UK to send 8,000 troops to boost British Army exercises across Europe

The United Kingdom declared to send 8,000 British Army troops to conduct a series of planned exercises across Europe in coming summer and install the largest deployments since the Cold war. 

The UK Defence Ministry shared the information via a press release that 72 challengers, two tanks, 12 AS90 tracked artillery guns, and 120 Warrior armoured fighting vehicles would deploy from Finland to North Macedonia.

However, the UK seeks to indicate the Army’s modernization into a lethal, agile and global force. Lead Armoured Task Force and Air Manoeuvre Task Force and thousands of NATO troops, Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) allies and partners are involved in the exercises.  

The UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace remarked on the strength and solidarity of these exercises, “Our troops join forces with allies and partners across NATO and the Joint Expeditionary Force in a show of solidarity and strength in one of the largest shared deployments since the Cold War.” 

Further, he added, “Operating across Europe, the British Army will stand alongside partners, combining our capabilities and shared values, promoting peace and security.”

Commander Field Army Lieutenant General Ralph Wooddisse also commented on the British army exercises that “the UK makes a significant contribution to the defence of Europe and the deterrence of Russian aggression. The British Army’s series of exercises are fundamental to both”.

“We continue to deploy across Europe, from the Baltic to the Aegean, to train and fight alongside our allies and partners, providing powerful, capable and ready forces to support NATO and show the UK’s commitment to peace and security.” 

“A wide range of units from the Field Army will be involved, from light and airborne forces to helicopters and armoured forces, supported by artillery, electronic warfare, air defence, surveillance drones, engineers and logisticians.”

“The scale of the deployment, coupled with the professionalism, training and agility of the British Army, will deter aggression at a scale not seen in Europe this century.”