In the first half of 2024, the United Kingdom plans to commit 16 000 troops as well as Royal Navy warships, submarines, more than 2 000 sailors and the Royal Air Force’s most advanced aircraft and fighter jets to serve across Europe in a major NATO exercise, Steadfast Defender 24, marking NATO’s 75th anniversary, citing the Ministry of Defence on Monday, the 15th of January, reports Reuters.
According to extracts of a speech to be delivered at Lancaster House later Monday, published by the Ministry of Defence, Defence Minister Grant Shapps said the UK would send around 20 000 military personnel to be based in Eastern Europe and take part in one of the largest NATO military deployments since the end of the Cold War.
The exercise will bring together forces
from 30 NATO countries and Sweden to provide vital reassurance against the threat to the West posed by Putin,
according to the Shapps speech.
In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, NATO has increased the number of combat-ready units and continues to support Ukraine.
Last week, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that the UK would increase its support to Ukraine by up to 2.5 billion pounds (2.9 billion euros) in the next financial year, reports Reuters.
Also read: Secret documents suggest NATO is preparing for Russia’s possible attack
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