🌎 Global Sitrep: our top 7 moments around the world
Since the beginning of 2020, the UK Armed Forces have been very busy around the world, despite the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic. Here are 7 of our top moments so far:👇
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Exercise BALTOPS
Maritime exercise in the Baltic Sea🌊
Around 30 ships from 19 NATO Allied and partner nations have been taking part in an exercise in the Baltic Sea.
Each year, the Royal Navy sends a number of vessels to take part in Exercise BALTOPS, including frigates, minehunters and patrol vessels.
The exercise itself involves a range of training scenarios, based on potential real-world events and crises, in which the participants act as either the defending or opposing force.
Op CABRIT
Knife fighting in Poland🇵🇱
Soldiers deployed to Poland took part in a series of close-quarters combat training courses led by the Polish. The training gave the soldiers an opportunity to learn a variety of new skills.
The British Army is currently attached to the US-led Battlegroup in Poland, as part of NATOs Enhanced Forward Presence (EFP).
Op AZOTIZE
Intercepting Russian aircraft in Lithuania 🇱🇹
Royal Air Force Typhoons intercepted Russian military aircraft off the Baltic coast twice in one 48 hour period.
The pilots are ready to respond to any threats to NATO Allies’ airspace at a moments notice. These jets can be scrambled to monitor and investigate the aircraft flying near Lithuanian airspace.
This intercept is part of the routine NATO Air Policing mission (Operation AZOTIZE) that has been conducted to police the skies since 2004.
Op TRENTON
Returning from South Sudan 🇸🇸
After four years, the UK Task Force in South Sudan returned home this spring from the British Army’s UN Peacekeeping mission there.
In 2016, British Soldiers deployed to South Sudan to provide vital infrastructure support to the UN Peacekeeping effort. Dubbed the UK Engineer Task Force, British troops were split between the ‘Protection of Civilians’ sites at Bentiu and Malakal in the north of the country.
Op TANGHAM
Somalia 🇸🇴
British Army instructors have been training the Somali National Army in the fight against the Islamist terrorist group Al-Shabab. In January a whole company of soldiers passed out of training.
Operation TANGHAM is the codename given to the UK Armed Forces’ efforts to tackle terrorism in Somalia by helping to restore security and stability in the region.
The British Army’s main aim of the deployment is to train, mentor and develop the Somali National Army.
COVID response — repatriation flights
Bringing Britons home from around Cuba🇨🇺
With the Coronavirus outbreak causing widespread lockdown around the world, many borders were being closed — this left Britons stranded abroad.
Among many other rescue missions for Brits stranded overseas, one of the first was in early March, which brought people back from Cuba.
A charter flight carrying British and EU citizens from Havana, Cuba landed at MOD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire.
The passengers in transit had been on the Braemar cruise ship belonging to Fred Olson Cruise Lines.
Caribbean
Turks and Caicos Islands 🇹🇨
Royal Marines have been in the British Overseas Territories of the Turks and Caicos Islands to help minimise the effects of coronavirus.
Royal Marines Troop from 45 Commando, have been working alongside the Royal Turks and Caicos Maritime Police Department. The team consists of around 30 Royal Marines who specialise in all areas. They will be working closely with the island’s maritime police department over the coming weeks in response to the COVID19 pandemic.
