March 2021 – B2 Pro The daily life of geopolitical Europe

Interception of Russian aircraft (photo: NATO)

[News] Mid-air chase between NATO and Russian planes

March 31, 2021 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Baltic, Interception, North Sea, black Sea, NonNotif, Airspace protection 2 min read

In three different locations In three locations — over the North Sea, the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea — fighter jets from several countries…

End of on-call duty in the Battlegroup for the German DSK

March 31, 2021 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Battlegroup, Brief, Exercise 2 min read

(B2) The German Army's Schnelle Kräfte Division, a unit made up of German and Dutch soldiers, completed its standby mission for the battlegroup, the EU's tactical group, on Wednesday (31.03).

Air2030: Switzerland is modernizing its aviation and air defense

March 31, 2021 B2 Writing AIR 2030, combat plane, Company, Florence Parly, Switzerland, Ground-to-air defense system, Viola Amherd 1 min read

(B2) Renewal of its air force, its air defense, the Swiss Confederation modernizes its army. Neutrality does not therefore mean absence of defense Obsolete aircraft Bern considers its…

Men from the 15th Infantry Regiment preparing for deployment to the Central African Republic - a similar detachment could be sent to Mozambique (credit: Army - Portugal)

Mozambique: Europeans decided to act. On the table, a clearer option for an EUTM

March 31, 2021 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Daech, EUTM Mozambique, European Peace Facility, Mozambique, PFCA 4 min read

(B2 – Exclusive) European support for Mozambique is growing. The Europeans have approved in principle various actions, involving training on land or on ships, such as the possible…

Moment of the conference, organized entirely by videoconference (Credit: European Commission)

5,3 billion euros pledged at the Syria Conference

March 31, 2021 B2 Writing International aid, Donor conference, ONU, Reconstruction, Syrian refugees, Syria 4 min read

(B2) After a decade of civil war in Syria, the international community remains at its bedside. At the fifth Brussels Conference for Syria, on 29 and 30…

Bounti Strike. Civilians were there, says MINUSMA. Paris criticizes the report (v2)

March 30, 2021 Nicolas Gros Verheyde civilians, air strike, Katiba Serma, Minusma, Opex 4 min read

(B2) The French army's strike on Bounti, in central Mali, on January 3, killed 19 civilians, according to a report from the United Nations mission in Mali published this Tuesday...

New Force Commander. New flagship. And extended term… Operation Irini continues

March 30, 2021 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Force Commander, EUNAVFOR Med Irini, FHQ 2 min read

(B2) The European Union's operation to monitor the international embargo (arms and oil) off the coast of Libya has been given a new two-year mandate. It runs until 31 March 2023. Italy is taking over...

After inspection, the Royal Diamond 7 diverted to a Greek port in September 2020. This is the only case of diversion to date (credit: EUNAVFOR Med Irini)

EUNAVFOR Med Irini operation extended for two years. Details on the rerouting of ships

March 30, 2021 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Arms embargo control, EUNAVFOR Med, arms export, European Peace Facility, irini 5 min read

(B2) The European embargo enforcement operation off the coast of Libya has been extended until 31 March 2023. The decision was taken unanimously on Friday (26.03). The European Peace Facility will be able to...

[Notebook 30.03.2021]. Confidential. Defense. Equipment. Operations. Doctrine. Diplomacy. Penalties. Crisis areas. Human rights. Neighborhood. Security. Powers. Member States. People

March 30, 2021 Emmanuelle Stroesser AgnÃ¨s Callamard, Germany, Amnesty International, Bosnia and Herzegovina, refugee camps, China, LIBE Commission, COPS, Cuba, Debt, Embargo, Rule of law, United States, EUNAVFOR Med, Florence Parly, Armed forces, France, frigates, Greece, irini, Janez Jansa, Kenya, Lebanon, Lithuania, Demonstrators, Military mobility, Mozambique, Myanmar, Uighurs, European Parliament, Pistol, Nuclear aircraft carrier, Portugal, DR Congo, Refugees, killer robots, Slovenia, Sophie In't Veld, Sudan, Stefano Frumento, Transnistria, Turkey, Viktor Orban, violence, ylva johansson 10 min read

(B2) The situation is worsening in northern Mozambique. It could lead the Europeans to accelerate their work to support the Mozambican security forces. Maputo has requested assistance from…

[Verbatim] Qualified majority, defense council, NATO… Federica Mogherini's reflections

March 29, 2021 B2 Writing Audition, House of Representatives, defense council, Federica Mogherini, EU High Representative, NATO, Institutional reform 2 min read

(B2) The former EU High Representative looks back on her method and shares her doubts about certain institutional reforms. Today, Rector of the College of Europe in Bruges, Federica Mogherini spoke before...

(credit: Bundeswehr)

Defense markets. The European Parliament rings the bells of a European Commission with absent subscribers

March 29, 2021 Nicolas Gros Verheyde European Commission, Company, Defense procurement, Breach proceedings, regulations, Arms transfers 6 min read

(B2) Voted with absolute discretion during the last plenary session, the report on defense procurement adopted by the European Parliament is not tender. It castigates governments...

Things are heating up in Palma (Mozambique). A fully organized jihadist attack (v2)

March 28, 2021 Nicolas Gros Verheyde terrorist attack, Cabo delgado, Daech, Total 6 min read

(B2) The city of Palma – in the north of Mozambique, in Cabo Delgado – has been the scene of an attack by armed terrorist groups since Wednesday (24.03). A massive attack…

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[Memo-Sheet] Common costs supported for military missions and operations (European Peace Facility)

March 28, 2021 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Common costs, European Peace Facility, PSDC 11 min read

(B2) The European Peace Facility takes over from the Athena mechanism, broadly retaining the arrangements in place. These provisions are included in the annexes to the regulation. The annex…

A suspicious approach on a bulk carrier foiled by a European ship

March 27, 2021 Nicolas Gros Verheyde pirate attack, Brief, Strait of Hormuz, Oman 1 min read

(B2) A bulk carrier escaped an attack at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, between the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, thanks to the intervention of a European vessel, on March 22…

[Notebook 27.03.2021]. Confidential. Defense. NATO. Equipment. Companies. Operations. Diplomacy. Penalties. Crisis areas. Human rights. Neighborhood. Security. Powers. rule of law. Budgets. People

March 27, 2021 Emmanuelle Stroesser Albania, Germany, Arménie, Australia, Bangladesh, Dual-use goods, Bulgaria, China, Cyprus, Future of Europe Conference, covax, COVID-19, cyber surveillance, espionage, EUAM Iraq, EUNAVFOR Med, Genocide, irini, Kosovo, Freedom of press, Libya, North Macedonia, Mitterrand, Military mobility, MONUSCO, Naval Group, European Parliament, Death penalty, PESCO, DR Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Serbia, Slovakia, Sweden, Chad, Trust funds, EU-Africa, vaccines, Vincent Duclert 15 min read

(B2) The clear recognition of the French government's responsibility in the worsening of the Rwandan crisis that led to the 1994 genocide is a significant point. It clarifies...

French Leclerc tanks in forward presence in the Estonian cold

March 26, 2021 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Advanced presence in the East 2 min read

(B2) The French detachment officially took up residence in the Estonian military camp of Tapa on Thursday (25.03), alongside the British. A deployment as part of the presence…

Josep Borrell speaking to the press, ahead of the meeting (Credit: Consilium)

[Verbatim] What to remember from the Foreign Affairs Council of March 22, 2021

March 26, 2021 B2 Writing western balkans, Burma, Foreign Affairs Council, CQFR, European Peace Facility, Georgia, Hong Kong, Josep Borrell, Lebanon, military, Myanmar, Russia, EU-Turkey, Venezuela, South Neighborhood 9 min read

(B2) The ministers' meeting last Monday (22.03) was marked by the adoption of sanctions, notably against Burma and China. As for those against Turkey, they are...

(Credit: Consilium)

The Europeans and Joe Biden at the top. More partners than ever!

March 26, 2021 B2 Writing European Council, United States, Joe Biden, transatlantic relations 3 min read

(B2) The decision to hold a virtual summit allowed Europeans to welcome an exceptional guest this Thursday evening (March 25.03). This was an opportunity for an initial contact and to reaffirm, according to Charles Michel,…

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