In the past weeks, the air forces of NATO Allies have been supporting each other and their nations in the battle against COVID-19.
Tasks undertaken include transporting patients and medical supplies, say NATO.
“Since the of end January, EATC has supported its seven member nations Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Spain in the battle against the virus, continuously commanding missions to evacuate infected personnel, ensuring medical supplies are delivered where they are most urgently needed and repatriating citizens back to Europe. A focus lies currently on medical evacuation and relocation missions of COVID-19 patients.”
“We are evacuating infected military personnel from operation areas as well as transporting intensive care patients in support of our member nations,” said Brigadier General Francesco Agresti, Deputy Commander of the EATC.
“Between March 27 and April 3, for instance, EATC commanded five intensive care missions conducted by German A 310 and A 400M in special configuration, bringing Italian and French patients from Bergamo (Italy) and Strasbourg (France) into German hospitals,” Brigadier General Agresti added.
“EATC’s dedicated flying intensive care units are currently in high demand and most probably will continue to be in the weeks to come,” he concluded.
According to its website, the European Air Transport Command is a 24/7 multinational command, located at Eindhoven Air Base in the Netherlands. It is a unique organisation within Europe for military air transport, air-to-air refuelling and aeromedical evacuation.
The fleet is composed of over 170 assets at the national air bases assigned to the EACT by the seven member nations – all of them NATO Allies.
Well this sounds like the best and most logical solution to maximize ICU and ventilator usage I have come across, we should join immediately. We just committed 200 million pounds to the UN (biggest donor) but that’s not enough if Global Britain is to be credible at all. We have to show the world that the we can come to its aid in times of crisis. Other countries, with other types of governments, are stepping up and if we don’t too then we (and democracy as a whole) will lose half of our soft power. Mr Trump isn’t going to… Read more »
Why should the Uk join Andy? This organisation was formed to assist NATO members who didn’t have a significant Air to Air refuelling/heavy lift transport capability…. I’m sure the UK probably has the biggest air to air refuelling and heavy Lift transport fleet in Europe… Wouldn’t it be a better use of resources to invest in a cure/vaccination? I’m not sure the British people would approve of the idea of importing the rest of the worlds virus infected patients, kind of defeats the purpose of isolation and quarantine. As for ventilators, the supply of new build machines are starting to… Read more »
The same Turkey that stopped shipments of supplies and equipment paid for by an EU nation to keep for itself?
That is not true! The fake news was retracted by the Independent newspaper and Spain government said its false news. Any order placed in Turkey for corona kits is subject to government approval which is understandable that causes bit delay but was approved and shipped eventually. Besides Turkey sent aid to Spain and Italy and US Why would they block it? If you want to buy supplies no western country is selling you supplies even this days due shortage. Britain is still waiting for the 200 ventilators it requested from America awaiting Trump approval Turkey sent aid last week to… Read more »
Please note the bit that says after a UK aircraft supplied much needed aid to their border with Syria. Clearly this was a dual sided deal not simply a generous spontaneous no strings attached offer from them. Turkey is now an oppressive dictatorship with increasingly fundamentalist govt credentials that could go either way with a split population and while I don’t support only dealing with democratically or morally unquestionable governments (it’s impratical) I wouldn’t trust Turkey any more than i would Putin as a long term ally. They are playing their own games in a three sided game (turkey, Russia,… Read more »
Turkey is an all we can depend on? Are you having a laugh. Its ran by a dictator that cannot be removed from power the same as Putin. That said dictator appears to change his allegiance as often as his underwear.
The same person who is playing in a regional power game in Libya and Syria and at times beyond adding to a huge asylum seeker issue which he then uses as a bargaining chip for money from the EU.
Turkey is in no way an ally and is not to be trusted.
Crap equipment was sent to Italy from Russia that did not work properly!
Still lacking brain cells, I see? From the sound of your Delusional rants, the onset of something more serious, I say!
The only conclusion that can be drawn from the present crisis is that pan national institutions have failed. The initial response of the WHO was misjudged and the EU was irrelevant. Instead, individual national governments have led the responses so we are likely to see a strengthening of national capabilities. Supply chains will become more local and air travel, the main agent of the global spread, will decrease. There is no reason why the UK should abandon its minimal nuclear deterrent even as Russia and China expand theirs and there is much evidence of increased military spending and belligerence by… Read more »
Harold-maybe you should in parrallel, campaign for Russia to scrap it’s Nuclear weapons and strip it’s Armed Forces as well? Surely that would be the equitable not to mention SENSIBLE way forward. I mean it would make no sense for the West to dissarm and leave the Russians as they are-would it??
Ah! Sense at last.
Hi Daniele. Hope you and family safe and well. Rainy morning in Durban but clearing…
Likewise.
Yes, all safe so far, thank you geoff.
Grey and miserable here.
Geoff’s idea is excellent. Don’t forget Chemical and Biological as well (with verification this time).
Had forgotten about those Mark. I have always tried to reason wit the CND Harolds in the case of this long standing debate. My contention is that the other side will NEVER give up their nukes and other WMD so we are saddled with the necessity to keep ours. Imagine another Hitler with Nukes and non on the other side.
I agree with you 100%, Geoff!
Thanks Meirion
Yes you would gave tnought people migh have learned by now. Especially as we have already been the subject of both a biological and nuclear based attack from Russia in recent years. Putin understands power exchange very well and Turkey has noticed both this and Chinese tactics on the World stage and now well it works in light of the pathetic naive behaviour of the present US President.
Harold, I’ve worked it out very easily, you are a Putin bot. What’s it like in the basement of the Kremlin? Many spiders down there?
Harold,
Wasn’t the uk’s EU position to engage with and work towards bringing Turkey into the EU?
Sounds like you are trying to push an Agenda….
Indeed w were Turkeys biggest supporter. Thankfully France and Germany were far more enlightened about the direction Turkey was headed than we and in particular the lame brained Cameron or indeed Blair before him.
Oh here we go again, Harold the troll is eating crayons and cat litter, and once again waffles about a so called defense force, with no clue about the subject matter and no experience of the military! You are a bit of a UKDJ joke and it’s good to read and laugh at your sadness. And I have no doubt you will cut and paste the same boring comment for a number of stories. Lazy as well as sad.
And who is we? What’s the campaign group you are a member of?
Mate, for info, from posts some years ago now H was touting Veterans for Peace.
Ah I’ve seen those fellas, and if I am honest having scoured the members and not overly impressed! Cheers mate.
Also a guy called Corbyn, remember him,
is a long standing member of CND!
Now I remember, a dirtbag called Joe G joined them after he went AWOL after a Hedrick tour. Fucked office AWOL for two years after being told the Brigade is going back in 2008. Hilarious thing was, he was a base rat at Bastion driving a forklift about. When he got caught after being AWOL he used the “ive seen some stuff, horror of war” etc to try to get off the courts martial. The peace freaks jumped on that fact and he then has spent years going about spouting anti war nonsense. He used the peace freaks as support… Read more »
Hedrick WTF lol Herrick
Bloody finger error, should say fucked off lol not office!
I gathered that mate, no worries!
Hedrick sounds worse than Herrick!
Hedrick….! LOL!
Most likely he referrs to CND, a one sided disarmament campaign!
Ah yes, also likely.
To me they equate to removing all locks on your doors and windows while leaving every other house in the street locked up like Fort Knox.
While burglars prowl.
Sensible.
Harold
Are you perhaps getting the UKDJ mixed up with the Guardian? From experience of their comments pages I’ve found them to be ignorant left-wing UK hating fantasists – so I’m sure your ideas would be welcomed there.
Get rid of our nuclear weapons ay??? Pfffffffft
Go to hell!!