The United Imperium Reestablishes Theater Command Protocols Ahead of Rising Tensions in the Medditerranean and Middle East

Today's Date: July 20, 2094

MILITARY BASE CONSTRUCTION AROUND THE WORLD

As the United Imperium continues to reaffirm its defensive commitments to its allies, it also continues to expand its network of Forward Operating Bases in allied nations. The United Imperium already has FOBs in Nebelystan, British Somalia, Palau, Northern Sumatra, and Ajakoan Okinawa. As force modernization upgrades come to a close in Palau and Northern Sumatra, the Imperium has begun the development and construction of three more bases with allied nations: Luna, the Netherlands, and Aurelia. These nations have begun construction on their own military installations in The United Imperium. An offer for base construction has also been sent to Cruzeiro, one of the oldest allies of the United Imperium. Per recent reports, the President is also looking into alliances and bases in Africa, India, and the Medditerranean region. The hope is with these FOB constructions, the Imperium will be able to strengthen its defense commitment to its allies as well as defend its interests across the world.

Pictured: Imperium Air Superiority Aircraft Takes Off from a Foreign Forward Operating Base as the Base Undergoes Construction

The United Imperium's Policy On The Iberia-Soviet Conflict

In response to the growing escalation in the Mediterranean, the United Imperium has concurred with the Beanstopian policy of armed neutrality specifically as it pertains to this conflict. Unless attacked by party nations of the Iberia-Soviet war, the United Imperium will stay neutral. However, if both parties are willing to come to the table, Secretary of State Katie Soldacher has made it clear that the Imperium is willing to hold peace talks. President Roosevelt, for his part, noted that there was an exception to the armed neutrality policy regarding the Iberia-Soviet war: the United Imperium would begin involvement in the war if and only if any one party engaged in an exceptionally egregious form of ethnic cleansing. No comment was made about the impact of this conflict on the Imperium's strategic interests in the region.

Pictured: A Ship Sinking in the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean Has Become the Primary Battleground of the Iberia-Soviet Conflict

Imperium Aid and Defense of Nebelystan

With Ferolloisa mobilizing against Nebelystan, the United Imperium's defense pact with Nebelsytan has been invoked. As a result of this, the Imperium is moving to DEFCON 4, and will be sending a large-scale task force to the region to deter Ferollosian aggression. This task force is divided into three parts. The ground contingent consists of 60,000 troops, 5,000 tanks, as well as an appropriately scaled combat contingent of other assorted combat vehicles and rocket artillery pieces. The expectation is that an initial airlift of around 5,000 troops and a small contingent of combat vehicles can be in Nebelystan by the 21st of July (tomorrow) for unconventional operations as well as tactical/strategic advisement, but the full ground contingent will not be in the region and operational until early to mid August. The naval contingent consists of a carrier strike group, submarine escort, and a total of 50 ships for naval combat operations. The naval contingent of the task force should be in region and operational in about a week. The aerial contingent consists of 400 aircraft which will be cycled into Nebelystan over the coming weeks. By tomorrow, the first Imperium aircraft squadrons will be aiding the Nebelystanis in Combat Air Patrol and IADS integration, and the expectation is that most fixed-wing aircraft will be operational in the locale in two to three week's time. However, rotary aircraft (75 of the 400 aircraft in the aerial contingent) will take over a month to arrive and fully situate into a combat role. 

Aside from the conventional warfare assets, cybercombat divisions, the ABWTF, and satellite-based intelligence-gathering and navigation capabilites have all been placed on high alert to support the Nebelystanis. As it is currently understood, the Imperium will rely on Nebelystani C3 nodes and assets to run their operations in the region. In the unlikely event that the situation goes south, the Imperium has also placed a reserve task force of unknown size on standby. For now, we have received no other information regarding this reserve task force. The hope is that the Ferollosians will choose the path of peace and not engage in a blatant war of aggression against the Nebelystani people. However, should Ferollosia choose war, the Imperium will back its commitments to the hilt and guarantee Nebelystan's security, no matter the cost.

Pictured: Imperium Air Dominance Fighter is Prepped by Air Crews for Deployment to Nebelystani in Order to Deter Hostile Aggression

Formation of the Imperium's Global Theater Command

Because of the growing tensions in the Middle East and in Europe, President Roosevelt signed an executive order today, reinstating the United Imperium's Global Theater Command (UIGTC). What is the Global Theater Command? In the 2070s, President Lincoln proposed a network of military installations from which the United Imperium could exert its influence and defend its allies at any point on planet Earth. However, due to ongoing controveries regarding military expenditure, as well as the cost of his plan, the idea was never implemented. However, the idea of being able to utilize military force globally made sense from a strategic standpoint. And with the Imperium's network of allies and operational hubs growing, Lincoln's successor, President Roosevelt, signed the executive order for the Formation and Deployment of a Global Theater Command In Order to Protect the Imperium and Her Allies. 

Theater Command essentially splits operations into six components: the Far East and Oceania Theater, the Middle East Theater, the European Theater, the African Theater, the South American Theater, and the Homeland Theater. Aside from the homeland theater, the Imperium assigns all theaters a contingent of 60,000 troops, 5,000 tanks, 300 aircraft, and 50 ships in order to safeguard the allies of the United Imperium in the region as well as the geopolitical interests of the Imperium itself within the region. The homeland theater still hosts a large majority of Imperium soldiers (over half of the Imperium military is still stationed in the Imperium itself), so as to ensure a consistent and reliable capacity for self defense against any potential threat, big or small. By developing these commands, the Imperium can now access more effective rapid deployment and response to crises across the globe. 

Pictured: Imperium Construction Project in Palau as Part of the Deployment of the United Imperium Global Theater Command Project

Other News From Around the Country

In sports: The United Imperium is all set to begin presiding over the 2094 Euros tournament this Christmas in its first major international tournament as EFTA President! As part of new initiatives from IFAPO (link to join IFAPO and participate in World Cup, Euros, and all Orbis soccer events), the governing body for soccer in Orbis, the North American and European national teams will both compete in the Euros tournament. Defending World Cup champions Uwistan are the heavy favorites, but the Republic of Meg and the United Imperium's own national team are also top contenders for the title. 

In politics: The insider-trading scandal continues as Senator and Presidential Candidate Rysander Regan is called to testify against many of his colleagues in the Conservative Party, Jens Anderlecht and Mikayla Osborne, regarding an insider trading scandal. This inexplicably has caused Regan to boost his poll numbers, already becoming the third most-popular candidate in the race for the Presidency. The expectation currently is that Regan will "take the 5th", but according to an insider, Regan may actually give the court the information it needs to convict Anderlecht and Osborne on the insider trading charges. Regan's chief rival, Betty Shostakovich of the Liberal Party, has proposed a ban on Congressional Stock Trading in response to these developments.