Here is Global Brexit Britain, projecting its power in the EU in the cause of peace

Tired of Rejoiners talking down ‘Little Britain’? Here’s the reality – and it will make you proud

Montage © Facts4EU.Org 2022

Three special Facts4EU reports on Brexit Britain’s contribution to peace, without EU interference

On Friday (13 May 2022) the Ministry of Defence announced the deployment of 2,000 British troops to the wannabe EU member state of North Macedonia. A very significant deployment, but the projection of the UK’s power does not stop there.

In these three reports, Facts4EU.Org reveals the significant military involvement of the UK in continuing to defend the EU - and in the UK’s further capabilities and activities around the world.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org Three Part Defence Summary

The facts about the UK’s deployment of military power overseas

Part One - Defending the EU on the ground (this report)
Part Two - Defending the EU by sea (next report)
Part Three - Keeping the peace globally on the ground, by air, and on the seas (final report)

The map below ONLY shows Army deployments
Royal Navy and RAF deployments will be in Parts Two and Three

Map credit MoD 2022 - click to enlarge

The true strengths of Global Brexit Britain

For decades of EU membership, readers have experienced the continued belittling of the United Kingdom, principally by those favouring the subsuming of the UK into a ‘United States of Europe’.

Facts4EU.Org now sets the record straight by revealing the facts on the ground, in the air, and on the seas, and compares these to the lamentable performance by the EU Commission in its attempts to present itself as a credible power.

1. Exercise Swift Response - the UK protecting the EU's eastern flank

The latest UK deployment of 2,000 British troops to EU accession country North Macedonia is only part of the story, but we start with that.

More than 2,000 members of the British Army’s Global Response Force have just demonstrated their ability to react to global crises during an exercise with NATO allies. They are acting under the command of 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team, as announced by the MoD on Friday.

Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment load onto the back of a Chinook during Exercise Swift Response 2022.
Photo credit MoD 2022 - click to enlarge

Exercise Swift Response is being held across 16 European countries, it is designed to showcase the ability of NATO to carry out large ground combat operations in support of its members and allies.

The purpose is to present combat credible Army forces in Europe and Africa and enhance readiness by building airborne operations with Allies and partners.

British forces from across 16 Air Assault Brigade have deployed to North Macedonia. CH47 Chinook helicopters from the Royal Air Force have also deployed to North Macedonia as part of 16 Air Assault Brigade.

The UK contingent is made up of the 2 PARA Battlegroup, built around the airborne infantry of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment. They have been supported by artillery, engineers, logisticians, medics, and signallers from 16 Air Assault BCT, and Aviation Task Force 1 with Apache attack helicopters and Chinook support helicopters.

Photo credit MoD 2022 - click to enlarge

Minister for the Armed Forces James Heappey MP said:

“Exercise Swift Response shows how the British Army is transforming to become more lethal, agile, and expeditionary. Exercises alongside our partners and Allies are necessary to maintain our advantage in a complex and ever-changing world.”
“Travelling by road, rail, sea and air to North Macedonia – NATO’s newest member since joining in 2020… soldiers then deployed onto the rugged Krivolak training range by parachute and helicopter to secure and defend a foothold in simulated hostile territory, and then take the offensive.”
- James Heappey MP, 13 May 2022
(Mr Heappey retired as a Major from the Army, having served in Kabul in 2005, Northern Ireland in 2006, Basra Iraq in 2007. and Helmand Province Afghanistan in 2009.)

Commander of 16 Air Assault BCT Brigadier Nick Cowley said:

“On Exercise Swift Response, 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team, alongside multiple Army and RAF units, has truly demonstrated the lethality, agility and expeditionary capabilities of the Global Response Force.
"We have deployed thousands of miles across Europe to link up with our NATO allies to conduct arduous training in a challenging environment to make sure that we are ready to deploy on the most demanding missions, at short notice…. This exercise has absolutely showed me that we are ready for anything.”
- Brigadier Nick Cowley MBE OBE, 13 May 2022

2. Exercise Arrow - the UK protecting the EU's northern flank

The Army's main battle tank - the Challenger 2 - on Operation Arrow. Photo credit MoD 2022 - click to enlarge

Earlier this month the British Army deployed to Finland to take part in Exercise Arrow. The exercise has improved the ability of UK and Finnish troops to work alongside each other as part of the Joint Expeditionary Force, an 8 year military alliance of 10 ‘like-minded’ nations.

There are still mounds of winter snow near the banks of the frozen Lake Valkiajarvi at the Niinisalo Training Camp in the west of Finland. But as the white dissipates into grit and dirt in the slightly rising temperatures, the UK has deployed its Challenger 2 main battle tanks, belonging to the Queen’s Royal Hussars.

Photo credit MoD 2022 - click to enlarge

3. Exercise Defender - the UK protecting the EU from top to bottom

Exercise Defender is a NATO exercise which sees 1,000 British soldiers alongside troops from 11 partner nations including Poland and Denmark. The exercise involves tanks and other armoured vehicles deploying from the NATO Forward Holding Base in Sennelager, Germany.

Photo credit MoD 2022 - click to enlarge

“Exercise Steadfast Defender will test NATO’s readiness and military mobility with forces deploying across land and sea, all the way from North America to the Black Sea region and off the coast of Portugal,” said the NATO Secretary General.

British forces will exercise across Poland, integrating with forces from across the alliance to put NATO’s international communication and collaboration to the test.

Photo credit MoD 2022 - click to enlarge

4. 'Enhanced Forward Presence' - the UK protecting the EU from Estonia to Poland

In 2017 around 4,000 troops were deployed to Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Estonia as part of NATO’s ‘Enhanced Forward Presence’. As a founding member of NATO, the UK has played a key role, leading one of the four multinational battlegroups.

In Poland, a Light Cavalry Squadron from the Royal Dragoon Guards has been deployed as part of a US-led battlegroup composed of a battalion of the California National Guard as well as Romanian and Croatian contributions.

One of the Army's Scimitars. Photo credit MoD 2022 - click to enlarge

Additional units include elements from the Adjutant General’s Corps, Intelligence Corps, Royal Artillery, Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers, Royal Engineers, Royal Logistics Corps, Royal Military Police, and Royal Signals. The enhanced Forward Presence is just one aspect of a wide range of UK support to NATO.

5. Exercise Hedgehog - Estonia/Latvia

Exercise Hedgehog sees troops from the Royal Welsh Battlegroup and the Royal Tank Regiment exercising on the Estonia-Latvia border alongside 18,000 NATO troops.

The exercise includes French and Danish forces, who are part of the British-led NATO battlegroup permanently deployed to Estonia as part of Operation Cabrit.

Currently around 800 soldiers from the British Army are deployed to Estonia where they lead one of the four multi-national battlegroups. These soldiers make up the bulk of the battlegroup in Estonia, with allies from Denmark and France supporting.

Photo credit MoD 2022 - click to enlarge

A wide range of units from the Field Army are involved, from airborne forces, to helicopters, to tanks and armoured forces, supported by artillery, electronic warfare, air defence, surveillance drones, and engineers.

Key international partnerships

These examples showcase the scale and significance of the UK Armed Forces’ contribution to the security of the EU, Europe, and the North Atlantic. They highlight the continued importance of the leadership role which the UK plays as a member of NATO and the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).

In addition to the Army’s programme, the UK has deployed a major headquarters to the Baltic region, in support of the JEF. The UK is the framework nation for the Joint Expeditionary Force, a coalition of like-minded partners, able to respond rapidly to crises in the High North, North Atlantic, Baltic Sea region and further afield.

Observations

For the most part the British public are blissfully unaware of the extent to which the armed forces of the United Kingdom are acting on a daily basis to protect the EU and the rest of Europe.

Stretched to the limit, we can be proud of what they have been achieving. Even in these difficult economic times, Facts4EU.Org maintains its position held over the last seven years that the defence budget should be doubled.

In our report above – Part One of a three-part series on how Brexit Britain is projecting its power in the cause of peace – we have shown five examples of ways in which the UK is defending the EU with feet (and equipment) on the ground. Some are UK deployments in the NATO context, some are not. There are more examples but we try to keep our reports short and easily readable.

In our follow-up reports (Parts Two and Three) we will be showing how the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force are playing a major role in the defence of EU countries and in the defence of Europe as a whole.

The United Kingdom may have left the EU but it hasn’t stopped defending the EU’s territory

In all the time Facts4EU.Org has been covering defence matters in relation to the EU, we have yet to hear one member of the EU Commission express the smallest word of gratitude. Instead we hear vitriol, accusations, and threats on all manner of things.

The UK has been - and still is - by far the largest contributor to its NATO commitments of any country in Europe. In recent days the news has been about Sweden and Finland deciding they wish to join NATO. Whilst this might be welcome, it must never be forgotten that it has been the UK which has stood tall for decades.

Germany has finally announced its intention to meet its NATO commitments. We might suggest that to relieve the pressure on the British taxpayer they agree to cover the cost of the ‘Divorce Bill’ imposed on the UK by a vindictive EU. This would not come close to covering Germany’s shortfall in its defence spending over decades but it would be a start - and a decent gesture.

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[ Sources: Ministry of Defence | No.10 ] Politicians and journalists can contact us for details, as ever.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org, Fri 20 May 2022

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Reader Comments 14

1. Andrew Roch , Friday, May 20, 2022, 09:28:

It grinds on me how we support the EU with huge military resources, yet the EU and particularly Macron just disrespect us literally every day.
Often we have helped France conduct its military operations abroad as its only Ally yet at the same time we may spill blood, helping the French they object and wreak havoc with Brexit processes etc.
We are obviously keeping our enemies closer!!!

2. Adam , Friday, May 20, 2022, 09:56:

I would be very unwilling to go to the EU's aid if it were to ever come to that especially Our ungrateful neighbour across the North Sea the EU would rather shabbily continue to trade oil with the thugs in Moscow than help Ukraine,the EU is not Our friends and never will be Johnson and Truss now need to end the absurd withdrawal agreement the EU Irish and Biden can go to hell

3. Eleanor Baxter , Friday, May 20, 2022, 11:37:

Yes we have armed forces to be proud of but why are we playing such a prominent part in NATO? At the end of the day the loses to British forces in any conflict will be huge compared to any other nation. I can't see any other EU country running to our aid if we needed it. Look how long it's taken most of them to give any weapons to Ukraine. Have the big mouths like France n Germany given any?

4. Austen Turner , Friday, May 20, 2022, 11:57:

Eleanor Baxter totally agree but wiuld be usual story , Italy would run the other way , the French would surrender immediately and now we are hearing Germany has very little military hardware in working condition , most likely caused by Ursula fond of Lying and her "mis-handling" of the military when she was in charge. Just now very glad Sweden and Finland have applied to join , they'll get involved if needs be

5. Have You Wondered , Friday, May 20, 2022, 12:03:

Have You Wondered - 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?”
.

6. Neil Ormesher , Friday, May 20, 2022, 13:48:

I get the impression that the hard core remainers don't really like our great country, which is why they'd rather it either assimilated and shacked to the EU or it broken up outside. Just my impression.

7. Tim B , Friday, May 20, 2022, 14:22:

Neil. No it is not just your impression, it is reality.

8. jon livesey , Friday, May 20, 2022, 18:14:

Off topic, but the NIP situation seems to be unfolding pretty much as the UK wants. There is a lot of posturing, especially in the US where the famous "Irish-American vote" needs to be pandered to, but people put on their loudest posturing when there is nothing they can really do.
And the brilliant thing about the NIP proposal from Boris and Truss is that it is pretty much impossible to say that it affects the North/South Irish border in any way. Reducing useless checks between NI and the rest of the UK doesn't change the North/South border or the GFA at all.

9. Have You Wondered , Friday, May 20, 2022, 19:45:

8. jon livesey
.
" NIP proposal from Boris and Truss is that it is" - appreciate a link to that.
.
The EU commissioned this report & published it in November 2017
.
europarl. europa. eu RegData etudes STUD 2017 596828 IPOL STU(2017)596828 EN .pdf
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Why is no one talking about it?
.
Abstract:
This study, commissioned by the European Parliament's Policy Department for Citizens' Rights & Constitutional Affairs at the request of the AFCO Committee, provides background on cross border movement & trade between Northern Ireland & Ireland & identifies international standards & best practices & technologies to avoid a 'hard' border as well as case studies that provide insights into creating a smooth border experience. The technical solution provided is based on innovative approaches with a focus on cooperation, best practices & technology that is independent of any political agreements on the UK's exit from the EU & offers a template for future UK EU border relationships.
.
.
Rotterdam are already using High Tech.
Scan: customs scan your shipment by putting it through a tunnel. Dutch customs officials analyze if the contents correspond to the cargo description and if there are illegal items.
.icontainers.com help rotterdam port customs inspection

10. Tim B , Friday, May 20, 2022, 20:03:

I don’t believe this tweaking of the NI Protocol could in anyways be called ‘brilliant’. These changes should have not been necessary in the first place. After all, a while before he signed the WA, Boris did say there would not be a border down the Irish Sea.
Why was a technological solution as above not insisted upon?
It remains to be seen how much of the Boris / Truss legislation is left and what restrictions are put on it after it has been through Parliament and the House of Lords. Even if it does survive the journey it will be months at best before it is ready to be acted upon.

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