Czech fighters to protect Iceland's airspace

[Hindustani78]

Last Updated: Thursday, June 4, 2015 - 04:28
Czech fighters to protect Iceland's airspace | Zee News

Prague, June 4 (IANS) The Czech government on Wednesday approved the decision to send five JAS-39 Gripen fighters to patrol Iceland's airspace for six weeks in July and August, Czech defence ministry spokesman Petr Medek said.

The Czech Republic will send 70 ground personnel to Iceland along with the five fighters, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to the original plan, the airspace of Iceland was to be guarded by Canadian aircraft, but it will instead join the operation against the Islamic State (IS).

Czech Defence Minister Martin Stropnicky said the extraordinary deployment of Czech aircraft was based on an urgent request from NATO.

He said the Czech Republic was proving to the Allies its readiness to respond to new challenges and also indirectly contribute to the international community's fight against the IS.

 

[Penguin]

Mmm, sounds like the Canadians had trouble deploying. Good job Czech AF.

 

[Hindustani78]

Mmm, sounds like the Canadians had trouble deploying. Good job Czech AF.

How much is military expenditure of Czech ?

 

[Penguin]

1% of GDP in 2013 Military expenditure (% of GDP) | Data | Table

Czech Republic spent $2,379,000,000 on their military in 2012 which amounted to 1.1% of the country's GDP that year. Military Budget in Czech Republic – Czech Military Spending

 

[Steve781]

Seriously Europe needs to start rebuilding defences. It is getting beyond a joke.

 

[Transhumanist]

Seriously Europe needs to start rebuilding defences. We are an international joke.

Poland is pulling its weight recently, Norway doesn't tend to slack off either, but with the UK and Germany mired in problems, and some NATO members like Iceland existing without a standing military (though it contributes with other "intangibles") I can't help but echo your sentiment.

Europe's problem is a lack of tangible threats. Russia's recent belligerence has revitalized Eastern Europe, but the Western European nations (apart from the northern ones who also face Russian concerns) have a real threat crisis right now - as in they don't have one that can justify continued military spending at the levels needed to maintain a credible defense. Russia just doesn't weigh on the minds of France, Germany or the UK like it does on Norway, Latvia and Poland.

It's a damn shame.

I like to see the Czechs helping our Iceland though.

 

[Hindustani78]

1% of GDP in 2013 Military expenditure (% of GDP) | Data | Table

Czech Republic spent $2,379,000,000 on their military in 2012 which amounted to 1.1% of the country's GDP that year. Military Budget in Czech Republic – Czech Military Spending

So this deployment seems linked to the military expenditure. United States has already taken too much financial burden.

 

[Penguin]

So this deployment seems linked to the military expenditure. United States has already taken too much financial burden.

Why would you conclude that?

 

[Zarvan]

Last Updated: Thursday, June 4, 2015 - 04:28
Czech fighters to protect Iceland's airspace | Zee News

Prague, June 4 (IANS) The Czech government on Wednesday approved the decision to send five JAS-39 Gripen fighters to patrol Iceland's airspace for six weeks in July and August, Czech defence ministry spokesman Petr Medek said.

The Czech Republic will send 70 ground personnel to Iceland along with the five fighters, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to the original plan, the airspace of Iceland was to be guarded by Canadian aircraft, but it will instead join the operation against the Islamic State (IS).

Czech Defence Minister Martin Stropnicky said the extraordinary deployment of Czech aircraft was based on an urgent request from NATO.

He said the Czech Republic was proving to the Allies its readiness to respond to new challenges and also indirectly contribute to the international community's fight against the IS.

How on earth IS can manage to attack Iceland ??

 

[Indus Falcon]

Iceland faces threats from.....................?

 

[flamer84]

Iceland faces threats from.....................?

Imperialist Brits.

Cod Wars - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[-SINAN-]

Seriously Europe needs to start rebuilding defences. It is getting beyond a joke.

Military expenditure of NATO countries (%of GDP)

United States 4.8
United Kingdom 2.5
France 2.3
Turkey 2.3
Greece 2.1
----------------------------------------------------
Rest should raise their expenditure over %2

Poland 1.95
Estonia1.7 195
Bulgaria 1.55
Albania 1.5
Croatia 1.5
Norway 1.5
Portugal 1.5
Denmark 1.4
Germany 1.4
Italy 1.4
Canada 1.3
Netherlands 1.3
Romania 1.3
Slovenia 1.3
Belgium 1.1
Czech Republic 1.1
Slovakia 1.1
Hungary 1.0
Latvia 1.0
Spain 0.9
Lithuania 0.8
Luxembourg 0.5
Iceland 0.09

 

[flamer84]

Military expenditure of NATO countries (%of GDP)

United States 4.8
United Kingdom 2.5
France 2.3
Turkey 2.3
Greece 2.1
----------------------------------------------------
Rest should raise their expenditure over %2

Poland 1.95
Estonia1.7 195
Bulgaria 1.55
Albania 1.5
Croatia 1.5
Norway 1.5
Portugal 1.5
Denmark 1.4
Germany 1.4
Italy 1.4
Canada 1.3
Netherlands 1.3
Romania 1.3
Slovenia 1.3
Belgium 1.1
Czech Republic 1.1
Slovakia 1.1
Hungary 1.0
Latvia 1.0
Spain 0.9
Lithuania 0.8
Luxembourg 0.5
Iceland 0.09

Romania is at 1.6 in 2015.

 

[-SINAN-]

Romania is at 1.6 in 2015.

Info is from 2012.....

I feel like NATO is unnecessarily relaxed when you consider Russian aggression.

 

[ifesvr]

Iceland faces threats from.....................?

Volcanic Ash clouds!