The UK plans to dispatch 20,000 military personnel, including Army, Navy, and RAF forces, to NATO‘s large-scale Steadfast Defender exercise.
This move, which Defence Secretary Grant Shapps is set to announce, aims to demonstrate readiness in countering a hypothetical Russian invasion.
In his speech, Shapps will emphasize the critical juncture the West is facing and outline the UK’s strategy in addressing potential threats, particularly from Russia as the conflict with Ukraine nears its second anniversary.
He is expected to say: “We are in a new era and we must be prepared to deter our enemies, prepared to lead our allies, and prepared to defend our nation, whenever the call comes.
“Today our adversaries are busily rebuilding their barriers, old enemies are reanimated, battle lines are being drawn, the tanks are literally on Ukraine‘s lawn and the foundations of the world order are being shaken to their core. We stand at a crossroads.”
The deployment will include approximately 16,000 British Army troops with tanks, artillery, and helicopters, starting next month in Eastern Europe.
The Royal Navy will contribute over 2,000 sailors, eight warships, and submarines, and the Royal Marines will dispatch over 400 Commandoes to the Arctic Circle. Additionally, the RAF will participate with F-35B Lightning attack jets and Poseidon P-8 surveillance planes.
Earlier on Friday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited Ukraine and declared an increase in military assistance to Ukraine for the upcoming year.
Since the onset of Russia’s invasion, the UK has been a major ally to Kyiv. Sunak announced that the UK’s support will be ramped up in the next fiscal year, reaching £2.5 billion, which is £200 million more than the assistance provided over the last two years.
This additional aid will enable Ukraine to acquire new military drones, encompassing surveillance, long-range attack, and naval drones, with the majority anticipated to be produced in the UK.
