International cooperation twists and turns

[davidbfpo]

Not sure where this should fit, so it here for now. This thread is for vignettes or glimpses into how international cooperation / liaison can twist and turn. Not the ANZUS links, more the unexpected.

All prompted by this passage in an obituary of a senior RAF officer, who commanded the Harriers that went to the Falklands, alas behind a pay-wall:

In March 1981 Squire assumed command of No 1 Squadron based at RAF Wittering.....Over the next three weeks the Harriers were modified to operate from aircraft carriers, air-to-air missiles were fitted and the pilots flew practice combat missions at Wittering against French air force Mirage and Etendard aircraft; two types that equipped the Argentinian air force.

Link:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituari...taff-obituary/

I know there were reports post-Falklands that the French Navy Super Etendard, which carried the Exocet ASM, practiced attacks on the Royal Navy as they journeyed south as far as Dakar, West Africa.

[davidbfpo]

Two years ago there were stories that a Chinese navy officer had assumed command of the shore-based HQ for the international operation in the Indian Ocean / Gulf of Aden. Command had been shared on a six month rotation between contributors, the PLAN had become a member and a wise person suggested they had a turn. Alas no-one read the "small print" as the rotation was not written down and the PLAN CO just stayed put!