The Defence Secretary is warning Russia’s President not to test the patience of Nato allies as combat-ready forces train in Eastern Europe.
GB News was given exclusive access to a Nato training exercise in Poland, where British and Polish forces are working together to plan for any possible attack by the Kremlin.
Speaking as troops practised clearing enemy buildings, Grant Shapps said “We're sending a very clear signal to Putin, or any other despotic leader, that we will stand up for ourselves and don't try it on.”
“We’re living in a more dangerous world… We are simply here to defend our values of freedom, sovereignty, and democracy and that means that we do need to be prepared to stand up for it.”
Grant Shapps said we're sending a message to Putin with the Nato exercises
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With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine now in its third year, Shapps renewed his call to Western allies to continue supporting Ukraine and increase spending on defence.
He also warned that Putin’s endgame is to carry on expanding Russia.
“He wants the Soviet Union back… He's invaded Georgia, he's invaded Chechnya, he invaded Crimea before he went into the rest of Ukraine. How much more evidence do we need?”
During the visit, Shapps witnessed soldiers in a ‘kill house’. Moving seamlessly from room to room as they breached and cleared rooms, working together to neutralise the enemy.
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Grant Shapps warned that Putin’s endgame is to carry on expanding Russia
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The troops, who have been dubbed “the tip of the spear”, stand ready to roll against any threat in just 48 hours.
Lieutenant Colonel Ben Hawes commands the Spearhead Battle Group’s very high-readiness joint task force.
He says deploying to Europe has enabled his troops to practice their tactics alongside soldiers from Poland, France, Turkey, Albania, and Spain.
“Soldiers are soldiers, and no matter what language they speak, we all understand the Nato drills and execute some very complex operations… We train for a whole range of eventualities and then eventually select from our toolbox the skills we need on any given day.”
The troops, who have been dubbed “the tip of the spear”, stand ready to roll against any threat in just 48 hours
GB News
Britain has provided 20,000 soldiers to ‘Steadfast Defender’, the biggest Nato exercise in Europe since the Cold War.
In total, 90,000 troops from 32 Nato allies are involved.
It’s more proof, if Putin needs it, that Nato countries really are ready and willing to protect themselves from any threat.