Category: Armed Forces

From global responsibility to strategic tunnel vision

From global responsibility to strategic tunnel vision

Posted by | 6 Apr 2023 | , , , | 0

Its flexibility makes the navy the ideal instrument of German foreign policy. A plea in favour of deploying the ships where they are needed - worldwide. To all appearances, the navy currently serves one main purpose and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future: to deter Russia on the northern flank of the alliance. As an initial reaction to Putin's invasion of Ukraine, this impulse is understandable, but harbours great risks - risks for German foreign policy and for the navy itself. Unlike during the Cold War, the Federal Republic is no longer the smaller West Germany. The traditional allied naval powers have also long...

Read More
Baltic Operations 22

Baltic Operations 22

Posted by | 4 Apr 2023 | , , , , | 0

BALTOPS, the largest multinational naval exercise in the Baltic Sea, took place for the 51st time from 5 to 17 June 2022. Around 7,000 soldiers from 16 nations, including Sweden and Finland, took part this time. They were spread across 47 ships and boats, 89 aircraft, as well as various offices and troop units on land. BALTOPS stands for "Baltic Operations" and is a long-term exercise series that was launched by the US Naval Forces Europe in 1972. The purpose has not changed since then: The aim is to train various types of naval warfare with allies, for example hunting submarines,...

Read More
Construction project for the inland sea

Construction project for the inland sea

Posted by | 31 Mar 2023 | , , , , | 0

The Russian-Ukrainian war also had a major impact on the navies of the Baltic Sea states. They were already in the process of rebuilding capacities that had been radically curtailed after the Cold War. Historically neutral Sweden is one of the countries whose security architecture has been most affected by the recent Russian aggression, a fact that is most evident in the country's imminent accession to NATO. The country is already in the midst of a major military revitalisation programme called Totalförsvaret 2021-2025 (translated roughly as Total Defence), which was passed by the Swedish parliament at the end of 2020. From the perspective of the navy...

Read More
It's about the islands

It's about the islands

Posted by | 30 Mar 2023 | , , , , | 0

As a major economic power, Japan maintains an extremely efficient coastguard with a wide range of tasks and capabilities in addition to its navy. Together they ensure security in a conflict-prone region of the world. With over 6800 islands (of which more than 400 are permanently inhabited) and a coastline of 29,751 kilometres, Japan is one of the world's largest maritime nations. In addition to the four large main islands, smaller island groups such as the Ogasawara and Ryukyu Islands ensure that Japan, with a land area of 380,000 square kilometres, has almost as large territorial waters (430,000 km2) and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of more than ten times its land area. With...

Read More
Turning point at sea

Turning point at sea

Posted by | 28 Mar 2023 | , , , , | 0

The world is on the move: Climate change, upheavals between nations and new technologies are among the challenges facing modern navies. This makes it all the more important to adapt their capabilities quickly. In times of multiple crises, the world is changing and with it the strategic environment. This also applies to naval forces, which are undergoing rapid development around the globe. Local wars are taking place, regional ones are conceivable. The Cold War is back with new centres of gravity in Eastern Europe and the Indo-Pacific region. Starting positions for future conflicts are being established in the Arctic, Antarctic and outer space. It is often about maritime borders,...

Read More
en_GBEnglish
de_DEGerman en_GBEnglish