Stavros Atlamazoglou

Iceland—In yet another European election Icelanders flocked to the polls to decide their nation’s future. Could the result spell trouble for NATO and U.S. interests in the Arctic? First some background. In the Second World War, the Allies had a strategically vital base in the small island nation. The Allied supply convoys from North America […]

Brussels—Former Catalan leadership flees to Belgium. Sacked Catalan President Carles Puigdemont and five members of his former cabinet are in the Belgian capital. “We came to avoid a confrontation that may possibly have occurred if we stayed in Barcelona,” said Puigdemont in a press conference. But he clarified that he wouldn’t be seeking political asylum […]

It’s not often that you hear your greatest ally bashing your money choices. But that’s exactly what British Ministry of Defence (MoD) officials heard from US military officers. “As the UK continues to diminish and as the Royal Marines, in particular, take a hit, I think that our view of what we will be able […]

Catalonia—The situation is flaming up. In a pre-recorded Television address, Former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont called for “democratic opposition [to the] premeditated aggression” of the Central Government. He added that Catalans “know perfectly well that in a democracy it is parliaments that choose, or remove, presidents.” The address came in response to Madrid’s enforcement of […]

Brussels—Two terrorists behind the 2015 Paris attacks will face justice at last. Salah Abdeslam and his accomplice Sofiane Ayari will be transferred to the Belgian capital for their trial.  The trial will take place on December 18-21. They face charges of attempted manslaughter in a terrorist context and illegal arms possession. Abdeslam, who participated in […]

London—Royal Marines break the speed march world record. A team of eight Royal Marine Commandos managed to cover the 26.2 miles distance in 4 hours 16 minutes and 43 seconds, breaking the previous record by two minutes.  Each man was carrying more than 40lbs.  And for the attempt to be valid, all the team members […]

Germany, Eckernförde—No more U-boats for the German Navy. Following an accident off the coast of Norway, the Deutsche Marine won’t have an operational submarine at least until late 2018. The latest casualty, U-35, collided with a rock formation and damaged its propellers.  The vessel was practising drills before an international exercise scheduled to take place […]

Spain—The ping-pong of threats continues. Following an emergency cabinet meeting last Saturday, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has announced his plans for Catalonia. The measures, which are only possible by triggering Article 155, an unprecedented move in Spain’s– 42-year-old democracy, would see the national government taking control of Catalonia’s administration, police force, and public media. […]

Berlin—Germany will continue to arm and train the Kurdish Peshmerga. The German Defense Ministry announced its intent to restart the weapons program.  The program was unexpectedly halted last week over Iraqi-Kurdish tensions in Kirkuk following the Kurdish Referendum. Iraqi officials claimed that German-provided MILAN anti-tank missiles destroyed two Iraqi M1 Abrams. “We had agreed last […]

Athens—Lt. General Mark Schwartz, the Commander of Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR), recently visited Greece. During his brief visit, Lt. Gen. Schwartz met with the Greek Joint Chief of Staff, Admiral Evagelos Apostolakis, and discussed ways on how to further improve the cooperation and good relations between the two countries and their Special Operations Forces […]

Prague—Czechs flocked to the polls, and a pro-Russia oligarch is set to become the next Prime Minister. Billionaire Andrej Babis and his populist ANO party are running under an anti-immigration and anti-EU slate.  Voting ended on Saturday, and exit polls see Babis capping first place with close to 30%. Emperor of his country’s agricultural, chemical, […]

The Royal Marine Commandos are changing. The Royal Navy is getting two new aircraft carriers, and thus an expanded need for an organic force capable of Maritime interdiction operations (MIO), Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS), and personnel recovery (PR). To assume this task, 42 Commando has reorganized as a Maritime Operations Commando (MOC).  With […]