UK to Deploy 20,000 Troops in Major NATO Exercise Amid Rising Global Tensions

In a significant show of force, the UK will send its largest deployment to NATO since the Cold War, preparing for potential threats from Russia and terrorism.

UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps announced the deployment of 20,000 British military personnel to a major NATO exercise in eastern Europe, marking the largest deployment of land forces to NATO since the Cold War in 1984.
The troops, including members from the Army, Navy, and RAF, will be part of the 'Exercise Steadfast Defender', aimed at providing 'vital reassurance against the Putin menace'.
The exercise will prepare for the invasion of a member state by any aggressor, with the main threats being considered to be from Russia and from terrorism.
The deployment will include 16,000 troops from the British Army stationed in Eastern Europe from February to June, along with an array of warships, an aircraft carrier strike group, F35B Lightning attack jets, and surveillance planes.
This move comes amid increasing global tensions, with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and recent UK-US strikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

South China Morning Post