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United Kingdom

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Capital: London
Area: 243,610 sq km
Comparative area: slightly smaller than Oregon
Population (July 2011 estimate): 62,698,362
Official language: English
International Organizations and Agreements:NATO, European Union, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), United Nations (and permanent member of the UN Security Council), World Trade Organization

The United Kingdom and the United States have a special relationship. Bilateral cooperation reflects the common language, ideals, and democratic practices of the two nations.  The United Kingdom and the United States maintain frequent dialogue on foreign policy matters and share many national security objectives.

The United Kingdom is one of NATO's major European maritime, air, and land powers; it ranks third among NATO countries in total defense expenditure. The British Armed Forces are charged with protecting the United Kingdom and its overseas territories, promoting Britain's wider security interests, and supporting international peacekeeping efforts.

More than 10,000 U.S. military members are stationed within the UK; resulting in numerous bi-lateral agreements, including Defense Cooperation in Arms, Acquisition and Cross-Servicing, and Status of Forces. U.K. troops participate in numerous NATO and multi-lateral exercises, such as LOYAL ARROW, BROKEN AVENGER, BRIGHT STAR, while maintaining more than 25,000 military personnel deployed worldwide, including in Iraq, Kosovo, and Afghanistan where they are the largest troop contributor to NATO after the U.S.

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  • July 6, 2011

    The Importance of Collaboration and Cooperation in 1648 and Today

    The Treaty of Westphalia, signed in 1648 in the Rathaus of Muenster, Germany, ended one of Europe’s bloodiest periods: the Thirty Years War (1618-1648) fought mostly on German soil, and 80 years of war between Spain and the Dutch Republic. Today two nations that benefitted from that peace treaty, Germany and the Netherlands (it achieved its independence as a result), are the framework nations for a multinational NATO High Readiness Corps headquartered in Muenster.
  • June 2, 2011

    The Most Important Week for EUCOM

    Here we are in the middle of what I believe is the most important week of the year for U.S. European Command.  On one end, a long weekend recently completed in honor of Memorial Day.  On the other end of this important stretch of days - D-Day.
  • May 30, 2011

    On Duty Forever

    At the US flagpole in the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial (Cambridge, England), the base is inscribed with the following quote from the famous poem "In Flanders Field": "TO YOU FROM FAILING HANDS WE THROW THE TORCH -- BE YOURS TO HOLD IT HIGH!"
  • May 4, 2011

    My speech notes from the Atlantic Council Awards dinner: Why NATO Matters …

    Thank you very much, Jim [Jones], for that extremely generous introduction. You could say between SACEUR 14 and SACEUR 16, you have the “long and the short” of it. Indeed, some would say the procession from Jim Jones, a towering figure, to my -- shall we say more compact -- frame, might indicate a diminishing of the Alliance, but I will try my best to look taller tonight.
  • June 16, 2010

    Jumping In

    I’m finally back home after nearly two weeks on the road and it has been more than a week now since I jumped into Iron Mike Drop Zone in Normandy, France to commemorate the 66th Anniversary of D-Day.  I’ll never forget the experience –  not just because of the historic significance, but also because of those that jumped with me that day.  As you probably well know, British, Canadian and American forces jumped to secure the Allied flanks on D-Day, but personnel from Australia, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, France, Greece, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and Poland also took part in the landings.  On D-Day 66, I hit the ground, collected my parachute, and then walked off the drop zone with British, French, Polish, Dutch, German and fellow Americans paratroopers surrounding me.  On my aircraft alone, we had Dutch, German and Polish paratroopers and I earned both the Dutch and Polish jump wings that day.    
  • March 1, 2010

    Visiting our Allies in Western Europe

    If you read this blog regularly, you know I am committed to engaging actively and personally around the region to futher our shared security objectives. Last week was yet another busy week of travel in Europe.
  • February 3, 2010

    Afghanistan: The London Conference

    Yet, at the moment, I am thinking about a superb international event that happened last week: the International London Conference on Afghanistan. Last week, I wrote about my last trip to Afghanistan as we prepared for it. The media has thoroughly covered the conference (here’s a sample of recent coverage, based on an interview with me), and you can watch key presentations online, like this one from Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen’s review of the conference on his video blog. So rather than reiterating what's already been said, I thought I'd share with you some personal thoughts and impressions, and my interpretations of the atmospherics.
  • November 13, 2009

    Americans and British Gather Together to Pay Homage to American Veterans

    Did you know there are over 23 million United States veterans still living today and more than 25 million who are no longer with us? Did you know more the 621,000 Americans gave their lives in battle?
  • October 29, 2009

    Joint Honor Guard Experience at the NFL Game in London

    I had a pretty exciting day Sunday as I had the privilege of traveling to London, England, with the Joint Intelligence Operations Center Europe Analytic Center Joint Honor Guard. The Honor Guard was invited to the NFL game to present the colors and I couldn’t wait to experience this with them!
  • October 14, 2009

    Three Days in Afghanistan

    In three busy days in Afghanistan, I focused on Helmand province and the British and U.S. Marine Corps forces. Over the course of lunch with the provincial Governor - a man in his early 60s and a survivor of many challenging events in Afghanistan - I talked with him about the needs of the district.

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  • May 18, 2012

    European Tanker Symposium

    NATO forces must work together during global military conflicts and seamless integration isn’t possible without training and an exchange of ideas. Enter the European Tanker Symposium; where members of the Royal Air Force as well as Italian, French, and Belgian air forces talk shop to increase NATO’s Air Power. SSgt Lance Daigle reports.
  • April 10, 2012

    Hit the deck

    Getting the mission done is easier with help from our partner nations. A1C Erin Mills takes us to RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom where U.S. helicopter pilots and members of the Royal Navy teamed up to take on one of the most difficult kinds of landings.
  • March 29, 2012

    Harbor Protection

    This isn’t your kid’s video game! SGT Tony Brazier takes us to the NATO Undersea Research Center in La Spezia, Italy, where gaming systems, and their consequences, are taken very seriously.
  • March 7, 2012

    When working with NATO forces down range, it’s a good idea to train with them before you deploy.

    When working with NATO forces down range, it’s a good idea to train with them before you deploy. TSgt Kevin Dennison takes us to the United Kingdom where British and U.S. security forces learn a common language.
  • November 28, 2011

    U.S. & Sweden Join Forces

    Training exercises that require cooperation with service members from other countries can come with language and cultural barriers. SrA Amanda Wowk reports from the United Kingdom where U.S. and Swedish troops are teaming up to stay ready for whatever comes their way.
  • November 14, 2011

    Another Day at the Office

    Air Force Para-Rescue troops are known for being tough. Senior Airman Amanda Wowk shows us how one para-rescueman at RAF Lakenheath goes above and beyond to improve himself for life-saving missions.
  • January 21, 2010

    Joint Training for Afghanistan in the UK

    When training for an upcoming deployment, making it as realistic as possible increases the training value. SrA Nick McNaughton takes us to a British training area in the Untied Kingdom where no detail is overlooked.
  • December 11, 2009

    IED Academy

    Improvised Explosive Devices, or IEDs, are one of the biggest threats to service members downrange. To combat this problem the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany provides the most in-depth IED training in Europe.
  • November 17, 2009

    Veterans Day in Madingley

    The Madingley American Cemetery, located in the United Kingdom, just outside of the city of Cambridge is the final resting place for more than 3,800 American Service men and women who died in World War II.

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