Military escalation IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

NATO prepares its new wars

Spain is the main theater of operations Trident Juncture 2015 maneuvers.

Gladys Martinez Lopez.. Diagonal.. Google Translation



After the traditional military ‘orgy’ parades on October 12, the Spanish government is preparing to become the main theater of the biggest NATO exercises since the end of the Cold War. The so-called Trident Juncture 2015, the first phase was held between 3 and 16 October, will mobilize in a second stage, this exercise on the ground, more than 36,000 troops from 33 countries (28 NATO allies five) More than 230 military units, 140 aircraft and 60 warships to be deployed in Italy, Portugal and Spain between October 21 and November 6.

It is an “exercise high visibility” qualifies as NATO itself, in which the Spanish State is not only to welcome more military in its territory -20.000-, but the exercises bring to 8,000 of them, plus 13 ships and 43 aircraft and helicopters, and eight of the 16 military simulation scenarios will be placed in military bases and camps in different parts of Zaragoza, Albacete, Almeria, Cadiz, Palma de Mallorca and Madrid.

see also: Massive NATO Wargames: Tanks Blocked, Convoy Suspended

Jordi Calvo, the Centre d’Estudis Delàs per la Pau, these maneuvers are part of “always the same strategy of NATO, that is to keep America and its allies as the global hegemon.” “They are included in a long-term strategy,” also explained Diagonal Andreas Speck, activist Antimilitarista Nonviolent Network and Andalusia, adding that one of the objectives is to “develop a capacity to intervene in the world in no time to defend the interests of the countries “of the Alliance.





In fact, these exercises in Spain, Italy and Portugal aim to “train and certify” Response Force 2016 NATO (NRF, for its acronym in English), a rapid reaction force created in the Prague Summit of 2002 and whose effective increase from 13,000 to 40,000 following a decision in June by a ministerial summit of the Atlantic Alliance. The decision was made in full escalation of tension with Russia over the war in Ukraine, a situation that NATO has also used to dramatically expand its presence in Eastern Europe.

Africa as a stage

“Maneuvers like this are always a matter of power and military capabilities, also with a message to Russia, but not only. Ukraine crisis and confrontation with Russia play a role, but not the principal. These maneuvers have been planned for several years, “says Speck. In fact, the fictional setting of these military exercises is the Horn of Africa, and the conflict depicted is based on a water dispute in a context of desertification and dwindling resources. “Africa is a continent rich in untapped resources, particularly minerals and hydrocarbons, and there is competition between China, the US, Europe and India for control of these resources. The maneuvers are also a message to China, which is investing heavily in Africa, “says Speck.

The Trident Juncture serve to test the strength of Very High Availability, who will lead Spain in 2016

From Ecologists in Action also they consider the fact that the maneuvers of the Trident Juncture 2015 is made in these three countries in southern Europe “has its relevance, as are the countries of input energy (pipelines) from North Africa, and also a transit of oil from the Middle East and the so-called European energy ring “.

In the past decade, NATO has marked the supply of energy resources as a priority of its security policy, it has focused a significant portion of their interest in this continent. And, as explained from the Centre Delàs, it has increased its penetration from the large-scale exercise Seadfast Jaguar 06 on Cape Verde in 2006 until the military intervention in Libya, through a partnership with the African Union in various conflicts and different naval operations in the Horn of Africa, the last of which, Ocean Shield, still in progress.

Regarding the proposed scenario for these maneuvers, Speck also highlights the importance of climate change as a factor. “The strategy of the approved organization at the recent summits define the interests and threats to NATO, which are access to resources, terrorism, though not see it as primarily and conflicts caused by climate change. But the interest of NATO is not preventing climate change, but migration arising from it. This is closely related to the strategy of militarization of the borders and the military mission of the European Union in the Mediterranean and Frontex “.

The war in 48 hours

The Trident Juncture 2015 serve mainly to test for the first time, included in the Response Force, the Force of very high availability (VJTF), whose creation was agreed by NATO ministers in February 2015 and will comprise 5,000 Earth military, supported by naval, air and special forces elements, and will be able to deploy within 48 hours anywhere in the world. Indeed, it will be Spain who will lead this first VJTF, which will be operational in 2016.

Trident Juncture “is also an act of propaganda,” says Jordi Calvo, adding that before the end of the legislature this government “is doing the maximum to put Spain as an excellent ally of NATO and US military level”. Moreover, the maneuvers wanted “legitimize the existence of the military option and give it a boost,” he adds. Therefore perhaps NATO has given prominence to the participation of non-military maneuvers organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross.

“These policies contribute to increasing tension, insecurity and arms race in the world”

Naval operations, air and ground offensive, amphibious landings, parachute releases, shares in urban environment, interventions in nuclear, radiological, bacteriological and chemical environment, and performance of special operations forces are some of the maneuvers to be carried out. But military presence began several weeks ago, and it affects many parts of the country, as they are producing mass movements of vehicles, military equipment and military from different points of arrival, as the port of Sagunto (Valencia), Bilbao, Irún or La Jonquera, primarily on the basis of San Gregorio (Zaragoza), the main theater of operations.

The maneuvers have also involved the construction of a new camp at Zaragoza Air Base for up to 1,600 soldiers. Displacements and maneuvers that various organizations complain that not only are of danger to people, but also have a strong impact on the territory and natural spaces. To this total opacity on the economic cost of this unprecedented military deployment in the State adds.

“These policies contribute to increasing tension, insecurity and the arms race in the world, and we tripping over themselves to new wars,” explains Alternative Antimilitarista MOC in a press release, adding that “the maneuvers Trident exclusively to protect Juncture privileged minority, increase global military spending at the expense of vital investment in social and humanitarian needs. ” In fact, this global expenditure amounted in 2014 to 1.8 billion dollars, while the Spanish state will step down next year more than 24,000 million “in preparation for war and social control”, denounces this group.

Given this military escalation, so far more than 60 groups and organizations in the Spanish State and Europe have launched a “Call to Action against military exercises” with the slogan “War starts here, let’s stop here.” In the demonstrations that have taken place already in different localities affected by the maneuvers, it has joined the blockade of a military convoy by a group of activists antimilitarists-MOC in the port of Sagunto on October 16, which ended six detainees .

In the coming days, a number of decentralized actions will take place in different cities, culminating in the #NoNatoDay (Day of No to NATO) on 4 November. That day, classified by NATO as the “Day of Distinguished Visitors”, it is expected the visit to Zaragoza Secretary General of the Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, and military and bureaucrats organizing high, you will be greeted by demonstrations in the city ​​and a human chain to pass a few meters from where they will be staying.

Sorotan scenario: war games in Africa

Imagine a fictional region: Cerasia. In it, a country, Kamon, invades another, Lakuta, and a third, Tytan, is under threat. The reason for the invasion, a dispute over access to water, against a backdrop of “Desertification, dry aquifers, riparian disputes and continued decline in resources.” The argument may seem a futuristic movie Mad Max, but is Sorotan Scenario, which is openly practicing maneuvers in the Trident Juncture 2015 NATO in Spain, Italy and Portugal.

Although Kamon, Lakuta or Tytan are supposedly imaginary countries are clearly located in the Horn of Africa, one of the major centers of interest of NATO countries and other world powers such as China or Russia because of its geostrategic location and resources. In fact, both the US and France and Japan have permanent bases in Djibouti. US launched in this area Operation Enduring Freedom-Horn of Africa, theoretically fighting terrorism and keeping open the operation Ocean Shield anti-piracy. Spain participates in both this operation and Atalanta, this European Union.

Moron, Rota, Africom and the missile shield

On September 26 it reached the naval base in Rota (Cádiz) the last of the four US destroyers who have settled permanently in the base. These four destroyers are part of NATO missile shield. With the arrival of these warships, the number of base personnel has increased, between military, civil and family in 3,400 people.

On the other hand, last June 17, the Governments of Spain and the United States signed an amendment to the bilateral Defense Agreement 1988. The new agreement makes Moron de la Frontera in the main military base of Africom, the US Command Africa, and becomes the spearhead for any US military intervention in the continent, mainly coveted for its rich energy resources and raw materials. The agreement also means an increase of US Marines at the base, moving from 850-2200, accompanied by some 500 civilians, with the possibility of adding a temporary contingent of 800 soldiers. In addition, there will be an expansion of facilities and the number of warplanes at the base.

original en español

ESCALADA MILITARISTA EN EL MEDITERRÁNEO La OTAN prepara sus nuevas guerras España es el principal teatro de operaciones de las maniobras Trident Juncture 2015. Gladys Martínez López , Diagonal 21/10/15