The UK will deploy 20,000 troops to take part in NATO maneuvers this year, British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps announced on Monday.
The deployment, described by Mr Shapps as “ more important » for 40 years for the British Army within NATO, aims to respond to challenges « Without precedents » that the alliance must face.
Troops from the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and Army will be sent across Europe and beyond for this exercise called ” Firm defender“, scheduled for the first half of the year with soldiers from 30 other member countries, as well as candidate Sweden.
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The British contingent will include fighter or surveillance aircraft, as well as ships and submarines.
In a speech, Grant Shapps announced that he is “ one of the largest NATO deployments since the end of the Cold War« .
The British official also called on its allies to increase military spending, as the United Kingdom has done by pledging to increase it to 2.5% of its gross domestic product, above the 2% expected for NATO members.
Last week, London announced it would increase its military aid to Ukraine to £2.5 billion in the financial year starting in April 2024, up from £2.3 billion the previous year.
With MAP
2024-01-15 14:29:30
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