Thirteen NATO countries are taking part in simulated air and missile defence drills off the United Kingdom’s south coast.
The 6-day (starting 31st of October 2019) Naval Electromagnetic Operations – or NEMO – trials will test how allied navies can defend themselves against anti-ship cruise and hypersonic missiles using state-of-the-art electronic defences, say NATO.
“NEMO 19 shows how Allies are working together to protect NATO forces from the threat of cruise and hypersonic missiles,” said NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu.
“This is NATO’s largest maritime electronic warfare exercise and a great example of how Allies are developing new defensive technology to meet emerging security challenges.”
As part of the drill, Allies will seek to jam enemy missiles or divert them away from their targets, using state-of-the-art electronic defences.
“NEMO 19 will also see the use of infrared and radar measurements to reduce the susceptibility of ships to enemy radars and missiles. Tactical data exchanges between participating ships as well as voice procedures if data links are jammed or tampered with will also be put to the test. The technology is meant to counter the growing threat of ever more complex anti-ship missile systems proliferating around the globe.”
“NEMO 19 is taking so-called anti-access area-denial capabilities into account as we continue to adapt our deterrence and defence posture,” the NATO Spokesperson said, adding that reinforcing the Alliance’s maritime posture is essential for ensuring the Alliance’s continued freedom of movement at sea.
Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States will participate by sending ships, aircraft, measurement equipment and sailors.
About 1,500 personnel, six ships and eight aircraft are involved in NEMO 19.
Good to see them work together. But why is Turkey invited? when it should be suspended/kicked from Nato!
Could Nato do with losing Turkeys millitary, it’s far bigger than the UKs in certain areas like troop numbers and Tanks ect, but their troops are vastly conscripts so quality will be an issue. But they have a large millitary and bases that nato needs in that region.
I suppose we could but what have they done to NATO ?
I’m not mad on what they’re up to but NATO spitting the dummy isn’t going to make it any better and could potentially push Turkey into the opposite camp. That would move the border further into Europe which a lot of countries might not be keen on.
Fully agree… rather then forcing Turkey into the hands of Russia we should be building links with them. They control some key areas on the map and have and currently guard NATO’s flank. To try and kick them out is short sighte.
Even though Erdogan is a vile dictator, luckily it’s their military that NATO forces work with so they don’t have anything to do with the despot lunatic.
I don’t think that Trump has helped the Turkey situation either, his wild threats and talk of sanctions and throwing them out of the F-35 programme are just ridiculous. Turkey has contributed to it and it’s important to keep them on board……..no matter how much of a moron Erdogan is.
Would you rather Turkey jump in bed with Russia. That would effectively cut-off the black Sea. Turkey is too important strategically to loose.
Let’s hope Trump orders the removal of US nukes from Turkish soil very soon. Then kick them out of NATO. lol
Turkey may kick them out first. Putin will put the pressure on no doubt especially as he is in the front line for the order for the cancelled F-35 program. Trump offends all and sundry with his trite comments and even he doesnt know what he is going to say until its there on line like a 13 year old schoolgirl. He makes Carter and Clinton look like world statesmen. A ridiculous and dangerous man.
Totally agree ,we should not push turkey away to putins sphere of dark influence even more than now ,it will just inflate Putins ego more ,a dictator with over confidants is very dangerous .
Appease a dictator because you don’t like another dictator
Makes sense
Conrad sole ,I have called you out before ,I think you have a warped reality on things even trying to argue against the Hong Kong riots i seem to remember,as I said Why dont you live in Russia or china you would soon get my point lol.
Thought it was soleski?
F**k Hong Kong
Ok soleski ,I struggle to understand your mentality.
Basically, yes, but that’s how geopolitics works unfortunately.
It’s a horrible dilemma to have, Turkey, you’re dammed if you do and dammed if you don’t. Personally, I’d like to remove them from NATO as they’re clearly playing both sides here but they do live in a strategically important location and their military do regularly play a big part in NATO exercises and make a decent contribution to the Alliance.
I hate Erdogan, he’s a typical political bully and dictator and he’s starting to turn the normally relaxed and modernised Turkish people into more of a conservative/strict Country under an ever increasingly brutal regime.
The cost of turfing Turkey out of NATO? It will only push them into the open arms of Putin’s Russia…and that’s a very dangerous prospect….
I shouldnt worry about the US Trump will not get a next term , then all order will be restored apart with our version of Trump good old boris lol.
Dave, as big of a tit Trump is….I just can’t see the Democrats fielding a candidate to challenge him.
What annoys me about him is his penchant for upsetting NATO Allies and partners around the World although he is correct when he calls out the richer European countries for not spending the required 2% GDP on defence.
I think everytime he opens his big mouth, his military chiefs have to just tut and shake heir heads. It’s just lucky that our Armed Forces and the US armed Forces work so well together, if they didn’t, the partnership could be very strained and awkward.
What – are you seriously joking ? Kick Turkey out of NATO and expose our whole Southeastern front against the dangerous Middle East. At a stroke give Russia what it has wanted for nearly 200 years, direct naval access to the Mediterranean, undermining NATO and bringing Cyprus directly to the front line. The Bosporus is vital for bottling up the Russian Black Sea fleet. Turkey has always been pro-British and good allies, better than many others in NATO, others who have refused to support Britain on many occasions, refused even to sell the UK artillery shells at the start of Gulf War I. Turkey has been under continual terrorist attack for over 40 years, 20 times more people killed than in Northern Ireland, and yet you seriously want them to forgive and forget, would we ???? No. Look at Spain, they violate our waters daily and refuel Russian ships constantly – should we kick them out of NATO as well ?
Turkey an ally are you joking or do you just ignore history? Remember Galipoli? Europe pays Turkey tons of money over 3 billion to date and Erdogan blackmails Europe with refugees from Syria etc… a situation that is not of Europe’s making.
Turkey is not a good ally and has not allowed US bases to be used for raids in Iraq or Syria. Furthermore they have been in bed with ISIS and allowing them to go and forth through the border. How did all western european jihadis get to Syria, simple via Turkey. Erdogan and his family members have made millions selling black market oil on ISIS’s behalf.
Btw, Russia already has access to the Med, they have the port of Tartus in Syria. This whole Bosphorus is strategic is nonsense red herring. Russian ships regularly pass through the Channel and Gibraltar. When has a Russian ship ever been refused access via the Borsphorus? If it came to war Russian Navy would be vulnerable trying to get through the narrow gap. It would be like shooting fish in a barrel, because they would be easy prey to submarines, ships, planes and land based attacks from greek and bulgarian coasts. So we do not need Turkey and their tinpot dictator who is already aligning with Russia.
Oh yeah – you’re right, I forgot my history. Italy is our enemy. Those pesky Romans took over Britain remember, or the Normans and the Vikings, or is it just your selective history that counts…. oh, and how can you forget zee Germans….
Andy B, lets just say its a good job us dafties only get to do our ranting on places like this and not in the corridors of power.
We’re just lucky the Yanks have forgiven us for burning the White House.
Yes, but did we forgive them for the raid on Whitehaven?
No matter what you or I think of Turkey or Erdogan, the Turkish military is an important part of NATO and they regularly do play their part well in the Alliance by taking part in almost every exercise and contributing the required 2% of GDP.
Although politically Turkey isn’t entirely trustworthy, their military still does the job for NATO.
Re Spain ….can we have a vote on that …..please?
Well said Andy.
Andy B thats is
Turkey is no longer an ally that can be trusted. Erdogan is destroying Ataturk’s carefully thought out system.
As for terrorism, don’t make me laugh. The Turks have committed two genocides (the Greeks in Turkey and the Armenians) and continue their oppression to this day.
NATO should bolster Greece, a true and enduring ally.
There’s the old proverb of “keeping your friends close and your enemies closer”, I think this is the case here. Turkey is too important strategically to loose. Don’t get me wrong, I am no friend of Turkey’s, having witnessed first hand how they treated the Khurds after Gulf War 1. But if we turn them in to a pariah Nation, much like Russia, Iran or even North Korea then they will be emboldened to do what ever they choose, with no restraints. By keeping them in NATO at least they fall under peer pressure, which hopefully can keep them in check.
You’re forgetting that the mindset of that proverb has been the cause of many of conflict and bad mistakes over the last century
The USA thought that about Egypt during the Suez crisis, and then Eisenhower admitted he broke the golden rule of foreign policy
Reward your allies and punish your enemies
The Turks our not currently our allies, the Kurds are, and we are currently breaking that golden rule of foreign policy
Glad you’re here to bring a bit of balance to the discussion Andy Reeves, always the voice of reason……
I suppose we could give them Gibraltar, or we could maybe swap it for one of their holdings in North Africa, maybe play a game of poker for them in some winner takes all televised special. Maybe make it a quiz game, I’d go for a bullseye format (might appeal to the Spanish until they find out its darts based), us prols love a bit of Bully.
There are more ships on the picture than the write says are involved. 6 ships hardly large!
I’m not sure there is a mechanism in NATO to even do this.
Turkey will unfortunately be sucked into Putins sphere of influence if NATO don’t let them do what they deem as necessary for the security of the country which is why the USA has pulled out of Syria and left the Kurds to fend for themselves! Turkey is a key strategic country/partnership in a cauldron of uncertainty.