UK Deploy 6,000 Troops And Five Ships Towards Russia

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UK deploys warships and troops to Russian border as NATO-Russian tensions escalate

The UK are sending up to 6,000 British troops and five warships to the Baltic as part of an operation to buildup Nato’s military presence against Russia. 

Amid escalating tensions between Russia and NATO-backed allies, the UK have decided to significantly increase its presence with other European countries in the region, including Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

NATO say the increase in military on the Russian border is a more “muscular approach” against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Guardian reports:

After years of steady military withdrawal from Europe since the end of the cold war, the US last week announced a quadrupling of military spending to $3.4bn (£2.35bn) to increase its presence in Europe as a counter to Russia.

The UK contribution, though modest by comparison, is still significant given the extent to which the navy has been reduced after years of cutbacks.

The UK defence secretary, Michael Fallon, who is scheduled to attend a two-day Nato meeting on Wednesday in Brussels with an agenda dominated by Russia, announced that the UK is to contribute to a permanent Nato naval force for the first time since 2010.

Fallon said: “Increasing our Nato deployments sends a strong message to our enemies that we are ready to respond to any threat and defend our allies. 2016 will see a particular focus on the Baltic region.”

The growing Nato presence in the Baltic states is intended to deter Russia from repeating in the region the kind of intervention seen in Ukraine, Nato says.

It has come off second best against Russia in Ukraine, failing to prevent the loss of Crimea, and has been wrong-footed too by Russia’s surprise intervention in Syria.

The UK, which already has planes operating in the Baltic states and regularly sends troops to the region on training exercises, is to deploy a Type 23 Frigate – HMS Iron Duke – with the Nato force in the Baltic, as well as a Type-45 destroyer and three minesweepers, with, in all, 530 naval personnel.

US defence secretary Ash Carter is to brief other Nato defence ministers on the details of American plans for Europe, with about half of the $3.4bn to be spent on pre-positioning of tanks, artillery and other equipment in western Europe – because of its better transport network – for fast deployment to eastern Europe if need be.

Nato has an agreement with Russia not to deploy permanent troops along its border but it is getting around this by having troops training in eastern Europe on a rotational basis, which is almost the same as having them based there permanently.

The US ambassador to Nato, Douglas Lute, described the new American posture of prepositioning heavy equipment in western Europe as “modern deterrence” or “21st century deterrence”, a flexible, rapid-reaction force in contrast with the heavy, fixed force that existed during the cold war.

He rejected media criticism that the US move is provocative. “Nato has not invaded anyone recently,” he said.

As well as expressing concern about Russia in Ukraine and the Baltics, Nato also warned about the dangers posed by violations of the air space of a member of Nato, Turkey, by Russian planes flying in Syria.

Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said that Russian intervention in Syria was undermining efforts to bring about a peace process in Syria. “The intense Russian airstrikes, mainly against opposition forces, are undermining these efforts,” he said. “They are driving tens of thousands of people to Turkey’s border.

“Overall, the substantial Russian military buildup in Syria and the eastern Mediterranean is shifting the strategic balance and raising tensions in the region.”

2 Comments

  1. First they send Kissinger to warn Putin he needs to get on board with the New World Order or else and now the squeeze play…I’m wondering if they want to threaten him hard now before Trump gets into office and Putin gains a ‘Nationalist’ ally.

  2. First they send Kissinger to warn Putin he needs to get on board with the New World Order or else and now the squeeze play…I’m wondering if they want to threaten him hard now before Trump gets into office and Putin gains a ‘Nationalist’ ally.

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