Defence Online

UK announces NATO contributions at Defence Ministers’ Meeting

Land February 17, 2020

Ben Wallace announced new NATO contributions at this years’ Defence Ministers’ meeting.

Ben Wallace confirmed the UK’s commitment to NATO contributions and their participation in future missions. Alongside the six other NATO members who are in the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) – Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – Mr Wallace signed a Readiness Declaration that commits the JEF to make an enduring and substantial contribution to NATO’s Readiness Initiative.

This contribution includes land capabilities as part of a UK-led brigade and in the maritime domain through a UK Carrier Strike Group. Mr Wallace also announced that this summer four RAF Typhoons will deploy to Lithuania where they will patrol NATO skies alongside allies as part of the NATO Air Policing mission.

Ben Wallace, Defence Secretary, said: “A Global Britain will continue to play a leading role in NATO, working with multiple Allies and contributing a range of capabilities, cementing the UK as a Tier 1 military power.”

“That was clearly demonstrated today with the declaration that the Joint Expeditionary Force will contribute to the NATO Readiness Initiative including through a UK-led land brigade and the UK Carrier Strike Group.”

Made up of northern European nations, the JEF’s prime interest is in Euro-Atlantic security with efforts focused on but not limited to the High North, North Atlantic and Baltic regions where it can complement the NATO deterrence efforts in the region. The Defence Secretary also announced that the UK would deploy four RAF Typhoon jets to Šiauliai Air Base this summer where they will contribute to the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission.

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Air Ben Wallace Defence Minister funding maritime NATO RAF Typhoon

Post written by: Ciara Houghton