Britain will send 20,000 troops to one of the largest NATO military exercises since the Cold War, the Ministry of Defence said on Monday.
During a speech in London on Monday, British Defence Secretary Grant Shapps announced the deployment of Army, Navy and RAF personnel to the 31-nation exercise across Europe. NATO’s Exercise Steadfast Defender 24 marks the Western alliance’s 75th year.
16,000 troops with tanks, artillery and helicopters will be deployed from the British Army to Eastern Europe from next month as part of an exercise. The Royal Navy will deploy more than 2,000 sailors on eight warships and submarines, while more than 400 Royal Marines commandos will be sent above the Arctic Circle.
The RAF will use F-35B Lightning attack aircraft and Poseidon P-8 surveillance aircraft.
It came after ministers had announced a further £2.5bn to support Ukraine and RAF air strikes with the US against the Houthis in Yemen.
