NATO | Common News Update

Dec62020 by adminNo Comments

U.S. B-52, joined by NATO fighter planes, completes Barents Sea exercise

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Dec. 4 (UPI) -- A U.S. B-52 bomber joined NATO fighter planes for exercises over the Barents Sea, bordered by Norway and Russia, the U.S. European Command announced. The mission emphasized integration exercises over the remote Arctic sea between the bomber from the 5th Bomb Wing of Minot Air Force Base, N.D., and F-16 fighter planes of Greece and Norway. Advertisement They also practiced refueling operations with the involvement of U.S. and Turkish KC-135 aircraft. The U.S. crews flew to their home base immediately after the exercises. The B-52, known as the Stratofortress, has been in use by the U.S. Air Force since 1955. Regarded as a long-range heavy bomber, the plane is capable of flying at 50,000 feet in altitude. The NATO drill, announced Thursday by the U.S. European Command, was t...

Sep102020 by adminNo Comments

Despite issues, NATO military chief Sir Stuart Peach calls Turkey a valuable ally

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Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Despite concerns over Turkish aggression, Turkey's contributions to NATO were praised during a visit this week by the bloc's military committee commander. "Turkey makes essential contributions to NATO operations and activities," Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach said before departing Istanbul on Tuesday. "NATO is working to strengthen further our collective deterrence and defense, and to project stability beyond our borders, and Turkey is playing a key role in both." Advertisement While in Turkey he met with Turkish military officials, Foreign Affairs Minister Melvut Cavuslogu and Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, according to a NATO press release. Peach also visited the NATO Defense Against Terrorism Command while in Ankara during his two-day visit. He noted that Turkey is ...

Aug282020 by adminNo Comments

B-52s to fly over all 30 NATO countries in a single day

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Aug. 28 (UPI) -- B-52 Stratofortress bombers will ceremonially overfly all 30 NATO countries on Friday, accompanied by allied aircraft in a statement of solidarity. "Allied Sky" will feature four B-52s currently deployed to Royal Air Force Fairford in Britain, NATO officials said. Advertisement The strategic bombers will travel to each European NATO country, and in some cases integrate with fighter planes and aerial refueling maneuvers. Two B-52s assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot, N.D., Air Force Base will fly over Canada and the United States. Aircraft from Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey and Britain are expected to fly along with the B-52s. A...

Jun262020 by adminNo Comments

Defense Secretary Mark Esper visits NATO with assurance of U.S. commitment

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June 26 (UPI) -- Defense Secretary Mark Esper reaffirmed U.S.commitment to NATO during a meeting Friday with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Although videoconferencing has become standard meeting procedure because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Esper made the trip to Brussels, the Pentagon said. Advertisement The trip comes a week after a videoconference meeting of NATO member defense ministers in which President Donald Trump's decision to reduce U.S. troop strength in Germany was a topic of concern. "At last week's defense ministerial meeting, we also discussed U.S. military presence in Europe, particularly in light of the U.S.plan to reduce its presence in Germany," Stoltenberg said in welcoming remarks. "I welcome that the U.S. is consulting with allies, while making clear that the...

Mar272020 by adminNo Comments

North Macedonia joins NATO, adopts alliance’s COVID-19 response tool

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March 27 (UPI) -- North Macedonia became the newest member of NATO Friday. "North Macedonia is now part of the NATO family, a family of thirty nations and almost one billion people. A family based on the certainty that, no matter what challenges we face, we are all stronger and safer together," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Friday. U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper welcomed the country to the alliance via Twitter. Welcome to North Macedonia as the 30th Member of the #NATO Alliance. Its shared sacrifice in combat and commitment to NATO as a partner over the years has been resolute. We are proud to officially call them a @NATO Ally today. #WeAreNATO— Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper (@EsperDoD) March 27, 2020 On Tuesday, North Macedonia began the formal applicat...