130816-N-DT805-020 – PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM (Aug. 16, 2013)- The Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Perth (FFGHM 157) arrives in Pearl Harbor to conduct a routine port visit. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist John M. Hageman /Released)
France? Where does France fit into the Monroe Doctrine? An exception made for le centre spatial guyanais, no doubt.
Britain (cricketers from Guyana notwithstanding) was apparently not invited. Argentine shirtiness, no doubt.
US, Partner Nations Kick Off PANAMAX 2013
US, Partner Nations Kick Off PANAMAX 2013
Approximately 160 military personnel, including Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet, Rear Adm. Sinclair Harris, and personnel from 19 nations arrived at U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) headquarters Aug. 12 to begin exercise PANAMAX 2013.
U.S. and partner nations train in the execution of stability operations under the support of United Nations Security Council Resolutions; provide interoperability training for the participating multinational staffs; and build participating nation capability to plan and execute complex multinational operations.
This year’s annual PANAMAX exercise develops and sustains relationships that improve the capacity of the nation’s emerging and enduring partners’ security forces to achieve common desired goals, while fostering friendly cooperation and understanding among participating forces.
During the exercise, Harris will act as the commander of Multinational Forces South.
”The governments of the countries participating in PANAMAX share common interests and this exercise enhances those links by fostering friendly, mutual cooperation and understanding between participating militaries,” Harris said. “This multinational exercise also contributes to interoperability, and builds the capabilities of the participating nations to plan and execute complex multinational operations.”
PANAMAX 2013 is a U.S.-sponsored, multinational annual exercise that, this year, includes participants from Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and the United States.
The exercise will conclude Aug. 16.
http://navaltoday.com/2013/08/13/us-partner-nations-kick-off-panamax-2013/
Please note:
That being said, if you’re going to jettison anything with the word “bomb” in it from an American military aircraft then you should probably do it somewhere where the press, environmentalists, and conspiracy theorists won’t have ammunition (pun intended) to attack you.
U.S. military jettisons bombs near Australia’s Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is composed of more than 3,000 individual reefs interspersed with more than 600 topical islands.
(CNN) — Two U.S. military aircraft jettisoned four bombs not far from the Great Barrier Reef off the Australian coast last week, the U.S. Navy says.
The two Marine planes had to abandon the bombs Tuesday in the national park containing the natural wonder because they were running out of fuel and could not land with the amount of ordnance on board, the Navy said. The two Marine aircraft were launched from a Navy ship, the USS Bonhomme Richard.
Two of the projectiles were explosive bombs that were disarmed before they were dropped. They did not explode, the Navy said.
The other two were inert, or non-explosive bombs, the Navy said.
The pilots chose an area away from the reefs, which contain 400 types of coral. The area was also deep enough to prevent passing ships from running into the bombs, the Navy said.
The reef is home to 1,500 species of fish and 4,000 kinds of mollusks, according to the United Nations’ World Heritage Convention.
It is also a habitat for animals threatened by extinction and is protected as a World Heritage Site.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/21/world/asia/australia-reef-u-s-bombs
On 11 July 2013, the Brazilian frigate BNS União (F45) will take over from BNS Constituição (F42) as Brazil’s contribution to the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force.
União and Constituição are both Niterói-class frigates built to the Vosper Thornycroft Mk 10 design.
Constituição was built for the Marinha do Brazil at the Thornycroft yard in Woolton, Hants. (now Babcock Marine) and completed in 1978.
União was built under licence at Arsenal de Marinha do Rio de Janeiro and completed in 1980.
The UNIFIL Maritime Task Force has been deployed in the Mediterranean since October 2006 within the mandate of United Nations Security Council resolution 1701 (2006). The task force the Lebanese Navy in monitoring its territorial waters, securing the Lebanese coastline and preventing the unauthorized entry of arms or related material by sea into Lebanon.
Reductions in piracy along the East African littoral are thanks to the activities of Combined Maritime Forces and EUNAVFOR. However, West Africa requires some work.
UN chief welcomes anti-piracy strategy adopted by leaders from West, Central Africa
Photo: EUNAVFOR
27 June 2013 – Secretary-General Ban-Ki-moon has welcomed the adoption by a summit of African leaders of a regional strategy against piracy and other illegal maritime activities in West and Central Africa.
“The Secretary-General welcomes the successful conclusion of the Summit of the Gulf of Guinea Heads of State and Government on maritime safety and security, which took place in Yaoundé, Cameroon,” said a statement issued yesterday evening by Mr. Ban’s spokesperson.
The two-day meeting included Member States of the region, the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC).
Mr. Ban commended all the participants for their high level of engagement and collective efforts to address and prevent piracy, “which remains a serious threat to the security and economic activities of the affected countries.”
He also welcomed the adoption of the “Code of Conduct concerning the Prevention and Repression of Piracy, Armed Robbery against Ships, and Illegal Maritime Activities in West and Central Africa,” which defines the regional strategy and paves the way for a legally binding instrument.
“He encourages all Member States of the region to sign and implement it, and calls on bilateral, regional and international partners to provide the necessary resources,” the statement said, adding that the United Nations stands ready to continue to support this process, including through the work of the Secretary-General’s Special Representatives for Central and West Africa.
In a statement delivered to the opening meeting of the “milestone” summit, Mr. Ban recalled that less than two years ago, the Security Council issued its first-ever resolution on this issue, calling on countries of the Gulf of Guinea to develop a comprehensive response to piracy and armed robbery at sea.
“You have met this challenge head on,” he said, stressing the international community’s collective responsibility to keep the situation from escalating. “We must strengthen our efforts and cooperate even more closely.”
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=45281&Cr=piracy&Cr1=#.UcxWd5zudlM
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