Today’s defence-related news includes the announcement that the RAF will be sending Typhoons to the Asia-Pacific region for Exercise Eastern Venture.
Exercise Eastern Venture
News that Britain is sending Typhoon planes to train with fighter jets in Japan and South Korea as part of a sixteen country tour is reported in The Times, The Mirror and the Daily Express.
Chief of the Air Staff Sir Stephen Hillier said:
This exercise is tremendously important and it demonstrates that even though the Royal Air Force is committed to operations in the Middle East and elsewhere, we still have the capability to deploy effectively to the other side of the world, with both Typhoons, supporting Voyagers and air transport, and the Red Arrows as well. This reinforces the message that the UK is a globally-engaged player with global power, reinforcing our relationship with allies, and also promoting UK prosperity.
More about the exercise can be found here.
EU Army
European leaders in Bratislava are looking to revive the idea of a common military, report the Financial Times and The Guardian. It is noted that the UK, alongside Poland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Lithuania and Latvia, view any push as unnecessary and undermining of NATO.
A Government spokesperson said:
Our views on this have been made clear in the past – we work bilaterally with a number of member states for our national security and NATO is the bedrock of our collective security.
Social Mobility
The story of Kidane Cousland, now a second lieutenant in the Royal Artillery after growing up on a tough North London estate, features in the Daily Star’s case studies of individuals who have taken life routes other than university. Cousland is quoted praising the army for how it has shaped his successful life.
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