He also said that the NATO had not closed the doors for future cooperation with Russia, but Russia must respect international laws. Some allies, including Germany, have not been willing to hastily revise the NATO strategic document, partially because this effort will take a year or so, and moreover, they neither want to become Russia’s foes by closing the doors for cooperation nor are willing to take any measure that might spoil the Ukraine ceasefire agreement.
As far as revising the NATO Strategic Concept is concerned, the NATO seems to choose make a compromise. It is generally held that at the July 2016 Warsaw summit, NATO leaders will issue the order to revise the strategic document so as to get it approved at the 2018 NATO summit.
Chapter VI Military Exercises
The year of 2015 has witnessed profound changes in the security situation of the Asia-Pacific region. Traditional and non-traditional security threats are interwoven. Moreover, strategic gaming between the world and regional powers is stepping into a new era. In this context, it is valuable to summarize the US-led bilateral and multilateral exercises in the Asia-Pacific region in order to follow the strategic trend and future development of the US military. The 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review states that US forces in the Asia-Pacific region “will resume regular bilateral and multilateral training exercises, pursue increased training opportunities to improve capabilities and capacity of partner nations, as well as support humanitarian, disaster relief, counterterrorism, and other operations that contribute to the stability of the region.”
Looking back on the bilateral and multilateral exercises participated by the US forces in 2015, it can be observed that with further advancement of the “Pivot to Asia Pacific” Strategy by the Obama administration, the US military leadership in the combined exercises is strengthened. What is more, combined exercises are gradually developing into a main way to enhance military cooperation with US allies of the region, demonstrate its military presence, consolidate alliance strategy and contain China.
A. Exercise CARAT
Exercise CARAT, namely the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training, is a series of annual bilateral military exercises conducted by the US and its Southeast Asian allies since 1995.
For the sake of US global strategy and the alliance, the scenario of Exercise CARAT is conflicts over the sovereignty in the South China Sea, which focuses on events related to maritime security as well as military and humanitarian assistance for the Southeast Asian countries. The purpose of CARAT is to strengthen military cooperation between the US and its allies, so as to contain the so-called “potential regional threats＂ and maintain ＂regional security and freedom of navigation”.
Exercise CARAT demonstrates the US “obligation to ensure peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region” and also serves as a link between the US and its military partners in Southeast Asia. In the early stage of the Exercise, the 73rd Task Force Group was especially established to display the US emphasis on it.
Exercise CARAT 2015 led by the USN was participated by nine South and Southeastern countries, namely, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and East Timor, covering scenarios of formation maneuver, live gun fire, maritime interception, reconnaissance, search and rescue, and exchanges on shore.
From June 22 to 25, US-Philippines Exercise CARAT took place in the Sulu Sea off the eastern Palawan Island with 300 personnel. The US forces assigned USS Fort Worth LCS, 1 rescue ship and 1 P-3C. The Philippine forces dispatched 2 patrol ships and military aircraft. Maritime joint operation capability and situation awareness were exercised. Joint anti-submarine and anti-surface operation, amphibious landing, rescue and salvage, sea patrol and air reconnaissance were covered in the exercise.
In July 2015, US-Singapore Exercise CARAT was composed of on-shore and off-shore parts, covering tasks of warships, submarines, aircraft and torpedoes. MQ-8B Fire Scout and Scan Eagle aboard USS Fort Worth LCS were cooperated each other to verify UAV platform’s situation awareness in maritime operation, which was a highlight in the exercise. Besides, 1 S-70 Black Hawk from the Republic of Singapore Air Force （RSAF） landed aboard USS Fort Worth for the first time. 2 F-15SGs Strike Eagle joined in the exercise for the first time by participating integrated air defense.
From July 27 to 28, US-East Timor Exercise CARAT took place near the waters off the Port Dili and Port Hera Naval Base. US Navy Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5 and security personnel assigned to Navy Coastal Riverline Group 1 communicated with their counterparts from East Timor on such topics as engineering construction and security protection.
About 400 military personnel from the two countries participated in the exercise.
From August 3 to 7, USN and Indonesian Navy held Exercise CARAT in and over waters off Surabaya, Java and Bali, with more than 1000 US military personnel and Indonesian naval and marine personnel. Exercise scenarios covered amphibious landing, surface and antisubmarine warfare, VBSS, maneuver diving and salvage. In addition, coastal and river operations, sea patrol and reconnaissance and live fire of SAM were also included in the exercises.
|
