Reinforcements in the Mediterranean. Britain: 0 France: 1 Germany: 2 Who says better?

(BRUSSELS2) Announced with great fanfare when he arrived last Thursday at the European Council, by David Cameron himself (Read: Faced with the tragedy in the Mediterranean, the United Kingdom responds "present"), the arrival of the "flagship" of the British fleet to reinforce the Italian forces for the rescue of migrant and refugee boats in the Mediterranean is... waiting. With much less noise, the French ship is already operational. And two German ships arrive as reinforcements... Not to mention Russian and Chinese ships, in ambush

British ignition delay

The HMS Bulwark (L-15) which should have started its rescue operations remained at the dock this weekend, blocked by " diplomatic talks ” with the Italians, according to the daily The Guardian. The engagement is not expected to take place until Tuesday. Information not denied by the British Ministry of Defense which preferred to opt for positive communication. HMS Bulwark and 3 Merlin helicopters are " now ready to operate in the Mediterranean, working closely with the Italian Navy and in coordination with Rome ". The Navy's three Merlin helicopters, currently stationed at Sigonella Naval Air Base in Sicily. can be called to the rescue if necessary by the Italian Coast Guard. They started their first training outing, to familiarize themselves with the area adds the spokesperson for the British MOD (read the communicated). History, no doubt, to fill a diplomatic "small air hole".

Asylum or money?

According to one of the Prime Minister's spokespersons, quoted by the daily, it is the question of asylum that is blocking. " The Premier minister was clear at the European Council (on this point). Lin Great Britain is ready to play his role in the fight against the current crisis in the Mediterranean. Corn our objective is to save lives, and not to offer asylum people UK ". And to add: Discussions between European partners continue to ensure close coordination ". In fact, according to our information, it is just as much questions of coordination and command, even big money, that are in question, as the very question of asylum, which is regulated by the law of the sea. is, in fact, not a member of the Schengen area and must pass a specific assistance agreement with Italy as with Frontex.

The French Navy already in the area

In the "race" to the rescue, London was overtaken on the wire by Paris. Without as much noise as his British counterpart, François Hollande had been rather discreet, on this plan, at the European summit, the French navy dispatched one of its high seas patrol boats to the spot (read: The Commandant Birot sloop in southern Sicily as reinforcement for Operation Triton). After express preparations, the ship was operational. And the notice Commandant Birot was thus able to carry out its first rescue this Saturday (May 2), coming to the aid of “ three boats reported in distress on the high seas, north of the Libyan coast and sheltering 217 people, the Navy said. A rescue mission conducted under the responsibility of the Rome Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC Rome - Maritime rescue coordination center) ". The rescued people were disembarked in an Italian port. Two alleged "smugglers" were also intercepted and handed over to the Italian authorities.

Two German ships available

On the German side, it is announced that the frigate"Hessen"(F-221) and support ship"Berlin" (A-1411), returning from the European anti-piracy operation off Somalia (EUNAVFOR Atalanta), halted on the morning of May 3 in the port of Souda in Crete. They are preparing to operate in the Mediterranean, on their way back to Germany.

Both ships will be equipped as soon as possible to ensure rescue at sea ” specifies the HQ of the German navy. " They are currently equipping themselves with additional meals, blankets, medical supplies and hygiene items to enable the rescue of refugees in distress.. "Once the supplies and additional equipment have been completed, the two ships will be able to " in total, ensure the rescue of 350 people (and) contribute to the Navy operation for humanitarian aid in the Mediterranean region ».

The Russians and Chinese are coming!

As for the Russian and Chinese navies, they have announced a joint exercise in the Mediterranean Sea in mid-May (*). Goal: " deepen friendly and practical cooperation, and increase the capability of the naval forces of our two countries “, according to the spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of Defense quoted by the Reuters agency. Nine ships from both countries will be involved, with on the menu: ship escort, firing exercises, maritime security, refueling at sea. And if a migrant ship pokes its nose in the Greek, Maltese or Italian rescue zone... what will the Russian or Chinese ships do? Certainly, a rescue by one of these ships could be as much a media issue as a political one. A small admission of collective European impotence in a way...

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)

(*) This exercise is not a first, as sometimes announced. A joint exercise, involving the Russian destroyer Pyotr Veliky and the Chinese frigate Yancheng, had already been organized in January 2014, as specified at the time by a spokesman for the Russian navy quoted by the agency News. Exercise started with the securing of a transport of Syrian chemical weapons (as part of the international agreement for the withdrawal of chemical weapons from the area).