Putin Shocked by NATO’s Surprise Move – NATO Had Enough of Russia: GET OUT OF UKRAINE!

Putin Shocked by NATO’s Surprise Move – NATO Had Enough of Russia: GET OUT OF UKRAINE!

As the third anniversary of Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches, Ukraine’s allies and NATO have taken action to strengthen their collective defense.

NATO’s move is crucial to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin.

As is well known, NATO forces have increased tenfold since the start of the war in Ukraine.

With the deployment of troops under NATO command on the alliance’s eastern flank, their number has increased by nearly tenfold compared to last year, reaching 40,000.
According to NATO data, there were 4,650 troops under direct NATO command in February 2021, or a year before Russia launched its offensive against Ukraine.

These troops were deployed in four multinational battle groups in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, respectively.

Russia then began deploying troops and capabilities to its shared border in Ukraine, accelerating the move in January and late last year.

It has defended this as a defensive move against Ukraine’s bid for NATO membership and the eastward expansion of the transatlantic alliance since the 1990s.

NATO responded to Russia’s troop buildup by reinforcing its eastern positions with more troops and capabilities.

A month after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, NATO had 40,000 allied troops under its direct command, and existing battle groups were significantly strengthened. Poland’s troops were increased from 1,010 to 10,500, and four new battle groups were established in Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria.

Many European countries have also requested additional US troops on their soil under bilateral agreements, with the total number of US troops across Europe reaching 100,000, the highest level since 2005.

Russia’s aggression has also led European NATO members to pledge to significantly increase their defence spending to meet the alliance’s 2% of GDP target.

NATO members have also initiated a strategy reset, pledging to further strengthen their deployments and capabilities on land, sea and air.
In response, NATO has sent 10,000 troops from across Europe to the Russian border for war games as tensions rise.

The UK’s participation “demonstrates our unwavering commitment to the alliance and highlights the UK’s vital role in the alliance,” said the Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard.

Thousands of British soldiers are taking part in a major exercise called Steadfast Dart, which aims to demonstrate NATO’s ability to rapidly deploy in response to rising tensions on its border with Russia.

Around 2,500 British personnel, along with 730 vehicles, are joining around 10,000 NATO troops in Romania by land, air and sea.

The bulk of the exercise is taking place on Romania’s border with Ukraine, ahead of the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion this Friday.

Steadfast Dart marks the first major deployment of NATO’s Allied Response Force, which replaced the NATO Response Force last year.

The war games aim to test NATO’s ability to mobilise rapidly under pressure.

Speaking at a Hungarian military base in Szentes, Second Lieutenant Alex Coleman described the exercise as a heavy-duty endeavour.

Steadfast Dart 25 is the first deployment exercise for NATO’s Allied Response Force and is undoubtedly a significant operation. It involves extensive ground movement across Europe.

Steadfast Dart highlights NATO’s and the British Army’s ability to move large convoys over long distances so they can be rapidly deployed wherever they are needed. Lessons have been learned along the way, but it all came together effectively.

British troops, including the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and 4th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, make up the core battle group.

The two regiments, part of 7 Light Mechanised Brigade, are supported by additional UK forces and allied NATO troops.

The convoy, which has travelled more than 1,400 miles (2,300 km), passed through the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and arrived in Szentes early on Tuesday. The troops will head to Romania later in the evening for combat exercises.

Hundreds of vehicles are also involved in the operation, including Foxhound patrol vehicles, Jackal high-mobility weapons platforms and Mastiff armoured patrol vehicles, and are being ferried from Marchwood, Hampshire.

The Armed Forces Minister, Luke Pollard, stressed the UK’s leadership role in NATO, saying: “This Government is determined to ensure that the UK remains a leading European member of NATO.”