Monthly Archives: April 2017

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) This year marks the 64th NATO Festival and this year, the sky is the limit.

Frances aerobatic jet team, Patrouille de France, is operating out of Chambers Field at Naval Station Norfolk from April 26 through April 30.

Each aircraft includes a painting of a French flag in red, white and blue. The Patrouille de France is the oldest Navy precision flight demonstration team. Theyre making a stop in the mermaid city to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the U.S. entry into World War I.

The teams maneuvers are similar to those of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. During their performances, the jets use red, white and blue smoke.

Major of the French Air Force Nicolas Lieumont says he is pleased to show his skill in America.

We are here to show the skills of the French Air Force airmen, said Major Lieumont. Its a great honor to be in another country to show the French skills, especially in the United States, which is one of our greatest allies.

The team hasnt performed in the U.S. in three decades.

General Denis Mercier, the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, shares the same sentiment. He works at the NATO headquarters in Norfolk.

We all together are ready to fight for better peace and security in our world and this is a demonstration of that and based on that, we can build a strong friendship and we have this possibility, said General Mercier. This festival is a way to put together the Hampton Roads community and all the people who will come to Norfolk for the festival and the military communities.

Along with the flying jets, you can expect 100 parade floats, bands and high school and military floats representing each of the 28 NATO member nations.

The City of Norfolk says nearby residents may see and hear the jets during their five day stay.

We are honored to have the Patrouille de France visiting Norfolk, the city said in a news release Friday.This is the first time in over three decades the team has performed in the United States, and it is here this month to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the U.S. entry into World War I and support the citys annual NATO Fest.

We come here to thank the American people for the friendship and the brotherhood that we have between our two countries, said Major Lieumont.

NATO Festival events open to the public:

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Annual NATO Festival in downtown Norfolk includes foreign guest - WAVY-TV

Russia is still trying to undermine Montenegros NATO membership with continued cyber attacks after last years failed coup attempt, but no one can stop the tiny Balkan nation from joining as early as next month, the countrys defense minister said.

Lawmakers in the Adriatic state of 630,000 people will formally agree to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on Friday, Predrag Boskovic said in an interview in the capital, Podgorica. All 28 NATO members have given consent except for Spain, which is expected to do so this week. Montenegro hopes to attend the alliances May 25 summit as a full member, he said.

Montenegros Defense Minister Predrag Boskovic, right, attends a NATO meeting in February.

Photographer: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP via Getty Images

The approval signals a years-long shift in geopolitical loyalties for the former Yugoslav republic, which has historically shared religious and cultural ties with Russia. Adding its 200 miles of shoreline will clinch NATOs nearly complete control over the northern Mediterranean. Russia isnt backing down, though. After Montenegro accused Moscow for trying to overthrow the government and assassinate the prime minister during last years elections -- an allegation Russia denies -- its institutions are coming under attack by hackers believed to be backed by the Kremlin, he said.

Neither Russia, nor any other country, can change our course, Boskovic, 45, said in his office on Tuesday. Joining todays 28 most advanced economies, the most advanced civilizations, is a step necessary for Montenegro, for it to become part of the Western world and ensure long-term stability and security.

Montenegros accusations coincide with warnings from other European nations that Russia is stepping up efforts to infiltrate rival governments and influence politics across the continent. Denmarks defense minister was cited on Sunday as saying Russian hackers gained access to military emails, while French presidential front-runner Emmanuel Macrons campaign has been hit by cyber attacks resembling those used against Democratic Party organizations in the U.S.

Boskovic said his ministry is trying to defend against cyber attacks on a daily basis against state institutions and computers of military officers containing classified data. That follows Montenegrin prosecutors indictment this month of 14 people, including two Russians, for trying to seize the parliament, kill the countrys most powerful politician, Milo Djukanovic, and install a pro-Russian administration.

Russia has its interests and has shown that in a most direct way, he said. Of course its the Kremlin. Thats a fact.

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Montenegros pro-Russian opposition wants to stop NATO entry and wants a referendum on joining. But the government will avoid a vote because it knows the countrys citizens would reject it,Andrija Mandic, of the opposition Democratic Front, said in an interview. He also rejected the governments accusations against Vladimir Putins government, dismissing the overthrow attempt as a fake coup meant to raise support for Djukanovic, who won the vote last October and formed a coalition cabinet.

By letting Montenegro join, NATO is showing it wants to tighten its grip on the Balkans, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in Moscow on Wednesday.

The military potential of Podgorica is close to zero, though its geographical position permits a strengthening of control over the Balkans, Shoigu said.

Russia has a point. Montenegros has just 1,950 soldiers, two aging frigates, 13 helicopters and two light jets. The country currently spends 1.66 percent of gross domestic product on its forces -- below the NATOs 2 percent requirement, but it plans to hit the target by 2020, or even perhaps this year if it buys new choppers, Boskovic said.

Montenegro is aware of its size, he said. But what matters more is that we want to contribute to making the traditionally turbulent Balkans a more secure place.

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Russia Is Trying, But It Can't Stop NATO Entry, Montenegro Says ... - Bloomberg

Members of the first-ever Ukrainian team for the international Invictus Games visited NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on 24 April 2017. Their participation in the games is being supported by a NATO Trust Fund project on Medical Rehabilitation.

The visiting group included war veterans and disabled servicemen who have fought in eastern Ukraine since the outbreak of the conflict in 2014. They were winners of the Ukrainian Games of Heroes competition held to select Team Ukraine for this years Invictus Games. Named Invictus, after the Latin for "unconquered" or "undefeated", the Games provide a venue for disabled veterans and servicemen and women to compete in sporting events such as wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, and indoor rowing. Established by Prince Harry, the first event took place in 2014 in London, the United Kingdom. This years event will be taking place in Toronto, Canada in September.

The visitors met representatives of NATOs International Staff as well as member states to discuss issues ranging from NATO-Ukraine relations to current and future security challenges. It is better to see once than hearing a hundred times, one of the participants said. They also made a presentation on the Games of Heroes competition and participated in a special CrossFit session. During their trip, they also visited Allied Joint Force Command in Brunssum, the Netherlands.

On the occasion of the nomination of Team Ukraine for Toronto, at a gala concert in Kyiv on 23 April, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko expressed his thanks for the support provided to Ukrainian servicemen and women in the area of medical and psychological rehabilitation under the NATO Trust Fund.

To coincide with the visit, the Ukrainian Mission to NATO organised a photo exhibit entitled Children in War, which gave a glimpse into the lives of the many Ukrainian children who have suffered as a consequence of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Opening the exhibit, Vice-Prime Minister Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze underlined the magnitude of the conflicts impact on children: it is estimated that 200 have been killed and 500 wounded; 250,000 are among the internally displaced people and 50,000 are without access to school.

As NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Dipomacy Tacan Ildem underlined, Exhibits like this remind us that we should not and must not forget about the children. They remind us that while the plight of these children may not make the news each day, it is them who are bearing much of the pain and trauma of war. It is them who will have to deal with the aftermath of whats happening today.

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NATO - News: Honouring Ukraine's Invictus Team and children ... - NATO HQ (press release)

(CNN) Americas newest weapon, the F-35, in the skies over Eastern Europe, right where confrontations with Russia frequently happen: CNN was given exclusive access to the U.S. Stealth combat jets first ever forward deployment training with allied air forces.

Major Bryan Blackburn, of the U.S. Air Force said it was an essential experience for the crews. Were continuing to forward deploy and bolster our NATO allies. Its all about inter cooperation and just bolstering the NATO Alliance.

A tanker plane refueled the F-35 as they transited to Estonia, A country right on the border with Russia and worried about Moscows aggressive posture in recent years. With the deployment of the F-35 the U.S. is sending a very clear message to both Russia and its NATO partners: That America is willing to commit its newest and most advanced planes to keep its partners safe.

Russias air force is increasingly flying planes, like the nuclear capable TU-95 bomber, around this area. NATO jets often scrambling to intercept them. President Donald Trump has only recently stopped calling the NATO alliance obsolete.

Now the F-35 deployment, another welcome sign of American commitment, Estonias Defense Minister, Margus Tsahkna said, This is important to send this message that this is the border of NATO. This is the Eastern border of our values that we are ready to protect.

As part of this deployment the F-35 crews get to know this contested air space and practice cooperation with other NATO air forces. As tensions with Moscow show no sign of easing, this plane could become a staple of NATOs eastern fringe.

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U.S. sends F-35 aircraft to easternmost NATO border - wwlp.com

ALBACETE AIR BASE, Spain --

Eight F-16 aircraft and more than 200 Airmen from the 388th Fighter Wing and 419th FW from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, are currently at Albacete Air Base, Spain, to participate in the NATO Tactical Leadership Programme through May 19.

TLP is an annual NATO Mission Commanders School training program and is designed to provide joint training to increase NATO air defense with participating allies.

The Tactical Leadership Program is a good opportunity for all the participating nations to work together, said Master Sgt. Daniel LaBrake, Combined Aerospace Logistics Coordinator and the only enlisted member from the U.S. Air Force stationed at the Spanish air base.

Hills fighter wings will participate in training with NATO allied air forces from ten other countries.

This is excellent training with some intense air operations and top of the line NATO jets from our coalition allies, said Lt. Col. Surya Frickel, 466th Fighter Squadron commander.

During the large force exercise, the Hill AFB pilots will fly alongside 20-30 allied aircraft daily and against as many adversaries. Part of the learning that goes on is how to operate safely with the different aircraft and unfamiliar environments, as well as different languages and procedures.

This exercise is a good example of the United States cooperation and long-lasting commitment to the security of Europe and maintaining readiness with our NATO allies, Frickel said.

Though the wings have been on several training deployments together, this is the first time Utahs 419th and 388th FWs are participating in TLP.

Traditionally, squadrons stationed in Europe participate in TLP, LaBrake said. So it has been a new challenge to coordinate all of the moving parts so these Airmen can come overseas and get this experience.

The deployment marks the last time the iconic multi-role fighter is scheduled to deploy from Hill AFB. F-16 aircraft from Hill's fighter wings have been flying over the skies of northern Utah for nearly 40 years.

This is the last time the F-16 will deploy with the Hill designator HL painted on its tail, said Col. Michael Miles, 388th Maintenance Group commander. We are extremely proud of the job we have done with the F-16 and we must do our best here at TLP to preserve the memory of the aircraft that is so dear to our hearts.

Hills fleet of F-16s is being replaced by the Air Forces newest fighter jet, the F-35 Lightning II. The first operational F-35As arrived at Hill AFB in October 2015. Hill currently has 20 F-35As and will eventually be home to three operational squadrons by the end of 2019. The 388th and 419th FWs fly and maintain the aircraft in a Total Force partnership, which capitalizes on the strength of both components.

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NATO exercise last deployment for Hill F-16s - Minuteman