The US has developed NATO forces around China in an unprecedented mobilization and mobilization of forces with AUKUS - June 27, 2024

06/29/2024

...For the first time complete rehearsal of conflict with China

The US is moving NATO air forces out of China to an unprecedented mobilization preparing France, Germany, Britain and Spain for involvement in the Asia-Pacific region.

The huge two-month mobilization, with many elements and interconnection of all countries in the region, shows that the US has worked out and has a ready-made scenario of NATO involvement in Asia and the Pacific. It is a union of NATO and AUKUS forces against China.

It is obvious that China is now officially treated as an "enemy of the West."

It is no coincidence that the US ambassador to Beijing, Nicholas Burns, stressed for the first time explicitly that China has effectively committed itself to Russia in the conflict in Ukraine.

According to the US diplomat, China has taken Russia's side in the Ukrainian conflict. Burns noted that it makes no sense to talk about China's neutrality and added that China is transferring to Russia technologies and materials used in the Russian defense industry.

"We believe it is a big mistake to allow Chinese companies to send thousands of such components, technological components, microprocessors and nitros cellulose to Russia to strengthen the defense industrial base of the the US ambassador to China said.

China responded to U.S. accusations through Defense Department spokesman Wu Qian.

The spokesman for the Chinese military said the West accused China of engaging in the Ukrainian conflict without considering its own role. The United States and other Western countries, he said, are trying to shift their own responsibility to Beijing.

"China stands on the side of peace, on the right side of history, resolutely opposes the unfounded accusations that ignore the facts and will continue to play a constructive role in the political resolution of the Ukrainian crisis," the spokesman for the Chinese Defense Ministry said in response to accusations from Western countries.

The US is bringing NATO open to China - "Trage to Asia" with Pacific Skies 24

The Air Forces of Germany, France and Spain are launching an unprecedented exercise that will take various forces to the Asia-Pacific region on a 36,000-mile journey.

The main aircraft detachment for Pacific Skies 24 includes eight German Eurofighters, four Spanish Eurofighters, four French Rafale fighter jets, 12 German Tornado strike aircraft, nine A400M transport transport (four German, three French, two Spanish), one Spanish transport A330 and four H145M German helicopters.

All this will be supported by about 1,800 military personnel from these three countries. Air refuelling will be supported by four A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transports (MRTT) from the German-based Multinational MRTT Unit (MMU) department based in Cologne and three more A330 MRTT from France.

The Pacific Skies 24 exercise confirms NATO's turn towards Asia. Fighter and other aircraft will be deployed in the Indo-Pacific region, including Alaska, Hawaii, the US and Australia for about two months, from mid-June to mid-August.

With our participation in Pacific Skies 24, we as Europeans are present in a part of the world that is of great importance to all of us. We will grow in the Indo-Pacific region together with Spain and France and take part in five different exercises; German Air Force Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhardch said in a statement on the Bundeswehr website.

German, French and Spanish fighter jets in Japan

Pacific Skies 24 will continue west over the Pacific in Japan via Nippon Skies. These maneuvers will see German Eurofighters trained for the first time in Japanese airspace.

Japanese Defence Minister Kihara Minoru announced at a news conference on June 25 that the Japanese Self-Defense Force (ASDF) will conduct a series of joint exercises with the air forces of Germany, France and Spain in Japan in July.

It is the first time that aircraft from the air forces of the three European countries will be deployed simultaneously in Japan. It is also the first time that the ASDF (Japanese Air Force) will carry out joint training with the Spanish Air Force in Japan.

"Sydragic visits to the Indo-Pacific region by the military forces of these countries demonstrate their willingness and ability to engage with the Indo-Pacific region," Kihara said, noting that the Japanese navy has also carried out joint training with the naval forces of Turkey, the Netherlands and India in June in the waters surrounding Japan.

The joint exercise of Japan, Germany, Spain around the Chitose Air Base in Hokkaido will involve four F-15s from Japan, eight Eurofighter, three A400M transport aircraft, four A330MRTT aerial refuelling aircraft and an A321 transport aircraft from Germany, four Eurofighters and two A400M transport aircraft from Spain.

About 180 people from Germany and about 150 people from Spain will take part and conduct various regular training exercises with the ASDF.

Separately, Japan and Germany will carry out joint training in the airspace around Chitose air base.

Four F-15 fighter jets from the ASDF as well as three Eurofighter fighter jets, two A400M transport aircraft and an A321 transport plane from the German Air Force will participate. About 80 members of the German Air Force will take part.

In addition, the ASDF and the French Air and Space Force will carry out joint airspace training around ASDF's Hyakuri Air Base in Ibaraki Prefecture in Kanto.

The ASDF will be represented by two F-2s, while the French Air and Space Force will send four Rafale fighters, three A400M transport aircraft and three A330MRTT aerial refuelling aircraft, with 260 personnel.

The German detachment will then be split, with some forces heading to Hawaii, for the next RIMPAC exercise, in which the German navy participates.

Pitch Black

The remaining German forces will leave Japan for Australia to participate in the historic Pitch Black exercise, along with the French and Spanish Air Forces. Large-scale Pitch Black manoeuvres are set to include up to 20 different aircraft types from 20 countries.

Griffith Strike

Separately from Pacific Skies 24 there will be another French detachment, which will participate in Griffith Strike, in which three Rafales, three A400M and three A330 MRTT will travel to Australia, through the United Arab Emirates and Singapore. They will be accompanied by an excerpt from the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom.

Officials have noted that some kind of Russian involvement is expected during the crossing between Alaska and Japan. Here, the aircraft will pass over the Pacific Ocean, near Russian airspace.

"It is foreseen that Russian aircraft will approach us and intercept us," said Major General Francisco Gonzlez-Espresati, head of the Spanish Air Force Command. "We're sure they will, but we're not worried about it."

As all three air forces bring A400M and Germany and Spain operate with Eurofighters, the goal is to share maintenance requirements as much as possible to reduce the logistical footprint. The German and Spanish corps will depart together from Cologne, further increasing synergies between them.

Connection with Lyon of France

Another interesting aspect is the use of a specially equipped French A330 MRTT aircraft, equipped as a communications relay platform.

This will maintain contact with the headquarters of the French Pacific Skies 24 exceration on the ground in Lyon, France, via satellite connection.

The French mission also includes an A400M that will provide search and rescue support during deployment, responding to any emergency if it arises.

By the end of Pacific Skies 24, the goal is for the three European air forces to improve their capabilities but, more importantly, to strengthen their cooperation with allies in the Indo-Pacific region.

"With our participation in Pacific Skies 24, we as Europeans are present in a part of the world that is of great importance to all of ," said Luftwaffe Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz.

By the time Pacific Skies 24 returns to Europe, scheduled for August 15, about 36,000 miles  will have been traveled and trained in frozen, deserted and tropical environments. Among the other countries where stops are Canada, New Zealand, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates.

Freedom Edge: USA, Japan and South Korea in naval exercises for the first time

The United States, South Korea and Japan launched its first large-scale exercise on Thursday with naval and air exercises at unspecified locations in waters near Seoul and Tokyo.

The Freedom Edge marine section will include the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and the destroyers USS Halsey and USS Daniel Inouye, the statement said. The three U.S. warships arrived in Busan on Saturday. Two South Korean and two Japanese destroyers, as well as several maritime patrol aircraft from the two countries, will also participate, according to the South Korean army.

The fleets of the three countries will be subject to ballistic missile defense scenarios, anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, maritime interception and defence as well as in cyberspace, the statement said. Speaking to Theodore Roosevelt on Tuesday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said Freedom Edge "symbolizes the U.S.'s iron defense commitment" to Seoul and that the inclusion of Japanese forces would be another powerful deterrent against North Korea, according to a news bulletin from the South Korean presidential office.