Nato squares up to Putin: As Russia beefs up its military might on Europe's border, the West responds with the biggest show of force since the Cold War
In the biggest military build-up in Eastern Europe since the Cold War, an armoured force including 800 British troops will be deployed to Estonia next year to face up to Russian aggression in the biggest military build-up in Eastern Europe since the Cold War, with RAF planes being dispatched to patrol Romanian airspace for the first time. The moves are designed to stop Moscow taking over or undermining its former Eastern European satellites as it has with Crimea and Ukraine.
DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Once again, UK leads the defence of Europe
By Daily Mail Comment
27 October 2016
Before the referendum, voters heard endless pious talk from Remainers about the EU’s supposedly vital role in keeping the peace in Europe.
In fact, as this paper argued, the continent owes its seven decades of relative freedom from conflict since the Second World War almost entirely to Nato.
Today, as Vladimir Putin flexes his military muscles on a scale unseen since the Cold War, this truth remains plain.
Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan and its Wildcat helicopter as it shadows the Russian Carrier Task Group in the English Channel
Indeed, it’s not the EU rallying to protect its eastern members against Russian sabre-rattling.
As in the past, the job is being done by the American-led Atlantic alliance.
And, as ever, Britain is making a contribution that puts most of our European partners to shame.
Yesterday, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon pledged to commit tanks, drones and 800 troops to Estonia, while confirming plans for the first ever deployment of RAF Typhoons to the Black Sea.
Meanwhile, the UK is almost alone in Europe in meeting the Nato target of spending 2 per cent of national income on defence.
So let nobody accuse Britain of failing to pull our weight in defence of common European values.
Unlike our soon-to-be-ex-partners, this country believes action speaks louder than words.
In the biggest military build-up in Eastern Europe since the Cold War, an armoured force including 800 British troops will be deployed to Estonia next year to face up to Russian aggression in the biggest military build-up in Eastern Europe since the Cold War, with RAF planes being dispatched to patrol Romanian airspace for the first time. The moves are designed to stop Moscow taking over or undermining its former Eastern European satellites as it has with Crimea and Ukraine.
DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Once again, UK leads the defence of Europe
By Daily Mail Comment
27 October 2016
Before the referendum, voters heard endless pious talk from Remainers about the EU’s supposedly vital role in keeping the peace in Europe.
In fact, as this paper argued, the continent owes its seven decades of relative freedom from conflict since the Second World War almost entirely to Nato.
Today, as Vladimir Putin flexes his military muscles on a scale unseen since the Cold War, this truth remains plain.
Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan and its Wildcat helicopter as it shadows the Russian Carrier Task Group in the English Channel
Indeed, it’s not the EU rallying to protect its eastern members against Russian sabre-rattling.
As in the past, the job is being done by the American-led Atlantic alliance.
And, as ever, Britain is making a contribution that puts most of our European partners to shame.
Yesterday, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon pledged to commit tanks, drones and 800 troops to Estonia, while confirming plans for the first ever deployment of RAF Typhoons to the Black Sea.
Meanwhile, the UK is almost alone in Europe in meeting the Nato target of spending 2 per cent of national income on defence.
So let nobody accuse Britain of failing to pull our weight in defence of common European values.
Unlike our soon-to-be-ex-partners, this country believes action speaks louder than words.
odesta
