HUNDREDS of British troops proved they were a match for any military as they took part in a huge show of Nato’s might.
Soldiers joined a live fire demonstration at the end of exercise Steadfast Dart in Smardan, eastern Romania, only 16 miles from the border with Ukraine.
APBritish troops unfurl the Union Jack flag before the start of the Steadfast Dart 2025 exercise[/caption]
APBritish IRF forces hold a position during the drills in eastern Romania[/caption]
EPAAround 3,000 British soldiers joined the drills near the Ukrainian border[/caption]
Thomas GodfreySun reporter Thomas Godfrey joined the British soldiers in Romania[/caption]
In front of admirals, generals, and the world’s media, Brits led the way in the drill, which simulated a high-stakes, real-world combat mission.
They were joined by artillery and infantry forces from seven different allies, including Romanian tanks and F16 fighter planes, which blitzed enemy positions from the sky.
The massive demonstration — a clear message to Russia’s mad tyrant Vladimir Putin — ended with Highlanders from the 4th Scottish Regiment storming a trench and eliminating mock enemy combatants.
Speaking to assembled VIPs, Brigadier Andy Watson, who led British involvement in the drill, said: “This exercise has demonstrated we can move efficiently to any part of the region.
“And probably most crucially, it’s demonstrated we are credible and stronger together.”
Others from the 200-strong British force in the drill, who braved freezing conditions, told The Sun they felt they had gained confidence from practising with live rounds instead of blanks.
Some 3,000 British soldiers are in Romania for the full exercise which includes learning new trench warfare tactics influenced by the war in Ukraine.
UK troops make up nearly a third of the 10,000 total force at the bloc’s biggest drill of 2025.
Lance Bombardier Robert Foy said: “It’s really good to see the other units working together and to see what they can do.”
Lance Bombardier Brod Spatcher added: “This training process gives us the time to get involved, with every nation, the Spanish and French (are here), to get amongst it and see how we can cope.
“Everyone’s on par with everyone so it’s been pretty easy.
“We feel well prepared. We know how things have been planned out so far.
“If there was a task given in the near future, then I think, as a whole, Nato would be more than ready.”
The aim of Steadfast Dart – the first deployment for Nato’s new Allied Reaction Force – was to demonstrate how quickly military forces from across the bloc could respond to a threat in southeastern Europe.
LBdr Hoy added: “We arrived to Brize Norton and flew to Greece, then we moved north through Bulgaria and ended up in Romania.”
British soldiers have been at the training base for three weeks and will stay in Romania for another fortnight.
APThe drill simulated real-world combat[/caption]
APA British servicewoman at a training range in Smardan[/caption]
ReutersA Romanian tank firing during the Steadfast Dart 2025[/caption]
The drills involved some 10,000 troops in NATO’s operation this yearEPA Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
