Britain has reduced its military footprint in Estonia by hundreds of troops and to fewer than ten tanks despite pledging to increase it to tackle the rising threat from Russia, The Times can disclose. The military’s financial problems are deemed by allies to be so severe that the UK is struggling to meet its commitments to Nato’s eastern flank, a former commander of the Estonian defence forces has claimed. Riho Terras, now an MEP, told Times Radio that the UK appeared unable to put together a brigade-sized force, typically around 3,000 to 5,000 troops, for an exercise in the spring and it concerned him the UK and others were not “taking seriously our defence”. Riho Terras suggested the UK has problems with “financing” TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER RICHARD POHLE“The UK has difficulties to put together one brigade to participate

Source: The Times March 27, 2025 02:19 UTC