General Strategic Review
Staff Meeting of Lieutenant General Hans Jaeger
~ Classified ~
Map of Eurasia - Intelligence Placement of Divisions Accurate as of 03/05/10.
Jaeger looked at the maps arrayed around the room for what he hoped would be the last time. He had grown quite tired of the Colonel's constant briefings, as interesting and intriguing some of the information he had was. None of it seemed to be too revealing to Jaeger. Not the sort of cataclysmic or earth shattering news he had hoped he would be privy too upon promotion. Still though, there was a fair amount of enthusiasm coming from the Colonel, and surely, he would uncover more throughout his career.
"I don't need to tell you what this is a map of sir." Colonel Vasquez began.
Map showing Europe, and the plans for the repositioning and re-organization of the Armed Forces of the European Union.
"In Eastern Europe, we have, of course, the Russian Federation. She currently has one of the largest Armed Forces in all of the world and her economy is undergoing a thriving boom, largely from major foreign investments - a good deal of which are coming from us, mostly German and French companies eager to exploit their resources. The rise of oil prices and President Putin's economic investments have also provided a boost to their economy, and have given him massive popularity numbers. Whether these figures are accurate or if they have been altered is still a matter of debate however."
"Part of his new foreign policy however, is coming into direct conflict with ours. He's stirring up trouble in the Balkans. Serbia is looking ready to annex Kosovo and Montenegro, while Croatia is looking at Slovenia with greedy eyes. Further north, he's broken the back of Belarus and have brought them almost entirely into the Russian fold, he just needs to make it official. The EIB thinks that he has also pushed for increased funding towards the RIRA and a number of smaller terrorist groups within Europe and in South America."
President Putin, Leader of the Federation of Russia.
"Moving west, we have the Eastern European Coalition of Sovereign States - the name chosen in direct confrontation of Russia, and nowadays, applicable to ourselves. With it's headquarters divided between Poland and Kiev, the organization is naturally, fiercely against any sort of Russian expansion in Europe. Given the membership of Rumania, Hungary and Slovakia in the organization, and the recent withdrawal of Belarus from the organization, anti-Russian feelings are incredibly high."
"Recent ambitions put their greatest desires to gaining Bulgaria as a member state, alongside Czechoslovakia and Bosnia. Bulgaria and Czechoslovakia have been staunchly neutral however, refusing to involve themselves with the organization. Whether the recent break up of relations between Turkey and Albania will bring Albania into their fold as well, is unknown, but it is a reasonable assumption." The Colonel said.
"In Southern Europe, we have the Greco-Italian Alliance. Created in the aftermath of the Summer War, Italy and Greece drifted towards each other politically as NATO collapsed and regional powers competed for influence. Italy, as the stronger of the two, sought an alliance after what she perceived as a betrayal with her total lack of reward from her almost single handed Invasion of Yugoslavia. Greece was all too willing to accept, given Turkey's new found interest in taking all of Cyprus. Since then, the two nations have remained staunchly independent, but closely reliant on one another. Rumours are saying that they want Austria in the alliance to counter the growing influence of our European Union, but their attention is mostly focused on the Mediterranean. "
"In northern Europe, we have the Nordic Union, formed, much like the Greco-Italian Alliance, out of the perceived betrayal by the EU after the Summer War, when Finland was left in Russian hands. Only recently have relations begun to improve, though they still heavily garrison our border. The NU however, stretches from Norway and Sweden to Iceland and Greenland, though she has hardly garrisoned Iceland, or Greenland. Generally though, they don't involve themselves in world politics unless it involves the Russians and Finland or the Baltic states."
The cabinet of the European Union.
"That brings us to the European Union itself. We have interests spanning the globe, from French holdings in the Pacific, to European South American territories, and more French obligations in Africa. Generally, we also involve ourselves in events around the world to a fair degree, but I don't particularly need to elaborate on that. I'm sure you know enough about your own country and her interests Lieutenant General."
"Britain, is also of some concern to us. Although Tony Blair has done great things to improve relations, the American President rarely gives us a chance to breath easy with Britain, always pushing for provocative action. Thankfully though, Blair has kept Bush in check. The EIB suspects that their Coalition of Nations, the successor to the United Nations Alliance of the Summer War and NATO, is eager to expand influence in the Middle East and Asia, and they don't think that an invasion of Iran or the Crescent would be out of their capability. Still though, it would be a lengthy and costly conflict which makes it unlikely. Domestically though, Blair is having a great deal of trouble with the resurgent RIRA. They recently sabotaged a number of his peace efforts, but he has still been marginally successful."
Map showing North America
"Finally, we have North America. Obviously, dominated by the United States of America. Above them however, we have Canada. Lead by Prime Minister Jean Chretien, Canada is plagued by a resurgent FLQ. From what I can dig up, we aren't funding it, but it is causing a lot of friction between us. Their recent advances in naval and air exercises into NU territory has also stirred up a fair amount of controversy, not least of all when they guided their aircraft carrier into the Kennedy Channel
(1) and launched a full scale exercise in the area. Of course, they haven't yet returned the Island chain to Nordic control and it is unlikely to be resolved anytime soon."
"So here we are, the United States of America. Superpower Number One. There isn't much to be said that the public doesn't know. They are getting involved in every squabble around the globe and, lead by George W. Bush, they seem more eager than ever to take on the role of World Police. Of course, we want that position as well. Some people want us to fight them, others want us to join them. A good number of people however think that we have to play according to the situation, whatever it is, and not make any permanent agreement."
"They are the head of the Coalition of Nations, consisting of themselves, the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland and Australia. Word is that they are looking to expand membership into Asia and the Middle East however. Their Coalition is currently the premier world power, capable of outnumbering and outgunning any other force on the planet."
"The United States is also home to the world's largest navy, and one of the most advanced air forces and land forces. Whatever they lack in numbers, they make up for in technology. That is all the time we have for today sir, if you have any questions, I will be happy to answer them."
_________________~ Further Reading ~ ___________________
1 - The Franklin Channel is a real location in the Arctic Circle and is an actual point of tension between Canada and Denmark. Here however, the dispute is magnified ten fold, and applied to all the islands within the Franklin Channel.
