NATO: About 8,000 British troops to be deployed in Eastern Europe this summer

Some 8,000 British troops will take part in a “demonstration of solidarity and strength” with other NATO troops in Eastern Europe this summer as the invasion of Ukraine continues.

Dozens of tanks and 120 armored vehicles will be deployed this summer from Finland to northern Macedonia as part of a long-running program that was strengthened after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February.

“Europe’s security has never been so important,” said British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace in a statement. “As part of these exercises, our troops will join forces with NATO allies and partners and the Joint Expeditionary Force in a show of solidarity and strength that is one of the largest joint troop deployments since the Cold War.”

The Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) is a coalition of the armed forces of the United Kingdom and eight partner countries: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.

British troops were deployed to Finland this week to take part in an exercise that “will improve the ability of British and Finnish forces to work side by side with the JEF, discouraging Russian attack on Scandinavia and the Baltic states”.

In May, more British troops will be deployed along the border between Estonia and Latvia alongside 18,000 NATO troops, including French and Danes who are part of the British-led NATO “Enhanced Advanced Presence”.

“The United Kingdom is making a significant contribution to Europe ‘s defense and to preventing a Russian attack. The British military’ s range of exercises is fundamental to both,” said Lt. Gen. Ralph Woodis, commander of the expeditionary force.

SOURCE: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ