Serving the NATO, Naples and Gaeta Military Community in Italy Russell Egnor Navy Media Awards – 2016 Best Newspaper in the Navy
63rd year, No. 8
Friday, March 2, 2018
Stoltenberg Discusses NATO Transatlantic Link at Munich Conference By Jim Garamone DoD News
Children onboard Naval Support Activity (NSA) Naples’ Support Site build a snowman during an unexpected snow storm mid week. Naples, located along Italy’s southwest coast, rarely receives snow, especially this late in the winter season. The rare snow storm prompted NSA Naples officials to issue a weather advisory. Many area non-essential personnel, the child development center, DODEA schools, and the Navy Exchange closed on Tuesday, and many commands had their personnel come in late on Wednesday to avoid icy roads. Locally, the mayor of Naples ordered schools closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Taking advantage of the day off on February 27, children played outside to enjoy the rare snowfall. Weather forecasters predict seasonal warmer weather will return soon, with the official kick off to spring arriving in three weeks (March 20). Photo by MC1 Justin Stumberg
NATO and EU Cooperation Marks Bosnia and Herzegovina Trip By U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Mark Patton
Although many years have passed since NATO first deployed 60,000 troops to Bosnia and Herzegovina, or BiH, in the aftermath of the Bosnian War, the relationship between the former Yugoslav Republic and the Alliance continues to grow. U.K. Army General Sir James Everard, the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, and U.S. Navy Admiral James Foggo, commander of Allied Joint Force Command Naples, visited BiH, February 21, 2018, to highlight their shared interest in the region and to meet with the country’s defence officials. Everard also serves as the operational commander of European Union Force Althea. The military Operation Althea, named after the Greek goddess of
healing, was launched in BiH in 2004 and has contributed to the maintenance of the safe and secure environment in the country ever since. JFC Naples has operational control over four security assistance missions in the Balkans, to include NATO Headquarters Sarajevo. “The mission in Bosnia is a shared mission with NATO and the European Union,” British Army Colonel Jonathan Campbell, the Naplesbased director of staff European Union Command Element, said. Campbell also spoke to the importance of two four-star senior officers visiting BiH together. “I think it sends a very powerful message, both to our own organizations and also to the region about their care for that particular country,” Campbell said. During an interview last month,
Everard stressed the strategic importance of the Western Balkans for NATO and the EU and the positive aspects stability and security in the region can bring about. “I think of all of those countries, and many of them made really good progress, Bosnia and Herzegovina faces the biggest challenge because there are really intractable political problems, and it requires political action to unpick them,” Everard said. Cooperation Despite political difficulties, EU and NATO military commands say they are cooperating to offer the country the best possible opportunity to enjoy security, stability, democracy, rule of law and universal human rights. NATO AND EU COOPERATION Page 7 CAPTAIN’S CORNER. . . . . . . . . 2
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The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is arguably the most successful alliance in history, ensuring no general war in Europe since the end of World War II. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told the Munich Security Conference last week that the organization is adapting to ensure it continues its success against new threats and challenges. But even as the alliance transitions, there are some pillars that remain undisturbed and the largest of those is the transatlantic partnership, Stoltenberg said. He noted the symbolism of two items in front of the new NATO headquarters building in Brussels: a piece of the Berlin Wall and a twisted girder from New York’s World Trade Center. “Together they symbolize NATO's steel-hard commitment to our collective defense and our solidarity in the fight against terrorism,” he said. “But most of all, they symbolize the unbreakable bond that unites the continents of North America and Europe.” NATO Steps Up The transatlantic partnership is being questioned, Stoltenberg said, with those in Europe perceiving a lack of U.S. support for Article 5, and U.S. officials perceiving unfair burden-sharing. NATO TRANSATLANTIC LINK Page 11