Here is an
inventory of the key players on Saturday, March 19th at
18:30 CET:
United Kingdom:
London will use its Tornado and Eurofighter warplanes
aircraft as well as Sentinel Nimrod and AWACS used for
reconnaissance and surveillance, and two frigates currently
in the Mediterranean, HMS Westminster and HMS Cumberland.
France:
Paris already sent Rafale fighter jets which were the
first to go into action. French air force could also make
use of its Mirage 2000 fighters. A type of helicopter
carrier Mistral is in the region recently. This Sunday,
the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle will sail to the
Libyan coast.
Italy:
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has confirmed that the
Italian military bases were available to the coalition.
NATO’s bases in Naples for example, could serve
as a platform for coordination of operations. Italy may
even participate in the operations.
Spain:
Madrid will provide a tanker aircraft and four fighter
jets F-18.
Belgium:
Brussels plans to send four of its six F-16. They were
stationed in southern Greece. A mine hunter ship is also
available.
Denmark:
Copenhagen has used, from Sicily, four fighter jets F-16,
two fighter jets as well as a transport aircraft.
Norway:
Oslo promised six F-16 fighters.
Greece:
Prime Minister George Papandreou said that the bases of
his country, without specifying which, could be used by
the coalition.
Netherlands:
Participation is acquired but remains unclear.
United Arab Emirates :
AFP reports that the United Arab Emirates will be contributing
24 fighter jets (Mirage 2000-9s and F-16s)
Qatar:
Qatar will contribute between four and six Mirage 2000-5s
Outside Europe,
Canada:
Canada decided to send seven of its fighter-bombers CF-18.
The
United States still remained in the dark Saturday afternoon.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that the U.S.
would bring “Unique ability” not available
to their allies. Experts suggest anti-radar missiles,
weapons or electromagnetic pulse against enemy electronic
systems. Besides the F-16 and F-15 already deployed in
Sicily, two guided missile destroyers, USS Barry and USS
Stout, currently in the eastern Mediterranean. They are
equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles.
NATO
is currently passive. Its AWACS radar aircraft are still
in action 24 hours over 24 in the Mediterranean since
last week. Three of its ships are also in the area.
