NATO update

 

NATO Allied troops from Estonia, France and the UK trained together in Estonia In Tapa, Estonia, troops from the UK’s First Fusiliers Battlegroup, which leads NATO’s multinational battlegroup in Estonia, trained alongside troops from Estonia and France in exercise 'Bold Fusilier'. The exercise was held from 8-13 October 2023. It focused on the integration of a French Company and the UK Battlegroup within the 1st Estonian Brigade. A Royal Canadian Regiment mechanised company and a Polish tank platoon acted as the opponents in the simulation. The week-long exercise saw the Battlegroup forces test their armoured vehicle capabilities and abilities to negotiate obstacles and fight in congested terrain, like forests. The exercise culminated with the French troops clearing a 700 metre-long trench complex. Click here to download the b-roll. Footage includes various shots of the First Fusiliers operating Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicles, of British Army Challenger 2 tanks operated by the Queen’s Royal Hussars, and of French and Estonian troops practicing trench clearance. Footage also includes interviews with British and Estonian officers.

NATO Ally Türkiye trains to hunt mines in the Sea of Marmara To counter the serious threat of sea mines, NATO keeps two Mine Countermeasures Group – one based in the Baltic Sea, the other in the Mediterranean - on standby at all times. The Turkish minehunter TCG Akçay recently conducted a counter-mine exercise, ensuring its readiness to handle all taskings. Join Ben Cooke, a former UK Royal Marines Commando on assignment for NATO with the Turkish minehunter TCG Akçay in the Sea of Marmara. Follow him as he takes a dive with the Turkish Navy to detonate a dummy mine. TCG Akçay – which previously served with Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group Two (SNMCMG2) – has a variety of means to dispose of sea mines. Its powerful sonar can detect mines that are either moored or ground in the sea floor, while a special system reduces the ship’s magnetic field, preventing it against sea mines. Once a mine has been detected, the ship can deploy a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to confirm the nature of the explosive, and mine clearance divers to render it safe, often by detonating it in place. Click here to download the video.  You can also watch the video on YouTube.

3 November 2023 Update NATO Secretary General: Nordic cooperation demonstrates that peace is always possible Addressing the 75th Nordic Council session in Oslo, Norway, on 31 October 2023, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that deep cooperation among the Nordic countries after years of enmity demonstrates that "peace is always possible". He underlined that building friendship and trust between decision-makers is particularly important "at a time when polarisation, fragmentation and suspicion threaten trust in democracy and the open societies we seek to build". He further welcomed that soon, the entire Nordic region will be in NATO. READ MORE MARCOM steps up Allied coordination for maritime situational awareness NATO’s Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) in conjunction with allied nations retain constant and comprehensive awareness of all naval assets in line with NATO’s 360 approach for deterrence and defence. (Story courtesy of Allied Maritime Command) READ MORE NATO JFAC back to real-world mission; thanks to German colleagues The German Joint Force Air Component (JFAC) at Kalkar, Germany, returned the responsibility for real-world air operations to NATO’s JFAC at Ramstein on October 27, 2023, after nearly two months successfully overseeing missions, training activities and contingency operations in support of Alliance deterrence and defence on the eastern flank. (Story courtesy of Allied Air Command) READ MORE NATO Military Committee visits Allied Air Command Headquarters On 26-27 October 2023, the NATO Military Committee visited Allied Air Command (AIRCOM) headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The visit involved discussions and updates on the Air and Space domains and the importance of agile Air Power in NATO’s multi-domain operations, against the backdrop of the Alliance’s major deterrence and defence posture overhaul. READ MORE NATO encourages scientific cooperation with Moldova at NATO Day in Chișinău As part of NATO’s efforts to step up its longstanding cooperation with the Republic of Moldova, a NATO partner country, the Alliance held a NATO Day in the country’s capital city on 24 October 2023. READ MORE NATO Ally Türkiye trains to hunt mines in the Sea of Marmara To counter the serious threat of sea mines, NATO keeps two Mine Countermeasures Group– one based in the Baltic Sea, the other in the Mediterranean - on standby at all times. The Turkish minehunter TCG Akçay recently conducted a counter-mine exercise, ensuring its readiness to handle all taskings. WATCH VIDEO THIS WEEK IN PICTURES

3 November 2023

NATO Secretary General meets with the President of Hungary On Wednesday 8 November 2023, the NATO Secretary General, Mr Jens Stoltenberg, will meet with the President of Hungary, Mrs Katalin Novák, at NATO Headquarters. The Secretary General and the President will give a joint press conference at NATO HQ after their meeting. Media advisory 17:30 (CET)    Press conference by the NATO Secretary General and the President of Hungary Media coverage Media representatives who have annual accreditation to NATO for 2023 can cover the press conference in person. The press statements will be live-streamed on the NATO website. The video will be available for free download from the NATO Multimedia Portal after the event. A transcript of the Secretary General’s remarks, as well as pictures taken by NATO photographers, will be available on the NATO website. For more information: Contact the NATO Press Office

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