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UK must prepare to defend itself, Shapps warns as 20,000 troops join Nato drill

The UK must be prepared to “defend our nation whenever the call comes” as we enter a new era of threats, the Defence Secretary will warn today.

Some 20,000 British troops are being sent to join one of Nato’s largest military exercises in recent times, the Government has announced.

And, in what will be seen as a signal to the US not to back away from supporting Ukraine, Grant Shapps will warn the world is at a “crossroads” when it comes to dealing with aggressors like Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Britain will send Army, Navy and RAF members to the 31-nation exercise across Europe – the Steadfast Defender – in the biggest military drill since the Cold War.

The drill will practise repelling an invasion by Russia, something Mr Shapps will say offers “vital reassurance against the Putin menace”.

It come after ministers announced a further £2.5bn support package to Ukraine and will be taken as a nudge to the US which has been faltering over whether to commit to military support.

Government sources said that the issue of military support and funding for Ukraine is expected to be a key topic of discussion at the global meet-up in Davos this week.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron will be among the Government cohort travelling to the World Economic Forum in Davos this week, with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt also expected to attend.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is attending the event and the role of nations seeking peace in Ukraine is expected to be a focus.

In his Lancaster House speech in London, Mr Shapps will set out plans for how the UK can prepare for threats in the modern age.

“We are in a new era and we must be prepared to deter our enemies, prepared to lead our allies and prepared to defend our nation whenever the call comes,” he will say.

“Today our adversaries are busily rebuilding their barriers, old enemies are reanimated, battle lines are being redrawn, the tanks are literally on Ukraine’s lawn and the foundations of the world order are being shaken to their core. We stand at a crossroads.”

Some 16,000 troops with tanks, artillery and helicopters will be deployed from the British Army across eastern Europe starting next month.

The Royal Navy will deploy more than 2,000 sailors across eight warships and submarines and 400 Royal Marines commandos will be sent to the Arctic Circle.

The RAF will use F-35B Lightning attack aircraft and Poseidon P-8 surveillance aircraft.

The exercise is designed to prepare for the invasion of a member state by any aggressor, with the main threats being considered to be from Russia and from terrorism.

It is understood the speech has been weeks in the making and preceded the recent military action in the Red Sea where the UK and US carried out air strikes against Houthi rebel bases in Yemen.

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