- Nato 's UK-led Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) conducted Operation Arcade Strike at a disused Charing Cross tube platform, simulating 'deep strike' operations against Russia in the event of an attack on allied forces.
- The exercise tested Nato's electronic warfare capabilities to jam Russian communications and down drones, in preparation for a fictional Russian invasion of a Baltic country.
- US General Christopher Donahue, head of Nato's Land Command, warned the alliance has little time to prepare for a possible Russian attack, stating 'Mission ready by 2030 is not a slogan, it is what we must do'.
- British ARCC commander Lt Gen Mike Elviss emphasised the necessity of rehearsing Nato's 'recce-strike' capability to find and destroy Russian forces, aiming to deter adversaries by demonstrating readiness.
- The high-profile training comes amid criticism that the UK is not 'war ready' and has fallen behind other European nations in preparing for a potential Russian attack, with concerns over a reported £28 billion shortfall in the Ministry of Defence's budget.
IN FULL