The military exercise at Langness shortly which both DEFA and the MOD seem reluctant to comment to Manx journalists on is part of a much bigger operation involving over 10,000 military personnel, 35 warships, 5 submarines and 59 aircraft and helicopters from 13 countries. The series of exercises usually held twice yearly are called ‘Joint Warrior’ and are war games aimed at challenging what NATO see as a threat from a revived Russian Federation. Forces are set to descend on the UK from all over the world to take part in ‘Exercise Joint Warrior’.
Amphibious landing will take place in a number of area including the MOD’s Castlemartin Range in Pembrokeshire. The Range was in the news last year after it was revealed that incorrectly stowed munitions had resulted in the death of a servicesman.
These annual exercises generally avoid ASSIs but if, as anticipated, the area at Langness is used it seems hard to see how the ASSI will not be impacted.
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‘Joint Warrior’ is vital say NATO and the reason they need to use parts of Western Britain (and now it seems the Isle of Man) is because many of the NATO members States have cut back on weapons ranges and exercise grounds.
In other words WE ARE BEING USED FOR WAR GAMES NOT WANTED BY THE PUBLIC IN THE US,GERMANY, SPAIN ETC.
In addition to onshore environmental damage and destruction of the marine environment exercises involving submarines which prompt surveillance from the Russian Federation also pose a danger to trawlers and fisherman. The Breton trawler Bugaled Breizh was lost some years ago during a similar exercise all on board perished. The inquest into that tragedy has still not been concluded.
Image: Troops in last years ‘Joint Warrior’ war games
Bernard Moffatt
pp Celtic League Military Monitoring
