Briefing Paper No.35 2 May 2013 Contact: Dr. Ian Davis | +44 (0)7887 782389 Email:
[email protected] www.natowatch.org Scotland hosts major NATO war games By Nigel Chamberlain, NATO Watch The BBC reported on 11 April that more than where it poses no risk. 5,000 UK personnel were taking part in the largest British Forces News reported that Royal Navy military exercise in Europe this year. Readers warships were at the heart of the largest ever were told that Exercise Joint Warrior would test NATO exercise to take place off the coast of their ability to work together with the forces of nine Scotland with seven warships from the UK, other countries, but were not informed that it is a Netherlands and Canada sailing in formation from NATO training exercise. Bizarrely, there was no the East coast of Scotland round to the West mention of this exercise on the NATO website. coast. They joined up with the rest of the task Joint Warrior exercises are organised by the Joint group of more than 40 warships, 40 fixed-wing Tactical Exercise Planning Staff (JTEPS) based at aircraft and 30 helicopters from the UK, Northwood HQ in London and co-ordinated from Netherlands, Canada, France, Denmark, Belgium, HM Naval Base Clyde. Joint exercises were Norway, Poland, Sweden and Germany. conducted across Scotland from 15 to 29 April, A Response Force Task Group of Royal Marine involving 13,000 military personnel from NATO Commandoes launched an aviation assault on Member States and other nations aligned with Barry Buddon beach in Barry, Carnoustie.