Personnel at U.S. Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily, Italy, had been underneath orders to lockdown and shelter-in-place Wednesday morning attributable to an unspecified “ongoing state of affairs” on the base. The U.S.-operated base is a key set up and logistics hub — residence to some 7,000 troops and relations — for American and allied NATO operations in Europe.
In a sequence of repeated notices shared by way of the NAS Sigonella Facebook page, the U.S. navy informed all personnel on the NAS 2 a part of the set up, the place most operational work has taken place for years, to shelter in place and keep away from journey between one of many base’s housing complexes and NAS 2. The notices stated entry and exit by means of a minimum of among the NAS 2 gates had been “secured.”
“Sigonella has grown to be the premier logistics base within the Mediterranean because it continues to be an important element in supporting U.S. and NATO operations throughout the European theater,” in accordance with the U.S. Navy, which says the station’s major mission “is to offer consolidated operational, command and management, administrative, logistical and superior logistical assist to U.S. and different NATO forces.”
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The U.S.’ European NATO allies held a major military exercise final week in Romania, very close to the nation’s border with Ukraine, rehearsing for a hypothetical invasion of the alliance’s territory by Russia. The drill got here virtually precisely three years after Russia launched its ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine, sparking a warfare that President Trump has stated he can finish by means of negotiations with Russia’s autocratic chief Vladimir Putin.
On Tuesday, Ukrainian officers informed The Related Press and different retailers that Kyiv had reached an settlement with the Trump administration on a framework for an financial deal that would come with the U.S. getting access to Ukraine’s mineral resources, including its rare earth elements. Ukraine has hoped to strike a cope with the U.S. to make sure a continued move of navy assist and, if a ceasefire with Russia is agreed, some type of future safety ensures ought to Russia attempt to assault once more.
