President Isaac Herzog Hosts Air Force Commanders From Around The World, In Honor Of Blue Flag Aerial Exercises In Israel (Photos)

By BJLife Israel Newsroom
Posted on 10/26/21

President Isaac Herzog: “What you are doing here is anchoring stability in a tumultuous region faced by terrorists and Iran. We are confronting one coalition, a coalition of hatred, terror, and radicalization, led by Iran.”

Today, President Isaac Herzog welcomed the commanders of several foreign air forces to the President’s Residence in the framework of the international Blue Flag exercise, Israel’s largest and most advanced aerial exercise ever. Joining the President were Israeli Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin and the commanders of the air forces of the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Greece, and Cyprus, as well as high-ranking generals from the United States Air Force and the air forces of India, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, and France.

President Isaac Herzog praised the collaboration of so many foreign air forces with the Israeli Air Force as evidence of a paradigm shift in the Middle East, and he stressed the importance of common efforts against attempts to undermine regional stability, saying: “This cooperation teaches us where we can divert our efforts within humanity itself and in the region. What you are doing here is anchoring stability in a tumultuous region faced by terrorists and Iran. We are confronting one coalition, a coalition of hatred, terror, and radicalization, led by Iran. We are here to make sure that peace prevails.”

The President concluded by wishing the participants every success and saying that he hoped to continue meeting them, only in times of peace.

The Blue Flag exercise is being held at Uvda Air Force Base between October 17-28, 2021. The exercise aims to strengthen strategic international cooperation through shared learning about the integration of fourth and fifth-generation aircraft in complex operational scenarios, with a focus on broadening and enhancing the operational capabilities of participating forces. Together with the Israeli Air Force, the international air forces are training for joint tactical flights against a variety of threats using advanced technologies.

Israeli Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin added: “We must adopt new strategies to confront the present threats in this period. The Israeli Air Force must prepare and grapple with a range of threats, confronting on the one hand the Iranian nuclear project and on the other terror organizations. First and foremost, we must defend ourselves. The IAF is progressing to the fifth generation and is building the Next Generation Air Force program. In my view, this encounter today and your partnership and what we are doing here between our forces, this is a bridge for the creation of diplomatic international ties. Aerial diplomacy is a bridge for regional stability, and this is my vision.”