Operation Active Endeavour Case Study

NATO’s two most spectacular antiterrorism operations to date have been Operation Eagle Assist, and Operation Active Endeavour, both of which were among NATO’s first actions following the 9/11 attacks in the US. They are fundamental examples of NATO’s antiterrorism strategy in action. Eagle Assist, which was operated from October 2001 to May 2002, gave direct surveillance support to the US by deploying seven AWACS aircraft over American soil. In all, 830 NATO crew members representing 13 member nations participated in the operation which flew over 360 expeditions over the US. Since Operation Eagle Assist, NATO’s AWACS squadrons have participated in protection actions, by providing airborne control and surveillance for events …show more content…
Active Endeavour was seen also as a way to preventing possible and upcoming terrorist attacks from countries like Libya and Syria, which as of 2003, were considered by the US to be shelters for important terrorist groups. By 2006 the operation had spread out to include non NATO members such as Russia, which had participated for a short time in patrolling the East Mediterranean in 2006 and 2007. Active Endeavour has extended greatly all over the Mediterranean, primarily as a symbolic gesture of NATO’s continued resolution to counter worldwide terrorism. But the operation is much more than a simply symbolic gesture: NATO patrols have participated in the search and capture of suspect materials, prevented the smuggling of drugs and the trafficking of weapons, and the operation has been very successful in protecting over 65 percent of Western Europe’s supply of oil, which is transported through the Mediterranean Sea. Active Endeavour has also allowed for increased close cooperation with Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Israel and other states that are actively seeking to combat terrorism in their respective