Britain sends 20,000 troops to join large-scale NATO exercises
(Baonghean.vn) - The British Ministry of Defense confirmed that the country will deploy about 20,000 soldiers - along with modern warships and fighter jets - to Europe to participate in a large NATO exercise amid rising tensions with Russia.
In a statement on January 15, the British Ministry of Defense said about 16,000 soldiers - along with tanks, artillery and helicopters - will join other members of the continental military bloc in the exercise.
Exercise Steadfast Defender 24, scheduled to take place in the first half of this year, will involve eight ships and submarines and 2,000 Royal Navy sailors. The Ministry of Defence has stressed that the UK will also deploy a number of aircraft, including F35B Lightning fighters and P8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft.
UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps called the exercise “one of NATO’s largest deployments since the end of the Cold War”, adding that the UK and its allies found themselves “in a new era” and “must be prepared to deter our enemies”.
NATO first began to increase its military presence in Europe after the Western-backed coup in Kiev sparked hostilities in Donbass, now part of Russia. However, the most dramatic buildup came after Russia launched its military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022.
In June 2022, the US-led military bloc agreed to put 300,000 troops on high alert, up from 40,000, to deter Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously said that his country has no plans to attack NATO, saying that there is “no geopolitical, economic… or military benefit” in waging war against the bloc. However, Russia has repeatedly warned that the alliance’s military activities near its borders require additional security measures.