NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has praised “the leading role” the UK is playing “both diplomatically and militarily” regarding the crisis in Ukraine.
Stoltenberg welcomed UK’s offer of more troops, ships and planes to NATO, “which is a clear demonstration of Allied solidarity in action”.
“The UK is playing a leading role. Delivering both militarily and diplomatically. I welcome your offer of more troops, ships and planes to NATO. And the additional troops that you are deploying to Poland showed Allied solidarity in action. The UK leads NATO’s battlegroup in Estonia.
You contribute to NATO’s Air Policing. And the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales leads NATO’s maritime high readiness force. All of this sends a clear message that we will defend and protect all Allies.”
The Secretary-General also said, “this is a dangerous moment for European security. The number of Russian forces is going up. The warning time for a possible attack is going down”.
Britain supplying Ukraine with weapons to counter Russian Navy
He underlined that while NATO is prepared for the worst, it is still committed to finding a political solution. He reiterated once again his invitation to Russia to continue dialogue in a series of meetings in the NATO-Russia Council. At the same time, the Secretary-General emphasised that NATO will not compromise on core principles: the right of each nation to choose its own path and NATO’s ability to protect and defend all Allies.
The Secretary-General announced that at next week’s meeting of NATO Defence Ministers, the Allies will assess options to further strengthen Allied security, which includes the possibility of additional battlegroups in the south-eastern part of the Alliance.
“Renewed Russian aggression will lead to more NATO presence, not less“, he added.
I wonder if this statement was written by number 10 on their behalf. We seem to be trying very hard to be seen at the forefront of this. Liz Truss should never have gone to Russia (at least she found it I suppose), the outcome was entirely predictable. What was the point going all the way there with nothing new, just a lecture in their own backyard? For what is is worth I think NATO are playing it the right way, small deployments here and there, and a singular message. The problem is that not all members are backing this… Read more »
Given that this situation has the potential to escalate rapidly, one has to wonder why there is nothing coming out of the UN WRT to the Ukraine…..
I’m not sure the “Westcountry Rivers Trust” have much that could help……. I’ll get my coat.
Seriously though, any UN organisation is hopeless in these circumstances as the UNSC will quite obviously never agree.
Nice one Rob. You’ve got to laugh at the ridiculous situation. A national sense of humour has replaced pride. Saluting pugs notwithstanding.
The five members of the UN security council (UNSC) are made up by the UK, France, USA, China and Russia. The issue is that President Xi of China is backing China. Typically France are acting ambivalent towards the situation. Therefore, China would get a veto vote against any punishment that UK and the USA would try to push forward, whilst France would sit on the fence waiting for an opportune political moment, that favours them. The UNSC have overriding powers over the UN general assembly. So if China veto any actions not much can be done. Though I’m sure if… Read more »
Morning mate, sorry, my post wasn’t clear, not advocating punishment/sanctions et Al, but wondering why we don’t appear to be pursuing this route to potentially de conflict this standoff. Just appears awfully silent on the issue….
Which only makes the extreme conspiracy theorists’ claim that the World is instituting a United Nations Govt by stealth all the more the ramblings of lunatics…. or alternatively one or very possibly both of the Corbyns.
I think Xi is also backing Russia.
I wonder if some of those destroyers, submarines, aircraft and tanks under construction in CCP China are destined for Russia. Stranger things have happened. Xi is building them at an unparalleled rate for peacetime. Do you think he knows something we do not.
Yes it seems hopeless but the UN acted against N Korea in the Korean war despite Russia & China backing N Korea’s invasion.
Russia was boycotting the UN at the time protesting the fact that the Chinese seat was held by Taiwan rather than the PRC, which was the case until 1971 — so that’s those two cards off the table and an explanation of how the UNSC could pass Resolution 83 recommending the UN take action to support South Korea.
You can be reassured that China will veto any UN sanction in the sure knowledge that Russian will return the favour when China attempts to annex Taiwan!!
Because Russia and China are 2 of the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council
Wow and we complain about our lack of decisive or necessary action at times. I can understand their discomfort considering their energy dependence but then they have to take a massive amount of the criticism for getting themselves there with plans for even more dependence on an erratic and for some time now clearly dangerous potential adversary who will exploit any and every weakness. Worse still by not stiffening their stance they are potentially putting themselves in a nightmare scenario of managing to have the ravenous bear stoked on success near their border, pissing off the major ally who protects… Read more »
Unfortunately I think Putin knows all too well that Germany and others won’t be able to buy enough gas from other sources, so despite comments to the contrary that won’t stop. Nord Stream 2 may be put on hold for a while but current flows will continue. it seems there are various reasons for Germany’s stance. One being their history and reluctance to rearm and join conflict. Another is that there is a portion of society that has sympathy for Russia, with some politicians advocating for them. Perhaps on the fringes but it’s still there. I think the biggest reason… Read more »
UK should be careful what we do but this is a very dangerous situation for EU/Europe and as you say they have acted with extraordinary lack of awareness. We are lucky we are out.
Somehow we have to get even with Russia and bring the leadership to account. That’s about all we can hope for. China will keep them flush with money and buy all their resources.
Although I agree with you. At least some of the blame is ours too. Firstly missing the opportunity to welcome the new Russia and it’s people back into the fold of free nations. Building a mutual defence pact with them, as soon as the USSR/Warsaw Pact fell. It would have been difficult but certainly possible and well worth the effort.
Has anyone told the new German Chancellor that fully one third of German’s energy needs is covered by Russian gas?
See my reply to Spyinthesky above. My take on it anyway.
Adding to my post above….. according to recent reports we will be importing 80% of our gas by 2050. There aren’t too many places we can get that from.
Ron, That report is from 2019 and is from a gas supplier – so might be old and biased. But if it is even half-right it is alarming. It anticipates the decline of North Sea gas but does it fully appreciate the increase in energy from renewable sources? We should not have allowed the nuclear energy sector to decline as much as it has. Some renewable sources are shamefully under-developed – tidal, wave and hydro-electric for example.
Agreed, but there aren’t many places in England and Wales that tidal, wave etc would work. Scotland may have more potential. Unfortunately the economics behind the Swansea tidal bay plan weren’t good, including some rather dodgy financing by the company behind it. That type of scheme will take huge government backing and subsidy, which is not something the Tories are into, although that mindset might be changing, just look at the gigawat factories as an example. Even if we manage to transition all electric generation to renewables and nuclear, we will still need gas for heating. I can’t see that… Read more »
There is a huge wind farm on the Dogger Bank due in 2024/5.
Powered by hot air emanating exclusively from the mouths of NATO officials and European politicians. So that’s the energy crisis solved. At least when the wind is blowing.
The problem is NATO is a shadow of it’s former Cold War self. You do know that GB has only 80,000 troops to contribute. Not enough to fill Wembley Stadium. Russia has at least ten times that number and very short supply lines.
Turkey should be taking the brunt of this cluster f.
Saw this the other day with the caption:
“”The British hand over their latest secret weapon sysytem to the Ukraine: The Midget soldier:””
Did Boris write that for you?…..,🤣 Seriously, the RAF is it its weakest ever.. In NATO Europe, we have fallen to 7th ref the number of fast jet combat aircraft. France has 100 more than us and Turkey, Germany, Italy and even Spain and Greece have more. We have no particular technological advantage, all have Typhoon, Rafale or F-16 plus various other usable types like Mirage 2000, F-18 etc. On a matrix of FJCA to population, we are in the bottom quarter of European nations. The army is in an even worse situation, reducing to just 4 combat brigades with… Read more »
When it comes to equipment, the RAF is the most capable it’s ever been. Numbers have dropped dramatically over the last 30 years. But the kit is first class, and getting better. We can do things today we could only dream about 20 years ago.
No Robert. It’s time to splash your face with ice water and come back down to earth. Our armed forces are so numerically depleted that every lost ship, plane or AFV. Constitutes a considerable percentage of our fighting force. With no operational production lines to make good our losses. There will be plenty of them if we take on Russia so close to her borders. Worse still is the shortage of trained personnel to operate the heralded technically advanced weapons of war. You are obviously a glass half full kind of guy. I applaud and salute your positive attitude but… Read more »
Hi George. It’s always a pleasure to hear from a fellow veteran. I’m ex RN FAA, 1999 -2013. I do try and look at the positives you are correct, and I think we have plenty to be positive about, especially with the future equipment programme. But that doesn’t help today. Our numbers have fallen far too low in many areas. But, we are part of a larger machine, and interoperability with our allies is key. Whatever Putin does in the coming weeks, I don’t think WW3 will start over it. Sanctions will hit Russia hard, not Typhoons, and cruise missiles.… Read more »
Cheers Robert. Things are desperate when “climate change” competes with defence for cash. Particularly when enemy states couldn’t care less and are still building fossil fuel power stations, to produce weapons grade steel. Just wait until the transgender/cross dressing equality brigade demand equal quotas in the armed forces.
I honestly think it is time for our military to “take” a greater role in governing the country. Pressing the reset button before all is lost.
Numbers are too low.
But you don’t mention training, capability, experience, logistics, intelligence capabilities, tactics, professionalism, knowhow, and a host of niche capabilities.
I care not that Greece and Spain have more. Where are they when the fights come? Where are their world wide bases and logistic footprint?
The Iraqi army was vast and was annihilated.
Saying all that, yes, numbers too low.
But it’s always more than numbers mate.
Well said mate. An Air Force’s capability is measured in far more ways than fast jet numbers. Others may have more on paper. But can they deploy it, operate it and sustain it thousands of miles from home. The RAF is among a very small number who can. many others cannot.
People forget how expense it is to acquire and maintain high end platforms like Wedgetail. RC 135 and and p8s. Probably the equivalent cost of 2 to 3 two squadrons of Typhoons. Well worth the investment for that level of capability.
Do you remember the successful Cold War that never turned hot for fear of starting WWIII. Recent history teaches us that only the “counter threat” associated with overwhelming superior firepower can ensure peace. It’s a well used cliché but freedom is never free, there is always a cost. Better to pay for it with preventive 10-15% GDP defence spending than soldiers lives.
Call me a sentimental old softy if you want. But I’m a little biased when it comes to protecting the lives of our service personnel. They are the nations finest.
You have my vote George, i completely agree. I recall UK defence levels in the 80’s at circa 4% of GDP. lf only that commitment had continued…..
The numerically superior forces waiting to annex the Russian speaking portion of Ukraine. Will not be operating thousands of miles from home. They will be operating under their rather efficient and well drilled; multi-layered air defence umbrella. Located on home soil in Russia and Belarus. NATO or more likely US and UK on our own. Will need to cross the border into Russian/Belarusian airspace to neutralise the threat before doing anything. Violating their sovereign territory. The land for which 29,000,000 people died during the so-called Great Patriotic War. Still remembered bitterly to this day. I’m a British Veteran who served… Read more »
One must be wary of making a case for British exceptionalism. All of the Western European nations work to NATO standards. Many of their air forces, particularly fast jet, train in the USA. They all have intel, logistics, radar, SAMs at least on a par with us. Given the issues with our under-performing UKMFTS, their training may in fact be better, or at least somewhat quicker. There is no reason to suppose we are any more ‘professional’ than other European air forces. Our pilots are probably more experienced than most, as they have been regularly employed in combat zones. But… Read more »
“They all have intel, logistics at least on a par with us” Really? We will disagree then mate. Most of them are not 5 eyes partners, only 2nd or 3rd parties, so do not have the same intelligence systems or capability, especially regards sigint. I’d love to see Greece, Spain, and others equivalent of Corsham or Wyton, to name but two. Where are the European versions of the facilities in Cyprus? And I don’t mean places within their borders, but abroad, giving coverage and reach. HMG could close down the SIS, SS, and GCHQ and spend the SIA of over… Read more »
Very good assessment mate. 👏
Hi D. Larger number of jet is one thing, operating all of them is quite another. I believe a number of Spain’s Ef 18s are in storage. Greece and Spain are facing real challenges in replacing very old worn out platforms. I for-see a drop in squadrons in the Spanish Air Force in the years to come They simply don’t have the funding to replace legacy F18’s one for one. Greece is even worse off . I wonder if there is an opportunity to flog off the Tranche 1 Typhoons to them? The RAF is way ahead in capability and… Read more »
Sorry but what are you talking about? Greece just bought 24 Rafale F3R this year (6 delivered last year) to replace Mirage 2000 and plans to supplement that order with the F35 to replace their F16 which are fairly up to date. In short there is 0 chance to sell any Typhoon to Greece. On top of that tranche 1 have very limited capabilities that simply do not meet Greece’s needs (no air to ground, no anti ship, no cruise missile, no Meteor long range AA, no AESA etc…) I don’t think it’s worth getting into a hypothetical pissing contest.… Read more »
Half of these are used ex French Air Force machines. They’ll struggle with F35 funding to replace F16 and F4 s on a one for basis, but I guess we’ll see. I understand Spain has an update enhancement programme in the works for their Trance 1 Typhoons. So thinking outside the square, the UK could donate these for free provided b BAE have the contract for the upgrade. If not Greece, then perhaps another nation may show interest, I did not state any negative comments slating the Greek Airforce nor the competency of their pilots. I simply called the situation… Read more »
The numbers are too low, but the technology and skills is world class (yeah, yeah, Boris has ruined that phrase). Numbers mean little if they just become cannon fodder (not to mention that being a human tragedy and something that can topple entire political systems). To yes, we should have 8 Type 45s. We should be getting 12 Type 26s and fewer Type 31s and 32. We should be getting 8 Astutes instead of 7. We should have more F35Bs and even some F35As as well as more Typhoons. We should have more Challenger 3s. We should have more soldiers… Read more »
We should have 12 Type 45s – that was the number required by the RN – and it was cut (to 8 then 6) only to save money, not because there was an operational requirement to. We had 28 hunter-killer subs in 1982, of which about 7 deployed on Op Corporate – your suggestion of just another one is very modest.[I know SSNs are better than SSKs but equally you need enough platforms to cover ‘the Seven Seas’. The Army was reduced by 40,000 and set to 120,000 regs at end of the Cold War – it should not be… Read more »
Our military people are amongst the best in the world…true professionals but led by third rate politicians . As for their equipment…some of it is excellent but we have some lemons…F-35, Type 45 and too much of it is American making us reliant on them reducing our ability to act independently when we deem it necessary or desirable.
Bollocks. The F-35 and Type 45 are amongst, if not, the best in the world.
They have some problems, but not enough to warrant abandonment by a long stretch.
Disagree Tams…”They have some problems” is an understatement.
All six of the T45 are laid up in port unable to do the job they were designed for. When they are at sea they are woefully underarmed for the size of ship. As for the F-35…where to start…MOD not keen on taking full quota it indicated it was going to order. Another piece of overpriced and under performing military equipment from the US.
And what would you have done?
They are both amongst the best in the world and we need a technologically leading force in this day and age. Numbers are less important.
Of course there will be problems along the way. But neither the Type 45 nor the F35 have project ending problems.
The MOD not willing to do stuff is mainly due to being starved of proper funding.
Too late to scrap the F-35 but I would cancel the last few dozen and order a new batch of the most advanced Typhoon instead. The Russians and Chinese can apparently detect the F-35 quite easily now so no advantage in investing good money after bad in a single engined, slow, small payload platform. As for the Type 45…potentially very good vessels now that they are armed with their originally intended primary armament and hopefully will have engine problems sorted…albeit years later than planned. I question the overall competence within the MOD though to have allowed these situations to have… Read more »
Where to start indeed. Every part of that comment is wrong. Start with this
https://thinpinstripedline.blogspot.com/2022/02/type-45-availability-dont-believe.html
Not convinced Robert…written by an ex MOD staffer engaged in a ‘damage limitation exercise’ on behalf of his former employer.
Six ships of one class…vitally important class at that. I would expect two of them to be at sea or ready to sail at a few hours notice, two to be on exercise or in training to replace the two at sea (on deployment) and two to be alongside for planned maintenance / unplanned repair work/ crew leave.
Clearly the reality is not even close.
I’d read it again. It explains in plain English the status of each T45. And remember, 2 of them completed a 7 month deployment last year. Vessels need maintenance; they are extremely complex. And warship availability takes a great deal of management. We simply don’t have vessels at sea burning fuel for the sake of being at sea. They all have tasking. Pre-deployment training, FOST training, etc, and the T45 fleet needs to complete PIP, which will improve availability. And the upcoming weapons upgrade. Increasing weapon load out with the addition of 24 Sea Ceptors. And upgraded Sea Venom C2.
You should use vim for cleaning and not mainlining.
A rather chuckle worthy comment Dave. Salute!
Britain is doing a heck of a lot more than wealthier countries like Germany that has only sent a few helmets to Ukraine. Anything to keep the gas flowing from their Russian masters I guess.
Yes indeed. Except that Germany is the lead nation in the Lithuania forward EPF force, with 600+ troops on the ground . And is apparently sending reinforcements. And has just sent a Typhoon flight to Romania. And takes its turn at Baltic air policing.
But hey, let that not get in the way of our fiercely-held prejudices!
Not enough.
It is about the same as the UK’s mini contribution ‐ a forward battle group in the Baltic Republics, a forward Typhoon flight in Eastern Europe, an air policing flight on rotation in the Baltic. We are marginally ahead, because we have sent ATGWs and some trainers o Ukraine and Germany has not, because their constitution – written by the US and UK – restricts their supplying combat weapons to conflict zones. Rather than this endless p***ing contest trying to prove that the UK is in some way superior to NATO and EU ‘rivals’, we should really be questioning why… Read more »
I wish I could agree that Army kit is getting better. Not too much evidence, really. But the training, fighting spirit and ‘can do’ attitude is there.
We dearly need more escort ships, tanks & aircraft, amongst many other things. On the verge of a major European war with the PRC likely to move on Taiwan making our forces & equipment pool smaller is either madness or deliberately enabling the rise of harsh authoratarians. Our free way of life is at risk. We can’t afford to take forever to get the kit we need at what even snails would be ashamed of. If we don’t step up now we’ll be fighting a far stroneger Russo-PRC a few years down the line. We can’t afford to be led… Read more »
Unfortunately, we currently have a wannabe authoritarian as Prime Minister. With aides saying things like, “He’s making very clear that they’ll have to send a Panzer division to get him out of there,” it looks very bad.
Thankfully he is so selfish and useless that it does look like he’s gone too far and might be ousted.
Not that that fixes the damage that the Tories have done since 2010. Sure, Labour didn’t help either and lay the groundwork, but it was the Tories who actually carried it out.
The Panzer division comment is amusing and bitterly ironic – we could not muster a full and serious armoured division to deploy in real combat.
It may be but it goes to the heart of the matter.
As does our increasing vulnerability due to the reduction and contraction of military sites, especially airfields. Now we are down to around 6/7 points of failure, take out those runways and, with the lack of SAMs, we are effectively defenceless. The defence of the UK itself seems to be the last on the list at the MoD.
It could have been much worse with Trots Corbyn building a transatlantic bridge to Venezuela and Cuba. Boris may be a bit of a gutless Doris but we dodged the bullet with Comrade Corbyn and his Stasi “Schild und Schwert der Partei” (Shield and Sword of the Party). He should have been jailed for his Cold War activities alone. Ask (RETRACTED) for a shifty at his file.
How have we lost our moral compass? – we are supporting Ukraine as much as we can – supplying thousands of NLAW and a large training team to the Ukraine itself; increasing numbers deployed on eFP to flanking countries…and doing diplomacy (Johnson, Starmer, Truss and Wallace) and warning the Russians of swingeing sanctions especially against UK-based oligarchs.
Taiwan is too far away and we lack forces permanently stationed in the region. We can do little except do the dilpomacy piece in the UN and respond to a NATO or US request to send naval assets if that time comes..
I suspect that Truss should have looked up the meaning of diplomacy beforehand if you believe she was on a diplomatic mission… absolute car crash of an intervention and counter productive to the message we’re trying to deliver. Johnson similarly had to cancel his planned call with Putin as he had to speak to the house re his lockdown shenanigans.
I mean, I think it was very clear that she was there for the photo op.
And even that was a big fail with the general public at least. I detest Thatcher, but in her photo in Moscow she really did look like ‘The Iron Lady’. Truss looked pathetic, weak, and lost.
But she is only aiming at the Conservative Party. Perhaps they that stuff up.
I sincerely hope the MOD and HM.Gov read this forum. There are people on here who could do a far better job of defending the nation than any elected minister or civil servant these past 50+ years. Even the Iron Maiden bless her cut defence spending like she was pruning roses. Until the Argentinians bit her in the tush.
10 – 15% annually of GDP and a complete cessation of overseas aid to everyone except Nepal, Fuji and other recruiting grounds. Make Great Britain worthy of the title.
I think aid to Africa needs to carefully considered. Mainly China, but also Russia are pumping money into there. That said, with all the noise over the Chagos Islands at the moment, I think it’s putting the UK in a difficult position and a stick to beat us with. I think using some of the aid budget to facilitate Chagossians being able to return to the islands, under strict security screening and environmental control, and full British citizenship, could work. After all, they are split between working with Mauritius on it and if they get to live there the UN… Read more »
The numbers don’t lie. What we do have are too few by a long way thanks to the Tories dismantling our forces & failing to reign in failing projects. Your argument sounds like explaining the sinking of the Titanic as a great opportunity for enlarged coldwater swimming pool.
This fiasco over the UKRAINE clear shows that both NATO and THE EU are no longer credible . HUNGARY sides with Russia, Germany appeases Russian and blocks UK mil aid, France grovels , Denmark is 50/50 , The Benelux countries dare not say anything and the southern member countries pretend nothing is happening. Both organisations are about as much use as Dutch marines in KOSOVO
Heaven help Poland and the Baltic states if the war goes hot , they will be wiped out befoe NATO and the EU get their collectives together.