How UK troops are training with NATO in snowy Estonia

A British commanding officer has said Nato feels ‘stronger than ever’ as soldiers gather for a training exercise in Estonia.

Lieutenant Colonel Mark Luson, commanding officer of the Royal Tank Regiment, said the exercise at the Tapa military base, involving some 1,250 troops, demonstrated the health of the alliance.

British forces are deployed to Estonia and Poland under Operation Cabrit, the UK’s contribution to Nato’s Forward Land Forces in the two countries.

It comes as tensions within Nato have increased in recent weeks as a result of President Donald Trump’s threats to annexe Greenland.

But Lt Col Luson said concerns about the future of the alliance have had no impact on the mood at the range, where Nato troops have gathered to test and prove their capability in extreme cold weather conditions.

‘Right now, on this training area, we have got a US tank company part of the exercise, we’ve got the French company as part of the Forward Land Force battle group, and operating alongside Estonian partners as well,’ he said.

‘So Nato here feels stronger than ever.’

The Royal Tank Regiment has been in Estonia since September last year, and troops are now taking part in Exercise Winter Camp, intended to ensure Nato troops are accustomed to operating in severe cold weather.

The troops have been completing the exercise in a particularly harsh Estonian winter, with temperatures plummeting as low as -30°C at night.

Lt Col Luson added: ‘This year is colder than it’s been for the last couple of years. Things are still working, and so far, so good.’

Janek Baiduza, a company commander in the Estonian Defence Forces, said the exercise is helpful for foreign troops to get accustomed to the harsh climate.

He said: ‘This winter camp is perfect… It’s colder than usual, challenging.

‘The main reason is to exchange experiences, maybe for foreign and other countries who are participating in the winter camp, they can get a lot of experience, fighting in these conditions.’

In Northumberland, ahead of the planned activities, UK forces were seen conducting a dramatic mock attack on an enemy position.

After two years of intensive preparation and training, including the building of a new NATO Joint Operations Headquarters, the UK will lead the NATO Allied Reaction Force (ARF) Special Operations Component.

Exercise Hyperion Storm is a validation exercise for the Task Groups that will be under the command of the Special Operations Command Centre (SOCC).

The MOD said: ‘Growing in complexity, the rigorous training has built on the skills required for Special Operations to ensure they are fully interoperable with NATO partners.’

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