Sir Michael Fallon salutes 800 Brit troops deployed to Estonia to deter Russian aggression
The soldiers are stationed with French and Danish forces near the Baltic state’s border
SIR Michael Fallon saluted 800 Brit troops deployed to deter Russian aggression yesterday.
The Defence Secretary told them in Estonia as their mission started: “You are doing us proud. No one should pretend these deployments are anything other than proportionate and defensive.
"Estonia does not stand alone on its frontier of freedom."
The troops are stationed with French and Danish forces near the Baltic state’s border.
Yesterday eight American F35 A-Lightning II stealth fighters landed at RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk, for exercises over Europe.
Estonian defence minister Margus Tsahkna said: "Being alone is not an option.
"We are not alone - and we will never be alone again. That is the meaning of today's event.
MOST READ IN NEWS
"That is the meaning of NATO's enhanced Forward Presence. It's about standing together.
"We are glad to welcome our British, French and Danish colleagues here today.
"Dear allies, your standing here is a powerful signal that when we say, 'all for one, and one for all', we mean 'all for one, and one for all.'"
Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid, added: "Today, here, you are creating history. Once again, welcome."
As well as troops in Estonia, 150 of Our Boys and Girls have been deployed to Poland, Typhoon war jets will go to Romania on Monday and a Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer will be dispatched to the Black Sea this summer.
