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ORAC
15th Jan 2024, 06:11
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/british-troops-readied-for-nato-show-of-force-vcxdg5xv5

British troops readied for Nato show of force

Ministers will announce one of Britain’s largest troop deployments to Nato today as Grant Shapps, the defence secretary, warns that the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have shaken the foundations of world order “to their core”.

In what will be Britain’s biggest land mobilisation to Nato in 40 years, 20,000 military personnel will be deployed from next month across eastern Europe as part of the exercise Steadfast Defender. They will be joined by one of the Royal Navy’s two new aircraft carriers, eight warships and the RAF’s F35 lightning attack aircraft, which will practise flying in simulated conflict scenarios.

In speech to be given in London, Shapps (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/topic/grant-shapps?page=1) will warn that such a show of strength is necessary as the “peace *dividend” enjoyed by the West since the end of the Cold War comes to an end.

“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,” he is expected to say. “Our *adversaries are busily rebuilding their barriers. Old enemies are reanimated. Battle lines are being redrawn. The foundations of the world order are being shaken to their core.”

British forces will join those of 30 other countries in one of Nato (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/topic/nato?page=1)’s largest deployments since the end of the Cold War and the first on such a scale since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

More than 16,000 British soldiers will take part, about a fifth of the regular army….

NutLoose
15th Jan 2024, 14:50
The next question is when we pick them up off the beaches, have we got enough RN crews to man the ships? ;)

Ninthace
15th Jan 2024, 14:59
The next question is when we pick them up off the beaches, have we got enough RN crews to man the ships? ;)
I am sure we will have plenty of small ships to get them off the beaches but isn't the idea to get them on?

charliegolf
15th Jan 2024, 17:58
I'm assuming that 8000 troops will go twice to make the 16k?

CG

(How many would have been in 'Lionheart', in the 80s?)

India Four Two
15th Jan 2024, 20:47
In fact, Exercise Lionheart involved a massive 131,565 UK personnel - regular, reserve and Territorial Army.

https://www.forces.net/stories/biggest-british-army-exercise-and-why-it-probably-always-will-be

mopardave
15th Jan 2024, 22:51
I'm assuming that 8000 troops will go twice to make the 16k?

CG

(How many would have been in 'Lionheart', in the 80s?)
Great times.....and truly breathtaking in scale!