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Nonviolent resistance to militarism
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Northwood Headquarters
A look at the centre of British military interventions
Andreas Speck
Northwood & NATO
NATO's history with Northwood began in 1952, when the NATO Eastern Atlantic Command moved to Northwood. Nowadays Northwood plays a double role within NATO's command structure (see graphics): As NATO Regional Command East Atlantic (RC EAST) it is part of the Allied Command Atlantic (ACLANT), based in Norfolk, Virginia, USA. According to the NATO website, "the primary task of ACLANT is to contribute to security in the Atlantic area by safeguarding the Allie's sea lines of communication, supporting land and amphibious operations, and protecting the deployment of the Alliance's sea based nuclear deterrent". (3)
See the Graphics by NATO
In addition, Northwood is part of the structure of the Allied Command Europe (ACE), based in Mons, Belgium. ACE is responsible for the whole area from the Northern tip of Europe to the South, including the whole Mediterranean region from the Atlantic coastline to the eastern border of Turkey. Here Northwood has a sub-regional responsibility as Component Command Naval Forces North under Regional Command North.
According to NATO, "this link is a crucial element of NATO's ability to conduct joint operations effectively in Europe". (4) And: "In response to the end of the Cold War and the advent of Partnership for Peace (PfP), NATO reviewed its infrastructure and defence plans to prepare it to face the rather more diverse risks inherent to the post-Cold War period. This has led to expanded roles and tasks for the combined Regional Headquarters East Atlantic and Headquarters Allied Naval Forces North". (5)
These "more diverse risks" are described in NATO's new strategy, which was passed during NATO's war on Yugoslavia in 1999. Besides war, nuclear and conventional weapons, and access to natural resources, NATO defines security risks as follows: "However, Alliance security must also take account of the global context. Alliance security interests can be affected by other risks of a wider nature, including acts of terrorism, sabotage and organised crime, and by the disruption of the flow of vital resources. The uncontrolled movement of large numbers of people, particularly as a consequence of armed conflicts, can also pose problems for security and stability affecting the Alliance." (6)
Northwood is part of the response to these "security risks", and plays a crucial role for NATO operations within Western Europe. This might become even more important in the near future, when the European Union develops its military wing, which probably will involve the use of NATO assets for EU military operations. Northwood then will be part of European Union military interventions.
Notes:
(1) http://www.eastlant.nato.int/Your_Community/your_community.htm
and http://www.eastland.nato.int/hq_info/structure.htm
(2) http://www.navynews.co.uk/articles/2002/0204/0002043001.htm
(3) http://www.eastlant.nato.int/hq_info/structure.html
(4) http://www.eastlant.nato.int/hq_info/structure.html
(5) http://www.eastlant.nato.int/hq_info_eastlant_history.htm
(6) The Alliance's Strategic Concept, Approved by the Heads of State
and Government participating in the meeting of the North Atlantic
Council in Washington D.C. on 23rd and 24th April 1999, Press Release
NAC-S(99)65, 24 Apr. 1999
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