denied that it arms the Houthis.
Olli Ruutu appointed Deputy Chief Executive of the European Defence Agency (EDA)
The EDA Steering Board today appointed Mr Olli Ruutu as next Deputy Chief Executive of the Agency. He will take up his duties in March 2018.
Mr Ruutu is currently the Deputy National Armaments Director at the Finnish Ministry of Defence and Director of the Materiel Unit at the Resource Policy Department. He chairs the Defence Administration Commercial Board and the Export Control Advisory Group and is also Deputy Chairman of the Defence Materiel Steering Group, as well as a member of the Defence Forces’ Technology Board and the Defence Administration’s Industrial Cooperation Group. Also Mr Ruutu worked at the EDA between 2009 and 2014, in the Strategy and Policy Unit.
Mattis visits India to ask more help in Afghanistan
US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis was in the Indian capital on Tuesday, marking the first visit to the country by a Cabinet-level official from President Donald Trump’s administration. In meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other officials, Mattis was expected to focus discussions on security in Afghanistan, military technology and a possible deal on fighter jets. Over the weekend, the US Defense Department said that the “US views India as a valued and influential partner.” Last month, Trump urged India to help more with security efforts in Afghanistan, as Washington steps up its own military campaign against Taliban insurgents who have gained ground. (AP)
North Korea fires second ballistic missile over Japan
North Korea has fired a ballistic missile across Japan, creating new tension in the region after its nuclear bomb test less than two weeks ago. The missile reached an altitude of about 770km (478 miles), travelling 3,700km before landing in the sea off Hokkaido, South Korea’s military says. It flew higher and further than one fired over Japan late last month.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his country would “never tolerate” such “dangerous provocative action”. South Korea responded within minutes by firing two ballistic missiles into the sea in a simulated strike on the North. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson also condemned the launch and the UN Security Council will meet later on Friday, 15 September 2017, in New York at the request of America and Japan.
Libya will hold election next spring
Libya’s two main rival parties announced a cease-fire on Tuesday and said they intend to hold elections next spring after they met in Paris for negotiations mediated by French President Emmanuel Macron.
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