EuroCorps' New Chief to EF: European Army Report on Afghanistan possible +Space/Missions/Enlargement

*Strasbourg/Pourtales Castle/Angelo Marcopolo/- "EuroCorps" New Chief (2021-2023), Lieutenant-General Peter Devogelaere, from Belgium, Replying to 2 "Eurofora"s Questions at the Press Conference concluding a Top-Level Ceremony for "Change of Command", at the superb Castle of Pourtales in Strasbourg's outskirts near Robertsau's Forest, announced, in substance, that the Multi-National Army Headquarters and Brigade corps was Ready to Contribute, if it was asked to do so, from  a European point of view, to the Current Reflexions (including by NATO) about what should have been done in order to prevent the recent Afghanistan Failure of a Controversial Global move, after 20 Years of USA-led Military Intervention, (notoriously Resulting in Taliban's power take-over, a Deadly ISIS Bombing killing more than 100 People at Kaboul' Airport, including 13 American Soldiers, added Even to the recuperation of a Lot of US Weapons, from Helicopters up to Dangerous anti-Aerian "ManPads", many Thousands of Asylum Seekers, etc, and a Country pushed at the limits of Economic and Humanitarian Catastrophe, as even UNO Warns)...

--------------------

    - "At a Time When the Global Order is frequently being Called into Question, and when Competition in International relations is becoming Increasingly Tough, sometimes giving way to Contestation and even Confrontation, the Presence, on This Morning (2/9/2021), of the Highest Military Authorities of (EuroCorp's 5) Framework Nations, and (6) Associated Nations, Demonstrates Europe's shared Ambition to Commit to its Collective Defense, and to Play a Full Part in International Security", stressed from the outset, in his Official Speech, the Head of Ceremony, French Army's Chief, General Thierry Burkhard. Calling EuroCorps "the European apid Reaction Force", as well as "a MultiNational Unit, Backed by European Nations", he stoped short, however, from Revealing Today what relevant Plans might have, in this matter, the Forthcoming 2022 French Presidency of the EU, (Just After the Dust Settles at the Current 2021 German Elections)...

---------------------------------------

    - "Concerning Afghanistan, as NATO just announced that it currently prepares a Study on what really happened and what should have been done, wouldn't it be a good idea Also for EuroCorps to use its valuable Experience on the spot, in order to prepare a Report from a European point of View ?", "Eurofora" asked the New Commander, General Vogelaere, during the ensuing Press Conference.    

    (Indeed, "EuroCorps" has been Twice Involved in Afghanistan, on 2004-2005 and 2012-2013, including as the Head of the International Force's Chief of Staff, and Devogelaere personaly participated there several times. On this occasion, a French former Commander had already spotted f.ex. the particular issue of Women and Young Girls' Human Rights under a Taliban regime, as being of a potential key importance for the Future. [Comp. many Replies by EuroCorps' Heads a.o. to "Eurofora"'s Questions on Afghanistan, f.ex. at http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eurocorpsinafganistan.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/lisbonrightsdefence.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/frenchdefenceministerlonguetoneupolicy.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/irish/sarkomerkeldealswithobama2009.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/natobama.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eurocorpsafghaistanlibya.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eurocorpsroleafterafghanistan.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eurocorpscommandersoneuautonomytools.html, etc]. Meanwhile, current President Biden's clumsy management of Afghanistan issue, with Talibans taking over very Rapidly, ISIS Killing more tha 100 People, including 13 American POWS, etc; made him Fall Down to 44% against 51% for former POTUS Trump at the Polls, shortly before Crucial forthcoming Mid-Term Elections, later this Autumn 2021).

    - "This Army Headquarters, that we dispose, is there for European Union's benefit", stressed , as a matter of General Principle, EuroCorps' New Chief, from the outset of his Reply to the above-mentiond "Eurofora"s Question). "Sometimes, there are elements of Studies, or of support, on certain aspects".

    => "And we ("EuroCorps") are Ready to Work Together, and give our Appreciations and thoughts on certain key points. So, that's Possible, i.e. to Give our Opinion, as an Army Headquarters", he Positively ensured, on the occasion of Afghanistan).

-------------------------------

    +"EuroFora" went on to point out that, "Recently, your collegues in the USA created a Space Force, which became very Popular. Concerning Europe, could f.ex. EuroCorps, at least, include the use of Space Technologies in your Training ?", we Asked.

    (Indeed, US Polls revealed that Space Force, created by former POTUS Donald Trump, was one among the Most Favored Issues by the American People on 2020)...

    -"It's not our vocation", at least until now. "We are mainly a Land-setting Army Headquaters, and we are not yet involved in such kind of developments". So,  "for the time being, in Europe, it's, particularly, at the level of several Member States that the First concrete Initiatives in that direction already exist". he modestly but prospectively highlighted.         

    + "But, don't you use, at least, Galileo (Space Geo-Localisation) and several other Space Technologies already in your current work ?", "Eurofora" wondered.       

    - Indeed, "we are dealing, f.ex., with AirBorn Integration, which is absolutely normal, (in addition to Sea Naval operations), etc. But Not Yet on the Space area as such", EuroCorps New Leader, carefuly added, (apparently open to eventual developments in the foreseable Future)...

    ("EuroCorps"' wider Mission to Become, sooner or later, a "Pluri-Modal" Force, able to use Land, Air, Sea, and -why not ? also Space- Links and relevant Technologies, had been Strongly Underlined during an Earlier Top-Level Event in Strasbourg, including Defense Ministers. [See, f.ex. at ..., etc]. And Recently, "EuroCorps" was Trained on the "Renewal" of its "Command, Control and Information System", as General Burkhard observed Today. But, according to what had Told us anOther Experienced former Army General, working as EADS' Top Expert, the Most Important "3C" Lacuna in Europe's necessary Capabilities that would allow it to have a full "Autonomous" Defense, was the Lack of an "Early Warning System", based on Earth Observation from Space, able to give Timely and Clear Alerts Warning about Risks of Attacks from Nearby Geo-Localized Hostile Forces, [f.ex. by Analysing Photos revealing the Chemical Reactions of Rockets Launching, etc]).  

--------------------------------------------------------------

    However, in parallel, anOther, Earth to Earth, Important Developement, recently, seems to be "EuroCorps" New Trend towards an Enhanced Attractivity :

    Indeed, Both the currently Outgoing and Incoming "EuroCorps"' Chiefs, Lieutenant Generals Colodjiej (France) and Devogelaere (Belgium) had a Valuable Experience in  working together with Other European Countries : (Colodjiej at London, UK, assuming later also the role of International Relations' Head in the French Army, while Devogelaere studied and worked extensively in Germany, including at the prestigious "Führungs-Akademie", etc), while they also served in "HotSpots" as Lebanon, Mali, and Others accross the World.

    => This coincides, Nowadays, with the expected Enlargement of "EuroCorps"' fully_fledged core "Framework Nations", (France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg), also to Poland, that Gneral Devogelaere Expects to be Realized "towards the Beginning of Next Year : 2022", since "Both the Polish themselves and all Other Nations very much Wish to do so", as he stressed at Today's Press Conference).

    But it's also Austria, which has Just recently Joined the Group of "EuroCorps"' simply "Associated Nations", (currently : Italy, Romania, Greece, Poland and Turkey), represented by a "Liaison Officer" in Strasbourg, as the Organisations' Head Press Officer, Marie-Luise Skura, reminded "Eurofora" Today.

    All this, Obviously, "Strengthens <<EuroCorps'>> European and International Basis", as the Chief of the "Change of Command" Ceremony, French Army's Head, General Burkhard, stressed Today : An almost Necessary move of GeoPolitical Adjustmment, since a Realy "European" Force could Not leave Out an EU's  Central Core Nation as Ausstria, while Keeping Turkey, which naturaly concerns "EuroCorps" 2nd role, Also as an efficient NATO tool in certain cirumstances : Indeed, after having recently been Certified and Served as a NATO's Rapid Reaction Force on 2020 (See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eurocorpsandnatoonlibya.html, etc), "EuroCorps" is Also due to Become, on 2024, even a "NATO's Joint Task Force HQ", as General Burkhard observed, (a move that Devogelaere said to have been "Well Prepared" by his Predecessors).

    Before that, "EuroCorps" will finalize its current "European Training Missions" in Mali and Central Africa, with the participation of General Devogelaere himself on the spot, as he announced at Today's Press Conference.

---------------------------------------------------------------

    +Meanwhile, the departing former EuroCorps' Chief, General Laurent Colodjiej (2019-2021), speaking at the same Press Conference, observed that he was Glad to have Led such a "Unique" Army HeadQuarters as "EuroCorps", particularly Based in Strasbourg, at the Heart of Europe, with a Franco-German Culture and inspiring "European Citizenship".

    General Colodjiej, who was promoted Today as "Commander of the Legion of Hounour", by decision of French President Macron, in a moving Ceremony here, on the occasion of his Retirement from the Army in general, had, apparently, eyed quite well a quite astonishing phenomenon : Indeed, Both a Young French Lady, Graduate of Strasbourg University, and a Sportif Middle-Age German former School-Teacher, who Kindly Helped "Eurofora", as "EuroCorps"' Press Officers, in various practical ways, during and after the Official Ceremony, were, in fact, "Reservists", as they told us : I.e. EU Citizens accepting to Offer their Various Acquired Capabilities to the service of European Defense... Our German interlocutor even told us that he could do so up to 10 Months per Year, and had followed "EuroCorps" during a so Long Period of Time as ..."since 1993", i.e., by a Striking Coincidence, as Long as "Eurofora"'s co-Founder himself !...

    A Previous Top-Level Conference in Strasbourg had, already, throroughly Analyzed and Theorized the Recent Development of such a Strategy,, resolutely Aiming to regularly Attract various Qualified, Experienced, and Motivated People, to such a Voluntary Service to National and/or European Defense. => European Citizens, are they a precious "New Weapon", due to considerably Strengthen the Defense of Europe in the foreseable Future ?

(../..)

("Draft-News")

-----------------------------------