After a flyover of the Estonian capital Tallinn to mark the nations independence day, a B-52 bomber followed the border of Belarus and Russia before returning to Britain.
On 24 February, the Finnish Air Force trained together with a 🇺🇸 B-52 Stratofortress bomber and 🇳🇱 F-35s in Estonian airspace. The training session was concluded with a flyover above Tallinn in honour of Estonia’s Independence Day.🇪🇪⁰#ilmavoimat #StrongerTogether #WeAreNATO pic.twitter.com/NGwQOXuE85
— Ilmavoimat (@FinnishAirForce) February 24, 2025
Recently, and for the second time in 48 hours, the United States deployed B-52H Stratofortress bombers to the Middle East, demonstrating force projection capabilities and integration with partner nations, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM).
The Bomber Task Force mission saw two B-52s take off from RAF Fairford, UK, flying across Europe and six partner nations in CENTCOM’s area of responsibility.
During the flight, the bombers conducted aerial refuelling and training missions at designated ranges. CENTCOM confirmed that one allied air force provided fighter escorts for the duration of the mission, highlighting the high level of coordination involved.
A CENTCOM statement noted:
“For the second time within 48 hours, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) conducted another Bomber Task Force Mission in the Middle East, Feb. 20, demonstrating force projection capabilities and partner nation integration in the region. Two B-52s from RAF Fairford, U.K., flew across Europe and six partner countries in CENTCOM’s area of responsibility during their mission, which included aerial refueling and training missions at ranges. Additionally, one partner nation provided fighter escorts for the bombers throughout the mission.”
The operation, say the Command, underscores CENTCOM’s ability to rapidly deploy strategic assets across vast distances, reinforcing both deterrence and allied cooperation in a region that remains a focal point for US security interests.
The ongoing training is designed to enhance interoperability among allied air forces and ensure that U.S. strategic assets remain optimally integrated into NATO’s collective defence framework.
As the bombers continue their month-long deployment, they will participate in a series of joint exercises and training flights across Europe, demonstrating agility and global strike capabilities. This deployment underscores the U.S. commitment to deterring Russian aggression and maintaining a credible, rapid-response force in the region.
This makes you think there is a disconnect between what the fart says and what the DoD does.
If anyone wants to see a show of force they should watch the trump macron handshake montage on the BBC news website live feed it’s time stamped , 16.36 and titled” A brief history of Macron and Trump’s handshake battles” it’s a brilliant joy to behold two alpha males with a history of practically ripping each others arms off to try and get ahead on the handshake front…it’s brilliant, honestly you must watch it.
Pair of pillocks. Saw the article, but I’ve no time for that bullshit. Same as the supposed “power stance” when the legs are so far apart you look like you have a big problem.
They have taken it to a whole new level really.. what ever happened to mutual respect and a solid level equal handshake.. if even greeting is a competition between these people you can see why the west is in trouble. Look at pictures of Xi he does nothing so crude, buts he far far more ruthless than any of these jokers.. but then he was a politician prisoner who did hard labour before before climbing to absolute rule.. I don’t think he bothers with power handshakes.
Trump is a weak person’s idea of what a strong leader is. Somebody who needs to keep shouting about how great or strong they are, is neither great or strong.
A lion never needs to remind anyone that it’s a lion.
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prevent burnout….. 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐭𝟏.𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞/
Spot on.
actually Macron had the the merit to correct Trump’s BS about the US are the only ones funding the Ukraine and getting nothing for it.
Macron interjected: “No, in fact, to be frank, we paid. We paid 60% of the total effort. It was like the US: loans, guarantees, grants. We have $230bn in frozen assets in Europe, Russian assets. But this is not collateral of a loan because it is not our belonging. So they are frozen.”
Trump started this a while ago, various leaders now return the compliment. It’s an attempt to show dominance, demonstrates what an arrse Trumpnis.
It’s hilarious to watch Macron outplaying him.
I could out-play Trump!
The US just voted with Russia at the UN against Ukraine. They are not Europe’s allies any longer.
That is a total disgrace. I hope the majority of American citizens will retain their traditional sense of fair play at the mid-terms, and show the man-baby that they disapprove of the direction in which he is taking their once great country.
That is almost an unbelievable betrayal of Ukraine.
But we still need to maintain our friendship with the US. Even if it now becomes a friendship not an alliance. The US may change its views again in a decade and we should be open to the fact long term friendships are important, even if we can no longer be formal allies.
could be longer, because right now Donald JR has more chance in 2028 than any Democrat.
The Republican party is now all in on MAGA, exit the old guard of conservatives like McConell, Romney’s etc…
Yes, but who has the dark charisma of the Donald? Not too many other tall poppies in that entourage.
Have to ask if these bombers are a show of force or a show of support for Russia.
Does this mean the US will stop using B-52s for “Shows of Force” along the Russian border? Mixed messages or what?
I don’t think the guy from Fox News knows yet.
Is this part of operation futile gesture or operation tripwire like starmer wants to set up
I’d like to hear the cockpit recordings of all the threat receivers going off
Why?
Russia hasn’t tasted F35A output and it can’t even succeed against Cold War kit.
There are a lot of nice F35As in those photos.
Nobody told the USAF that Putin is their boss now.
Not yet, they are just waiting for their email from Elon and Big Balls.
Q,what did you do last week?
A,I flew to the Russian border with our allies!
Response don’t ever do that again or you will be fired!! Elon xx
They need to do 5 things in a week so Elon don’t fire them. “One transatlantic flight is that all your fired. “
Europe should continue sucking up to DT. They don’t have a backbone of their own. DT has stolen the limelight. They missed the chance. More sanctions mean nothing to Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Approves This Post
let it be noted american voted with china and russia in the security council today re ukraine statement. europe abstained
Yes, very sad, Regan will be spinning in his grave.
The US has gone rogue and cannot be trusted anymore. A century of US foreign policy gone down the toilet.
And many a poster here seems to be reveling in it?
I’m not, I think it’s tragic.
I agree, it’s tragic but nothing we can do but begin preparing. We can pretend this is just trump and an anomaly but around half of Americans support what he is doing and Democrats are hardly pro Atlantic alliance either.
I agree, it’s nightmare fuel.
Certainly not revelling in it, but it does have a certain grim fascination…
Whatever Trumps motives, it has worked. Look at Starmer and his conversion to defence spending after months of dragging feet.
Grim fascination, maybe. As someone who knows how our military and intell apparatus is so joined with the Americans, it worries me more than fascinates!
Yes absolutely shameful. The special relationship is dead, time to stand on our own two feet.
Last time I looked the actual area that the “Special Relationship” exists is still there, and I hope it remains, whether the US takes a step back from Europe or not.
Americans elected an “America First” President. Not a “let’s continue subsidizing and bleeding for a continent of dying countries acting as parasites for the last hundred years” President. But then the UK should take heart, it’s perfectly positioned to stand on its own with its bankrupt treasury, hollowed out armed forces, and Sharia law government. Not to mention, its fearless leader – Keir Starmer, oh, excuse me, have to tug the forelock to the British class system, Sir Keir Starmer. Go cry in your warm beer.
This individual is a Russian Troll – there is simply no other explanation for his vitriolic, anti-British, anti-European views that he commonly expresses on this platform. Either that or he really is a typical, uneducated American, MAGA troll. ‘Daniel’, if indeed that is your real name: stop posting on a British forum if you clearly dislike us as much as you profess. Every comment you make is anti-British, anti-British Military; focus on your own country and stop trolling. Do us all a favour (yes, the correct spelling – NOT ‘favor’) and p*ss off.
I agree, he is certainly not American. I’ll stop responding to it, flag it from now on. Like a bot or one of the Russian troll accounts.
Ah… once more with the, “ who disagrees with me is Russian or is a country bumpkin.” These tired cliches are how we got where we are.
Everyone
America actually elected a Russian agent as their president. Name one thing he has done so far to make America better. Name anytime over the past 80 years when America has bled for, or subsidised Europe.
Your fact free rant about sharia law just reveals your Foreign Derangement Syndrome and ignorant trailer park trash level of education.
Perhaps that will form part of your 5 bullet point email about what you did last week that you have to send to your new oligarch overlord Musk who you all have to bow down to.
Classism does not look good on anyone. Dismiss people who disagree with you as trailer trash is a good way to force them from apathy towards Europe and the UK to absolute hatred. This is how you get Trump, elitists constantly kept arguing they knew best and everyone who disagreed was racist, homophobic, misogynist, uneducated rubes. Now you are shocked they don’t agree with or care about your position.
News flash firing leeches from the government is always popular and good.
“News flash firing leeches from the government is always popular and good.”
It is until you find out the leeches are the only ones who know how everything works…
Nice try with the gaslighting, but it’s your MAGA colleague who’s throwing out all the racist and bigoted slurs.
I never realised that your definition of leeches were cleaners and health care workers etc and not billionaire oligarchs doing anything they like.
“Trailer park trash” is pretty classist towards those who you doubtlessly and without good cause believe are your lessers.
Health care workers and cleaners? You do realize I am an American, my healthcare is provided by Mother Church in partnership with BlueCross. Not government who wanted to lock me in my house and force men and women to wear a burqa because they were scared of the sniffles.
1.2 million COVID deaths in the US. I guess it’s easier to rail against restrictions when you’re still alive to do so, and if no-one you care about has been affected.
But yes, denigrating millions of people – in any country – as ignorant trailer trash is frankly not on. They were given good reasons to vote for and support Trump, and that should give us all pause for thought.
Restrictions kept me alive? How? I ignored them because I am a citizen not a subject. Steps to survive COVID
1. Lose weight
2. Eat fruit
3. Don’t wear a mask fresh air is good for you.
Then you were fortunate. Try and spare some consideration for those less fortunate than you.
Clearly the USAF didn’t get the memo that the US has switched sides. Time to call the US out for what it is an enemy of the UK. Amazing, that country spent thousands of billions countering the Communists in the USSR. Now there is a facist in the Kremlin, America wants to be friends.
We are currently apathetic, but make us an enemy and see where it leads.
Would you say that a majority in the US agree with the President’s stance on Russia? It seems to many on this side of the pond that the language is going too far, almost to the point of appeasement. Is that fair?
Europe and the western world made friends with the US and supported it in many conflicts, not least the unending war on terror. We saw where that led us.
Russia was an enemy of the US. Yet look what that’s led to now.
I remember when Republican US presidents had the courage and integrity to stand up to Russia.
The US is not an enemy of the UK, enough with the hyperbole, it isn’t helping anyone. In the US there is a faction in government right now who most of us in Europe don’t like very much, and rightly so. Eventually enough Americans will come to feel the same way that he and his ilk will be out, that’s how democracy works, and somebody else gets a go. Trump and MAGA are not America, just as Starmer and Labour are not Britain. There are quite a few political parties in Europe who would like to be friends with Putin too, the Americans are just leading the trend. ‘Twas ever thus.
Agreed.
Rubbish
As a Swede i think this whole development with America surrending to Russia and leaving Europe alone is a nightmare. I am thinking it would be great if European countries could invest in the UK/French nuclear umbrella, increasing and extending it. Are there any discussions about this issue in the UK?
Best regards
Tobias
In short no. Our PM is speaking in parliament right now and stated that NATO and our partnership with the US is key to our security. He also said we need to work closely with Europe to take more responsibility for Europoean defence.
To reassure you Tobias, yes we buy Trident from the US, but it is operationally independent from them. It doesn’t use satellites as guidance so once they are in the submarine they can be fired by our authority alone. Russia knows this too.
The US could of course stop supplying and maintaining the missiles, in which case I am sure we would turn to the French or develop our own. There is no hint that this would ever happen though. The US wants us to be stronger, not weaker.
Thanks for your answer. It is good to hear. However i start to think that we need to create strategic autonomy for Europe (not only in terms of the nuclear deterrent) and i wonder if the nuclear arsenal of the UK and France is enough. As i understand neither the UK nor France have access to tactical nuclear bombs.
To a point yes. France has made a plaintive offer to provide a European nuclear shield. But I believe Macron also wants to include the UK in the discussion. We will have to see where that leads.
Starmar just announced we are moving up to 2.5% by 2027 which is basically the next budget. That’s an extra increase of £6 billion a year.
Also that the aim is 3% during the next parliament
I’m guessing after yesterday he had to announce this before meeting Trump so it does not look like he is giving him anything. That’s why it’s all being done in a rush.
Labour pulled through now, these are better numbers than I was looking for. I will feel a lot safer once we get to 3% along with the rest of Europe, Canada better up its game too.
Now the Germans want in on our nuclear weapons we may see a rapid deal for an Anglo French Trident replacement based on M51 and possibly a cruise missile providing tactical capability to Germany, Poland and a few others.
Ultimately this may make us safer as it opens the way for accords between China and Europe but the world will be much less safe.
The US military now appears in disarray, my heart goes out to them, some of the bravest most able soldiers in history who always stood on the side of freedom and justice and now they have to witness this.
not that simple. Technical and political problems.
Technical: Are Germans going to buy Rafale? No chance that France would allow Lockheed Martin access to ASMP for F35 integration.
Also would those missiles be taken from existing French stockpiles? or would France need to produce more warheads (existing treaties, enriched Uranium production)
Political: Furthermore Merz and his “coalition” may not last long, What if AFD comes to power? same goes for Poland, remember that before Tusk, they had an anti EU govt.
I totally agree about Canada, our armed forces have been bled dry yet expected to come running when needed. It is beyond embarrassing and yet everytime I have written to my MP for years and all I get is “We are looking at increasing our military expenditures in the near future”. Even now, with the threat of tafiffs, perhaps even an invasion, our illustrious leaders have their heads in the sand (well maybe not Trudeau, it would mess up his hair).
I believe Canada should look to Europe for alliance, there is no love for America anymore, if there ever really was.
RobW,
Excellent news; this may hearld the beginning of real British rearmament, and probably not a moment too soon. In similar manner, a Labour government commenced rearmament during the mid-1930s in a challenging economic environment, after truly apprehending the threat. RAF expansion was well underway by the commencement of hostilities. Among other factors, it became a significant portion of the margin for eventual victory. ✌️👍
Not got an issue with DT putting the states first, as he stated to his supporters, regarding trade, DEI and defence. His insistence that Europe pay their way regarding defence is not wrong, and the threat of US withdrawal and repositioning as seeing the Chinese and the pacific as their main threat, is doing Europe a favour by getting even Starmer the Farmer Harmer to look at defence in an urgent way.
However and it is a big however, he could have done all this without sucking up to Putin and in my opinion he is absolutely wrong on his policy regarding Ukraine. He could still get the European allies to sort out their shit regarding defence expenditure while still holding Putin to account. What will happen is that Putin is desperate for a ceasefire, his empire is under threat of crumbling and his military is down to bare minimum. Give him peace, he the gets a few years to rearm and reinvigorate his forces and then here we go, all over again, but possibly against the Baltic states, which then brings the shit to a whole new level.
Airborne,
You have triggered a fascinating, if disturbing, thought: What proportion of The Donald’s conduct is real vs. political theater for the benefit of the entertainment of the base? Would be somewhat less discomforting, if world history was not potentially in the balance. ☹️😳
I would say Donald’s entire performance is for his base, he and his group are looking for a permanent shift in the US political landscape and system, to get that they need to make the external world more threatening.
I’m not yet convinced it’s beyond the tin foil hat unproven brigade but if these rumours of links with the Old KGB are proven it could actually be even worse motivation.
Just a thought though, maybe DT doesn’t want the Russian military and its capabilities totally destroyed as he may want the Russians to remain a threat to the Chinese on their northern and North western borders in and around Siberia! That way the Chinese will need an eye to the North while DT is seeing the Chinese as the next realistic threat in the South and the Pacific.
This goes beyond Trump, previous administration was the same. The USA wants to maintain Russia as a threat to China. Europe won’t be safe now until Russia ceases to exist. Over the coming years expect to see Europe and China more closer under realpolitik.
To be fair the Chinese have all but formally occupied southern Siberia. As there has been a huge influx of migrant workers to mine and farm the area. Even to the point where they have set up new towns completely administered by the Chinese. At some point you would be right to assume that a formal realignment of the Chinese/Russian border is on the cards. Which must be hugely worrying to Russia!
Thing is that would have been sensible 20 years ago when China and Russia were essentially geopolitical competitors. That does not work now when for all intent and purpose they are geopolitical allies. I alway Thought the biggest geostrategic risk for Europe was Russia supporting China in a US sino war by kicking off in Europe to pin the ENATO forces away from the pacific theatre.. now I suspect if ENATO are essentially disengaged with the US China may just pursued Russia to pile into a pacific war directly… I think a strengthened Russia in the pacific will embolden China.
Rise in defence budget being paid for by cuts to foreign aid budget, that will keep many on here happy. Foreign aid down to 0.3% now almost all being spent in the UK to pay for asylum.
Well I think it’s fair to say the PM speech in parliament today was a seminal moment.Essentially I think starmer for good or bad may have defined his time in officer.
2.5% spend for 2027, with internal security 2.6% and 3% for next parliament.. essentially removing the foreign aid budget apart from paying for asylum seekers at home and war zones..
It’s very very big stuff
Agree.
I don’t want to dampen this, as it is major. But they keep on about % of this and that.
Trident. DNE.
Pensions.
Ukraine.
Other stuff.
New housing pledges.
Inflation.
T&C and wage increases to attract people.
Incompetence.
How much will actually go on maintaining, supporting, enhancing, and EXPANDING, our conventional forces?
And will effort in the expeditionary area, which I consider vital to counter Grey Zone, go instead on home defence? It will sound good to the public, and will ultimately hamstring us. BOTH are needed.
You more than anyone on this site who understands geopolitics knows we MUST be engaged beyond our shores, and I don’t just mean European NATO.
Not doing so is akin to leaving the “field of play” for our enemies to shape the world to their advantage.
Referencing defends spending to % of economic output makes the most sense. That’s why it’s the international standard.
Pensions for the military and nuclear weapons and everything else are a legitimate defence spends that China and Russia also include in their defence spending which they also reference as a % of economic output.
Hi Daniele, yes one of the things I thought was most telling was the .1% commitment on security forces..essentially though it’s important that those security forces are active not just a passive defence at home.
Also agree Starmer has passed the first test, he has set the foundations, now we need to see how he builds the building, by that I mean what do we see for that extra 13 billion pounds a year.. that’s the test and hopefully we will see that in the defence review…
Yes, he referenced the Intelligence community, who I often reference in my posts and who I consider as important to the defence of this country as the armed services.
GCHQ and SIS are of course active overseas. The SS needs more assets vs espionage, which it moved away from to too great an extent.
I still think he bottled it. There was a golden moment to get cross-party support for a modest tax rise, maybe even a hypothecated tax, to properly fund defence and get spending up further and sooner. Maybe even begin shifting defence policy out of the partisan sphere with long-term spending commitments, like the French LPM does. The ‘patriotic’ aspect might even allow him to start marginalizing Reform in this area. So no, not overly happy. It looks like a fudge. Unless, of course, he’s giving himself some political space to go further in future, as potential leverage, but I’m not convinced.
I think it shows where our economy is unfortunately. Tax more and reduce growth further, spend without cuts elsewhere and see the markets react badly. If we had the money I believe we’d go further, faster.
Perhaps, as you say, it gives him some wiggle room. We can hope, but I fear this is it. The hope of 3% in the next parliament has no substance.
Agree, tax rises hit economic growth and can be self defeating.
I don’t know….I never thought I’d see him even go this far, so I’m delighted to be wrong there.
But….In the timing, he is doing this now to go to Trump with something.
Would he have stood there saying this if Trump had not gone rogue these last few weeks? How sincere is this.
Defence needs cross party agreement as to force level and funding, ringfenced, so they can plan efficiently for the long term.
And will HMT allow money to be spent better?
Whatever, one can pick faults in anything, it is something.
Yeah, put picking faults in our leadership is what Labour do so well! 😆
Surprising and very welcome. I wonder, however, if some kind of deal ends the Ukraine war, how long the promised higher level of defence spending will last, before a future government sees a chance to save money again. It is vital that the increased budget is sustained. Many of our current problems are because we are having to make good for years of chronic under spending – stretching the service life of clapped out frigates, wholesale replacement or upgrade of obsolescent land equipment. As well as sustaining an increased budget over the long term, we need to get better value for money and focus on what we absolutely must have. I would rather see a commitment to defined force levels in all the services than a headline GDP% which could be swallowed up by a single high cost programme eg Tempest or AUKUS.
Any Ukraine peace increases the security risk, it does not decrease it..just because there is a peace agreed in Ukraine will not change Putins near abroad policy and he will be seeking to undermine and subvert every western leaning nation on his boarder…when the Ukraine war ends he will simply have more resource to do this…
What we will see with the end of the Ukraine war is a massive building of Russian forces..
I agree. Though I feel the biggest issue the military faces is political chest beating. Once a new Government gets into power, one of the first things they do is call for “strategic defence review” (SDR). Which means everything gets put on hold, waiting for the decision from the SDR. Where the outcome of which we can see wholesale cancellations or significant reductions to new kit along with a new directional policy alignment. The politicians of all parties have created this boom or bust environment. To remove and fix the problem, there must be a cross party defence agreement, which then gets written into law. Which gives the military its requirements on how to meet the agreed policy based on an agreed budget.