On the 16th of October, NATO and Israel signed a major
framework agreement, which essentially establishes close cooperation
between Israel and ther Atlantic Alliance in NATO led
"counterterrorism" under Operation Active Endeavour. "NATO and Israel
have also finalised the modalities of Israel's contribution to the NATO
maritime Operation Active Endeavour."
In practice, this operation
in which Israel is participating coincides with the NATO naval
build-up off the coast of Lebanon and Syria, which is presented to public
opinion as a "peace-keeping" operation under a mandate emanating from the
UN Security Council.
This Israel-NATO framework agreement not
only has a bearing on the military build-up in the Eastern
Mediterranean, which in practice is directed against Syria and Lebanon, it
is also related to the massive deployment of US naval forces in the
Persian Gulf, oppositie Iran.
Two US naval task
forces are currently in place opposite Iran in the Persian Gulf and
Arabian Sea, including the USS Enterprise Strike Group and
the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group. The latter consists of
the amphibious transport dock USS Nashville, the guided-missile destroyers
USS Cole and USS Bulkeley, the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea,
the attack submarine USS Albuquerque, and the dock landing ship USS
Whidbey Island. (Debka, Click for details)
NATO/Israel Cooperation
in the framework of
the Mediterranean Dialogue
16
October 2006
Today NATO and Israel finalised the Individual
Cooperation Programme (ICP) under the enhanced Mediterranean
Dialogue.
NATO and Israel have also finalised the modalities of
Israel's contribution to the NATO maritime Operation Active Endeavour.
At their Istanbul Summit, NATO's Heads of State and
Government decided to offer Mediterranean Dialogue partner countries the
possibility to agree with NATO Individual Cooperation Programmes and to
contribute to Operation Active Endeavour, in the context of the More
Ambitious and Expanded Framework for the Mediterranean Dialogue approved
at the Summit.
Israel's decision to contribute to Operation Active
Endeavour and to finalise the Individual Cooperation Programme with NATO,
represent a significant step forward in the cooperation with the Alliance.
Copyright NATO 2006
http://www.nato.int/docu/pr/2006/p06-123e.htm
Operation Active Endeavour
March 2004
http://www.afsouth.nato.int/JFCN_Operations/ActiveEndeavour/Endeavour/Endeavour.htm
The
operations mission is to conduct naval operations in the Mediterranean to
actively demonstrate NATO's resolve and solidarity. Operation Active
Endeavour is one of the measures resulting from NATO's decision to
implement Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, expanding the options
available in the campaign against terrorism.
Contents Press Releases NATO Actions Images
Transcripts NATO Briefing Forces
For the first time in NATO's history, Alliance assets
have been deployed in support of Article 5 operations. NATO has
contributed Airborne Warning and Control Systems aircraft (AWACS) to the
United States and has also deployed elements of its Standing Naval Forces
to the Eastern Mediterranean. AWACS provide air surveillance and early
warning capability by transmitting data to command and control centres on
land, sea or in the air. The naval assets of Standing Naval Force
Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED), which were participating in Exercise
Destined Glory 2001 off the southern coast of Spain, were re-assigned in
order to provide an immediate NATO military presence in the Eastern
Mediterranean.
Operation Active Endeavour is conducted by Vice Admiral
Ferdinando Sanfelice di Monteforte, Italian Navy, Commander Allied Naval
Forces Southern Europe (NAVSOUTH) from his headquarters in Naples, Italy,
through a Task Force deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean, named Task
Force Endeavour (TFE) and, from 10 March 2003, a Task Force deployed to
the Strait of Gibraltar (STROG).
Prolonged operations in the Eastern Mediterranean are
achieved through rotation of NATOs Standing Naval Forces; STANAVFORMED
and STANAVFORLANT . To enable sustainability, TFE uses facilities and
assets made available by member states in the region.
TFE initially comprised the nine ships of the Standing
Naval Forces Mediterranean (SNFM), which -- as well as STANAVFORLANT -- is
part of NATOs Immediate Reaction Forces (IRFs). The IRFs primary mission
is to deploy rapidly to areas of tension and crisis. By definition as an
IRF, the Task Force is trained to conduct a wide-range of maritime
operations. These capabilities are regularly tested in exercises
throughout the Southern Region.
During the first two months of deployment to the Eastern
Mediterranean, STANAVFORMED established contact with about 1,700 merchant
vessels and conducted 32 replenishments at sea to allow continuous
maritime operations in the area. Shipborne helicopters flew more than
1,000 hours. Elements of SNFM also visited Souda Bay, Crete and Aksaz,
Turkey.
As the world is united against terrorism, said
COMNAVSOUTH during a news conference on 6 December 2001, NATO continues
to demonstrate the strength of its resolve and the solidarity of its
member nations by conducting Operation Active Endeavour. The versatility
and value of maritime immediate reaction forces is once more being
highlighted.
NATO air and maritime assets during patrol and escorting
operations in the Strait of Gibraltar.
On 4 February 2003, the North Atlantic Council decided to
extend Operation Active Endeavour to include escorting non-military ships
travelling through the Strait of Gibraltar to maintain security in the
area and to secure the safe transit of designated Allied ships. The narrow
Strait of Gibraltar is widely recognised as a potential site of terrorist
attacks, and so the measure was agreed as a precaution. The first NATO
escort was conducted on 10 March 2003, by units of Standing Naval Force
Atlantic, supported by US and Portuguese Maritime Patrol Aircraft and
Spanish helicopters. Subsequently the Strait of Gibraltar operations have
been led by the Spanish and have comprised Spanish frigates, Danish,
Norwegian and German Patrol Boats and aircraft from Spain, Portugal and
the US. Since these operations began, 414 vessels have been escorted (as
of 17 Marc 2004).
NATO began monitoring operations in the Eastern
Mediterranean in October 2001.
Since the start of the operation about 41,000 merchant
vessels have been monitored (as of 17 March 2004) by the forces of Active
Endeavour. The surveillance operation utilises ship, aircraft and
submarine assets to build a picture of maritime activity in the Area of
Operations.
On 29 April 2003, Task Force Endeavour began boarding
operations following a NAC decision to enhance the effectiveness of the
current naval operations against suspected terrorist activities in the
Mediterranean. The boarding operations are conducted in accordance with
the rules of international law and are of a compliant nature. 37 vessels
have been boarded (as of 8 January 2004).
On 16 March 2003 NATO announced that the Area of
Operations of operation Active Endeavour was extended to the whole
Mediterranean and that EAPC/PfP Partners, Mediterranean Dialogue countries
and other selected nations wil be asked to support it, including through
their active participation.
BACKGROUND:
On 12 September 2001 NATO implemented Article 5 of the
Washington Treaty following the 11 September attacks against the United
States. Following US requests, NATO subsequently agreed to implement 8
specific measures to expand the options available in the campaign against
terrorism. These measures included the deployment of elements of NATOs
Standing Naval Forces to the Eastern Mediterranean in order to provide a
NATO presence and demonstrate resolve.
The NATO Operation ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR formally began on 26
October 2001, when the activation order was issued. However, patrolling in
the Eastern Mediterranean had already started on 6 October, when the
Standing Naval Force Mediterranean was dispatched to conduct maritime
presence operations in support of the international campaign against
terrorism.
CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS
- 06 Oct 01 SNFM departs Exercise Destined Glory 2001 for
the Eastern Mediterranean - 26 Oct 01 Operation Active Endeavour begins -
04 Dec 01 Rescue operation - 04 Feb 03 Escorting in the Strait of
Gibraltar begins - 29 Apr 03 Compliant Boardings commenced - 10 Dec 03
Strait of Gibraltar escorting suspended - 29 Jan 04 Strait of Gibraltar
escorting resumed - 16 March 04 Operation expanded to the whole
Mediterranean
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS
On 4 Dec 01, STANAVFORMED ships ALISEO, FORMION and ELROD
were called to assist in the rescue of 84 civilians from a stricken oil
rig. In high winds and heavy seas, the Italian helicopter of the ALISEO
removed all 84 workers from the oil rig in 14 flights.
On 2 Jan 02, SNFL's Spanish frigate SPS EXTREMADURA and
Netherlands oiler HNMLS AMSTERDAM, the UK naval vessel HMS BEAGLE and the
Greek Coast Guard provided life-saving support to the passengers of a
sinking ship in the Eastern Mediterranean off Crete. The BEAGLE's crew
repaired the leaking hull and damaged propulsion to the AYDIN KAPTAN
before the weather deteriorated and Greek helicopters began winching the
children and women amongst the 254 refugees onboard and carried them to
Crete and the AMSTERDAM. On 3 Jan 02, the AYDIN KAPTAN was towed by a
Greek fishing vessel, under SNFL escort, to Greek territorial waters.
Copyright NATO 2006
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