Exercise Black Eagle is a significant demonstration of the UK’s support to the region, as the UK continues to play a leading role in delivering NATO’s measures to reassure eastern allies.

Troops from the UK have engaged in a series of exercises on eastern allied territory, the largest of which is Exercise Black Eagle, where around 1,300 troops will train with their Polish counterparts from 10th Armoured Brigade.

Speaking at the visit the Defence Secretary said:

I think it’s important for NATO forces to be seen to exercise together. We are stepping up the scale of these exercises, so there are more of them, they are more continuous, they are of a larger scale and they involve more and more forces from across NATO.

That’s what’s important. To show that NATO members are working together to carry out their responsibilities to defend each other from any kind of aggression.

Members of the King’s Royal Hussars and 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh met the Defence Secretary to demonstrate the vehicles and equipment they will operate on Exercise Black Eagle.

The Defence Secretary said:

There is huge enthusiasm here for the task that they are being sent on. This is one of the most important allied exercises for years which will help reassure and demonstrate our commitment to our eastern allies. That’s what they train for, and that is what they are ready for.

Lieutenant Colonel Justin Kingsford, commanding officer of the King’s Royal Hussars, said:

This was a great opportunity to show the capabilities and readiness of this battle group. Most soldiers in my battle group returned from Afghanistan about 2 years ago, so in many ways our very intense training in Canada was the culmination of 2 years’ worth of getting back onto these complex armoured vehicles.

Although we are still committed in Afghanistan, there are significant parts of the Army concentrating on contingency operations, like training for conventional war in armoured vehicles, and we are looking forward to getting out to Poland to train alongside the Polish 10th Armoured Brigade.

The King’s Royal Hussars make up a large part of the deploying battle group alongside 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh. Over 100 armoured vehicles and 250 other vehicles will make up the deployment, including vehicles such as the Challenger 2 main battle tank and the Warrior armoured fighting vehicle.

Alongside these exercises, the UK is currently providing Sentry E3-D aircraft to NATO’s Baltic air policing mission and between May and August deployed 4 Typhoons to support the mission. The UK also participated in BALTOPS, a major allied maritime exercise in the Baltic.

During his visit to Helmand and Kandahar provinces, Mr Fallon met UK military personnel from all 3 services as well as civilians providing support and witnessed the progress being made by the Afghan security forces.

He spoke with troops who are working on the major task of returning personnel and equipment to the UK and discussed how International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) personnel will conclude their combat role by the end of the year.

Mr Fallon also met with senior UK and ISAF commanders including Brigadier General Daniel Yoo, the US Marine Corps Commandant General of Regional Command (Southwest), and his deputy, Brigadier Rob Thomson, the most senior UK officer in Helmand.

He also met Brigadier General Zamen Hasan, Chief of Staff of 215 Corps of the Afghan National Army, for an update on the increased capability of the Afghan army that has been tackling the insurgency in Helmand province since last summer.

Afghan forces, equipped with their own helicopter evacuation capability, now lead 99% of security operations and receive only limited support from ISAF.

Mr Fallon said:

Meeting British troops at Camp Bastion and Kandahar ahead of UK combat operations drawing to a close later this year, I have been struck by how much they have achieved in drawing down their own people and equipment and crucially in helping to build a capable and strong Afghan force now numbering almost 350,000.

Security in the main towns and villages across Helmand province has markedly improved, but in those areas where insurgents remain active it is the Afghan forces who are now doing the job and dealing with them.

This is something that UK personnel can be very proud of and although we do not know for certain what lies ahead we can be very sure that going forward the Afghans have the very best chance possible of maintaining and building on the security gains made.

Brigadier Thomson said:

This is a vital stage of the operation in Afghanistan as we continue to develop the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) while drawing down securely and responsibly. We were delighted to host the Defence Secretary and highlight our efforts alongside the US Marine Corps and the ANSF, with whom we have tremendous working relationships.

At Kandahar Airfield Mr Fallon also met with UK personnel from the UK’s Tornado GR4 detachment which is under the command of 904 Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW).

Group Captain Andy Martin, commanding officer of 904 EAW, said:

It was fantastic to be able to show Mr Fallon what we do out here as well as demonstrating the key role Kandahar Airfield will play in redeployment.

We are playing a vital part in the delivery of air power across Afghanistan, protecting and supporting troops on the ground while conducting operations to take the fight to the insurgents. I am very proud of my people and what we are achieving.

Following the recent decision by the Japanese government to adopt a right of collective self-defence, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon says he looks forward to the more active role Japan will play in supporting international peace and security.

In a statement he said:

The proposed reforms would allow Japan to make a greater contribution to international peace and security, including through the UN Charter right to collective self-defence. We welcome this.

The personnel of the Japanese Self-Defence Forces are among the most professional in the world. They have a strong track record of commitment to peacekeeping and disaster relief operations, often performed in challenging circumstances, and will be able now to contribute even more in these areas.

These reforms are a natural progression in Japan’s efforts to take on more responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, and for helping to ensure the global commons remain open and accessible.

Co-operation between the UK Ministry of Defence and armed forces and the Japanese Self-Defence Forces is good and continues to strengthen. We look forward to co-operating in a wider range of areas in the future, and to Japan’s participation at the upcoming NATO Summit as a valued partner of the alliance.

As these reforms progress, it is important that Japan communicates these changes clearly to its neighbours to avoid misunderstandings.