How the UK is defending the EU : The Royal Navy protecting the EU’s seas

Rule Britannia – Global Brexit Britain is playing a crucial role on the European stage

Montage © Facts4EU.Org 2022

A Facts4EU.Org summary of recent and current Royal Navy deployments around the EU

For decades the United Kingdom has invested far more in defending Europe than any EU country. This record continues to this day. As a result of Putin’s war in Ukraine some EU countries are now – belatedly – trying to catch up, but they will never be able to make up for their years of inadequate spending on defence.

In this second of our major reports on how Brexit Britain continues to defend the EU – despite having left the European Union – Facts4EU.Org focuses on the UK’s naval power. (Our first report covered the British Army defending the EU on the ground.)

From the icy Arctic to the sunny Mediterranean we give readers a glimpse into what Global Brexit Britain has been doing in and around the EU’s seas in helping them to defend themselves.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org Summary

The following deployments cover the period from 2019 to the present day

1. The icy North - Exercise Cold Response

In March this year, the second of the new Royal Navy aircraft carriers, HMS Prince of Wales, took its place at the head of one of the most powerful naval task forces in the world at the start of the largest Arctic military exercise for 30 years.

Six Royal Navy ships and 2,000 UK personnel joined vessels and troops from 26 other nations for Exercise Cold Response off the shores of Norway. The naval task force of 25 ships from 11 nations was led by HMS The Prince of Wales which has been serving as NATO’s command ship.

The UK’s Arctic reach – extreme cold does not deter the British forces

One of Britain’s biggest warships sailed within 900 miles of the North Pole as the Royal Navy pushed the boundaries of aircraft carrier operations into the Arctic.

HMS Prince of Wales led a task group to 77 Degrees North in the North Atlantic to demonstrate the ability of the UK’s two 65,000-tonne Queen Elizabeth-class carriers to operate in the harshest environmental conditions. This operation – including the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force - laid the foundations for Royal Navy carrier operations in the High North for the next half century.

Captain Steve Higham, the carrier’s Commanding Officer, said:

“HMS Prince of Wales deploying in the High North has proved our ability to operate in the Arctic. I’m very proud of our ship's company and their constant innovation in the face of extreme conditions.”

Having acted as NATO command ship throughout Cold Response, the carrier and her task group, including frigate HMS Richmond, destroyer HMS Defender, tankers RFA Tiderace and Tidesurge and a hunter-killer submarine, remained in the North Atlantic to continue their Arctic deployment/cold weather operations under the banner of UK defence’s new policy of contributing to the wider defence of the High North, announced by the Secretary of State last month.

2. Exercise Joint Warrior

Exercise Joint Warrior is the largest military exercise in Europe, bringing together the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force and the British Army, as well as forces from other nations.

Led by the UK, Joint Warrior takes place in spring and autumn each year. The Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and British Army are joined by forces from 13 other nations, including Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Turkey, Japan, UAE and the US.

Taking place over two weeks, Joint Warrior includes airborne assaults, amphibious landings, evacuations and live-fire exercises. It involves 16 warships, 58 aircraft, and 3,725 personnel from 14 nations.

3. Baltic Protector

Starting in May 2019, Operation Baltic Protector marked the first deployment of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) Maritime Task Group, with command of the group conducted by HMS Albion.

HMS Albion off the coast of Den Helder, Netherlands, with the small Dutch vessel Johna de Witt. © MoD 2022

A total of 3,000 military personnel and 17 vessels from nine nations contribute to the first major maritime training deployment of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).

HMS Albion was joined by forces with vessels and personnel from Denmark, Estonia, Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and the Netherlands in the western Baltic and eastern North Sea – the first of three phases making up the deployment.

“This deployment represents the largest UK-led operational deployment of a military force in Europe for decades and demonstrates our ability to react quickly and decisively to any crisis in the world.”
- Captain Peter Laughton, Commanding Officer, HMS Albion

Pictured are Yankee Company, 45 Commando Royal Marines during an aviation insertion by a Merlin Mk4 helicoper of 845 Naval Air Squadron in Denmark, 29 May 2019

4. Exercise Baltops

Hosted by Strike Force NATO, Exercise Baltops is the largest multinational exercise in the Baltic Sea. Its purpose is to improve maritime security in the region through partnership and the sharing of resources, and to enhance cooperation among the Baltic states.

Each year, the Royal Navy sends a number of vessels to take part in Exercise Baltops, including frigates, minehunters and patrol vessels.

Troops disembarking off the coast of Sweden. © MoD 2022

5. To the sunny Med - but not for a holiday...

Littoral Response Group eXperimental (LRG(X))

In September 2020, HMS Albion led a unique deployment to the Mediterranean.

Albion is a key part of the Royal Navy's amphibious fighting force. This involves carrying Royal Marines and vehicles up to and including the Challenger 2 main battle tank. She also carries landing craft and has a flight deck for helicopter operations. During the deployment Albion's personnel tested unmanned aerial drones and autonomous vehicles for logistical and intelligence gathering purposes.

6. Still on the EU’s southern flank in the Mediterranean…

Offshore Patrol Ship HMS Trent and Type 45 HMS Diamond have recently been part of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 in the Mediterranean.

Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 is normally deployed to the Mediterranean region but is available to deploy wherever they may be required. Each task group is typically made up of between four and six destroyers and frigates from the various member states of NATO, with ships serving with the force for up to six months at a time. The Royal Navy is an essential element in this force.

Britain’s biggest warship, en route to protect the EU’s southern flank in the Mediterranean © MoD 2022

Fresh from the Arctic, Britain’s biggest warship has just left Portsmouth bound for exercises in the Atlantic and Mediterranean in her latest foray as NATO’s command ship.

HMS Prince of Wales is currently completing two weeks of preparations off the UK’s South Coast before joining warships from across NATO for training and port visits to Spain and Portugal.

The aircraft carrier is scheduled to visit Rota, on Spain’s west coast, before linking up with a multinational task group for Spain’s annual exercises, known as Flotex.

It will involve a large contingent of Spanish ships and will include NATO task groups (Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 and Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2) which are responsible for the security and prosperity of the Mediterranean.

7. Operation Commando Phoenix

A Royal Marine Commando from Operation Phoenix © MoD 2022

Last month Royal Marines Reserves carried out a mission to rescue a downed pilot at the end of two weeks of intensive exercises in Cyprus. It was the first exercise of its type for three years and was an opportunity for commandos from across the reserves to hone critical skills to keep them sharp for operations around the world.

In the sun-baked Eastern Mediterranean, Griffin helicopters from the Royal Air Force’s 84 Squadron, which operates out of RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, dropped the commandos in behind enemy lines.

Royal Marine Commandos © MoD 2022

RMR Bristol led Exercise Commando Phoenix, but marines from across the reserves were involved, including RMR London, RMR Merseyside, RMR Scotland and their 20 satellite detachments.

The RMR is the elite amphibious element of the Maritime Reserves and is just 500 strong but must stay at the very top of their game physically and professionally to stay ready.

Observations

Britannia rules the EU's waves

In this second part in our latest defence series, Facts4EU.Org shows how shallow are the claims of those who wish to belittle our country, and who suggest the United Kingdom cannot stand alone, independently of the European Union.

The simple fact is that the Royal Navy – despite what Facts4EU.Org considers to be wholly insufficient funding – has been performing an immensely important task in defending the seas. It has done so around the United Kingdom, around the EU, and indeed as far away as the South China Sea.

From the freezing Arctic to the balmy climes of the Mediterranean, our naval forces have been in the forefront of the projection of naval power.

All of this costs a great deal of money, of course, from the capital costs of building the ships in the first place to the considerable running costs of all these deployments. In our report above we have only summarised seven examples. There are more but we hope our piece gives readers a flavour for the way in which the United Kingdom has been patrolling and defending the seas around the European Union.

Jingoism? No. Merely facts of which the British people can be proud.

It’s lucky the UK isn’t waiting for thanks from the EU Commission

As we pointed out in Part One (on the British Army’s deployments in the EU), the EU Commission has yet to register any form of appreciation for the United Kingdom’s massive contribution to the security and defence of its 27 member states.

This has been going on for decades. No matter. The EU will carry on debating and criticising, while the United Kingdom carries on defending it.

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Brexit Facts4EU.Org, Sat 11 June 2022

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Reader Comments 10

1. Tony , Saturday, June 11, 2022, 07:26:

You're telling us what we initially told you. I think you'll find, that if you try to recall, you'll have heard experts & others say that
that we'd still be deeply embroiled in European affairs, no matter how the vote turned out .
Or that immigration would continue unabated from elsewhere, even without Freedom Of Movement.
Here we are, not by mere chance. Brexiters, for only reasons they know, preferred to waste years & who knows how much
just to challenge experts & find out. Well, now you know & also got found out.
To most rational voters, this feels like sitting in a classroom of kids, learning ABCs.
Don't forget to do your homework, we can't keep this up forever.

2. Kippie , Saturday, June 11, 2022, 08:17:

Tony; I read your comment twice and still cannot identify your specific point nor allegiance.

3. Ashley Great Britain , Saturday, June 11, 2022, 09:10:

1 Tony.
At least now it's under our terms.
No one's saying we wouldn't continue to carry out operations around the world.
Were just pointing out how great we are, And how much we do for other's for little thanks.
France and Germany really show themselves up. They are like a spoilt sibling that always gets big brothers support.

4. Have You Wondered , Saturday, June 11, 2022, 10:12:

For some weekend light hearted satire:
.
EU Stars Episode 15. How’s the EU going to finance an Army?
.
Meanwhile, back at the Kremlimont in Brussels another secret undocumented meeting with the Politburo and the Portugese EU Defence Guru, speaking at a recent meeting of EU Defence ministers.
.
“Ach so! JoGo, tell us just how’s the EU going to finance an Army?” asks ‘Dokumente Verloren ’ VDL at the head of the table.
.
JoGo replies “ Simples! We only want 2% …. what’s that? Speak up - Oh! – only 9 EU nations now pay 2% or over to NATO - up from 3 - oh dear – yes -right – er ..”
.
“OK - Segundo - we print the money aka Quantative Easing – oh -didn’t know that – Vaca sagrada!! How much?! What do you mean they stopped but reinvesting the proceeds?”
.
The Politiburo at this point start to examine their odd tasting Processed Animal Product (PAP) meat sandwiches.
.
JoGo continues “ Here’s a good one, I propose we put the finance on top of the Target2 €1.7tn debt…Eh! Who’s Prof. David Blake and Nickolai Hubble – oh – Wow!
.
“Let’s try a grab back of the Recovery Fund dosh …eh? - Want to keep them vassal states – ok maybe not.”
.
“We could get dirty and put a convicted crook in to lead the bank and fiddle the books to buy the goods – oh – could be ‘iffy’ - have I met her?”
.
“Ei ! VDL - we get someone to issue some dodgy defence contracts to get the weapons. What's that? Who lost the data on two phones and ordered some broomsticks? Ooops – er .. sorry- didn’t mean to bring that up.”
.
“Meu Deus ! What’s left – I don’t know. Ask the mafia to help? – what!
What mafia trial in Messina…..?.”
.
“I give up! Now what do we do ? I’m firing blanks here?”
.
A spooky voice, from within the EU flag draped Arc de Triomphe , is heard to say “Ahem- Alors! Anyone want to buy some security compromised submarines for your navy?”
.

5. LuxuryBalloon , Saturday, June 11, 2022, 12:09:

The fact that Brussels is the seat of both NATO headquarters and the EU Committee must be confusing for Facts4EU.

6. Have You Wondered , Saturday, June 11, 2022, 13:36:

5. LuxuryBalloon
Mmm.. No!
Facts4EU deal in facts - that you are welcome to dispute for the sake of clarity - but not inane comment. Cheers.

7. Ursula VdL , Saturday, June 11, 2022, 17:23:

EU Comreade Tony and EU Comrade LuxuryBalloon: classic examples of rejoiners struggling to make a valid point as usual.
Thank you for the presentation and goodnight - back to your caves now.

8. jon livesey , Saturday, June 11, 2022, 17:33:

1. Tony That really is a very superficial comment. At least the parts that made any sense out of your usual rambling pointless style. Have you forgotten 1914 and 1939? We were not part of any political Empire in Europe then, nor did we have anything like the EU to deal with. All we had was Treaty relationships, and yet in both cases we finished up very definitely "embroiled".
The reason is simple. The UK has policies with respect to Europe that are consistent and longer-term than any EU membership. We've been following more or less the same long-term policies on Europe since the main players were Charles V and Francis I. The policy is to cooperate with European players that behave reasonably and to oppose those that do not. And we use our maritime strength in continental events. We avoid interfering, but we intervene to rebalance power.
This is such a long-term strategy that is makes our 40 year EU membership look like a little temporary blip. I think you would benefit from a longer-term study of British history, one that goes a bit beyond the usual superficial journalistic "pop history" bits. Pop history, with its well-worn cliches, is all very well for a journo banging out a quick article, but to put events into context you need a longer-term view than that.

9. john hawker , Sunday, June 12, 2022, 08:12:

the EU does not need Britain. The EU is a super power. Britain needs to go and find trade deals and stop taking our money through direct and indirect taxation... People are suffering and have been destroyed since Brexit. 1 in 6 people live on food banks

10. Have You Wondered , Sunday, June 12, 2022, 09:03:

9. john hawker
.
"1 in 6 people live on food banks" (16.6%) Can I ask where that figure comes from?
.
My search reveals "In 2021/22 approximately 2.17 million people used a foodbank in the United Kingdom, a decrease when compared with the previous year." https://www.statista.com/st... which is 3.4%.
.
"The chances for households with two full-time workers of being pulled into poverty have more than doubled from 1.4 per cent to 3.9 per cent over the last two decades."
https://www.bigissue.com/ne...
.
Happy to be corrected.
.
As a loose comparison:
.
"In Belgium, nearly 20% of the population (2.2 million people) last year was at risk of poverty or social exclusion. These rates are much higher in the Brussels region, where inequality is more acute."
"In Belgium, nearly 20% of the population (2.2 million people) last year was at risk of poverty or social exclusion."
https://www.brusselstimes.c...
.
"Among the 96.5 million inhabitants within the EU that faced the risk of poverty or social exclusion, some 5.9 million (1.3% of the total population) lived in households experiencing simultaneously all three poverty and social exclusion risks"
https://www.eurofoodbank.or...
.
"Europe is one of the richest regions in the world. And yet over 96 million people in the EU (roughly 22% of the total EU population) are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. For some households, even affording nutritious food can be a challenge, which can have serious health and social consequences"
https://www.debatingeurope....
.

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