UK deploys 8,000 troops to Europe to deter ‘Russian aggression’

The UK government said Friday it was
deploying about 8,000 troops for exercises across eastern Europe in a show of
strength after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The months-long drills in countries stretching from Finland to North
Macedonia also involve allies including France and the United States, defence
officials said in a statement.

Britain is deploying 72 Challenger 2 tanks and 120 armoured fighting vehicles
along with artillery guns, helicopters and drones for the exercises, some of
which are already underway.

“The security of Europe has never been more important,” Defence Secretary Ben
Wallace said, calling it “one of the largest shared deployments since the
Cold War”.

The officer in command, Lieutenant General Ralph Wooddisse, said Britain was
making “a significant contribution to the defence of Europe and the
deterrence of Russian aggression”.

“The British Army’s series of exercises is fundamental to both.”

Britain has been supplying missiles to Ukraine to fight back against Russia,
and says it is ready to help with tanks and planes via partners such as
Poland.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Wednesday that “the whole of Ukraine” must
be liberated, including Crimea, after the peninsula was seized by Russia in
2014.

AFP