UK: Exercises in the Arctic and Baltic Sea to counter growing Russian threat
London, Jan 1 (KUNA) -- The UK Ministry of Defence announced on Friday that a joint military force led by the United Kingdom had commenced exercises in the High North and the Baltic Sea to counter the growing Russian threat in the region. The ministry said in a statement that Exercise Lion Protector 26, involving British Royal Marines and allies of the Joint Force Headquarters, with Denmark taking the lead, marks the first such exercises held in the Faroe Islands, an autonomous archipelago in the North Atlantic, since the Second World War. It described the North Atlantic and High North regions as “vital to UK national security,” particularly in relation to data cables linking the UK to the world and energy infrastructure supplying homes and businesses with electricity. The ministry added that the exercises aim to “protect critical national infrastructure, enhance joint command and control, and counter emerging threats.” It noted that the exercises coincide with the preparation of UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting to meet his counterparts from the Joint Force Headquarters, which comprises ten countries, at a meeting to be held in Keflavik, Iceland. The ministers “will continue to discuss Canada’s request to join the force framework.” They will also discuss ways to deepen cooperation in countering hybrid threats, strengthen industrial cooperation, and support Ukraine through the Enhanced Joint Force Partnership with Ukraine. Canada and Ukraine are also expected to attend the meeting, reflecting their continued close cooperation with Joint Force Headquarters member states. The force was established in 2014 alongside the NATO summit in Wales as a rapid-response force capable of immediate reaction to regional and international crises and exploratory operations, particularly in northern Europe, the Baltic Sea, and the Arctic. The UK-led Joint Force includes Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. (End)
