The United Kingdom will deploy 20,000 troops this year as part of an unprecedented North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) maneuver since the Cold War, Defense Minister Grant Shabbs announced on Monday.

This deployment he described “more important” The British Army meets within NATO for forty years “threat” Represented by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The exercise, dubbed “Steadfast Defender”, will see troops from the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and Army deployed across Europe and beyond, and is planned for the first half of the year. Sweden, a candidate for membership. Combat or surveillance aircraft and ships and submarines must participate.

In a speech at Lancaster House in London, Shapps stressed that NATO faces challenges. “More important than ever” From Russia, China, Iran, or North Korea, adding that they are enemies of the alliance “Also Connected” than ever before.

He called on his allies to increase their military spending, as the United Kingdom pledged to increase its GDP by 2.5%, or 0.5% more than planned for NATO members. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last week pledged 2.5 billion pounds (2.9 billion euros) to Kiev over two years, at a time when some Western countries seem to be questioning their support for Ukraine.