British troops join major NATO exercise in Estonia

According to a recent update from the British Army, hundreds of British Army soldiers have deployed to Estonia as part of a major multinational exercise named Exercise Hedgehog.

The exercise, involving more than 13,000 troops from multiple NATO countries, aims to strengthen the alliance’s readiness and reassure allies on NATO’s eastern flank.

The deployment, managed by the 4th Light Brigade Combat Team, also known as ‘The Black Rats’, demonstrates the British Army’s ability to rapidly move a large-scale force to support Estonia. The troops travelled by road, rail, sea, and air, showcasing the flexibility and mobility of British forces.

Brigadier Giles Harris, Deputy Commander of the Estonian Division, described the deployment as a critical rehearsal of the Estonian National Defence Plan. He said in the news update:

“Forty-eight hours ago a multinational combat brigade was in the UK and France and their home locations held at high readiness to deploy as part of NATO’s Forward Land Force (FLF). In a full operational rehearsal, we are now here, rehearsing to defend Estonia under the command of the Estonian Division and NATO.”

Exercise Hedgehog, which runs from 9 to 24 May, is part of Operation Razoredge, a series of multinational exercises aimed at bolstering NATO’s presence in Northern Europe. The exercise will test the combat readiness of the Estonian Defence Force (EDF), practice rapid deployments, and enhance interoperability between allied forces.

Kingsman Amelia McCauley from the 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment spoke about the journey to Estonia, saying: “We got a coach down from our base at Weeton Barracks in Preston to Dover, then took a ferry to France. After that, we travelled by coach to Paderborn in Germany and finally flew to Estonia. It took two days, but we’re here to help Estonia and give them the reassurance that, as part of NATO, we’re here and we’re not going anywhere.”

The British troops will integrate and conduct operations alongside the Estonian Defence League, a voluntary national defence organisation. Alongside the UK, forces from the US, France, and other NATO allies are participating in Exercise Hedgehog.

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Lt Col Stuart Crawford is a defence analyst and former army officer. Sign up for his podcasts and newsletters at www.DefenceReview.uk

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