NATO ‘stronger than ever’ as troops brave -30C temperatures to prepare for WW3

Lieutenant Colonel Mark Luson, commanding officer of the Royal Tank Regiment, said the exercise at the Tapa military base showed nations feel very much together

NATO feels “stronger than ever” as the threat of World War 3 grows, a British commanding officer insisted.

It comes after Donald Trump’s rants slamming the alliance and his previous threats to seize Greenland. Some 1,259 NATO soldiers gathered for a training exercise in Estonia on Tuesday.

And Lieutenant Colonel Mark Luson, commanding officer of the Royal Tank Regiment, said the exercise at the Tapa military base showed nations feel very much together.

Luson said: “Right now, on this training area, we have got a US tank company part of the exercise, we’ve got the French company as part of the Forward Land Force battle group, and operating alongside Estonian partners as well.

“So Nato here feels stronger than ever.”

British forces are deployed to Estonia and Poland under Operation Cabrit, the UK’s role in Nato’s Forward Land Forces in the two nations.

The Royal Tank Regiment has been in Estonia since September and squaddies are now taking part in a camp to prepare them for operating in severe bone-chilling weather.

Temperatures in the country typically plunge to -30C at night.

Lt Col Luson said: “Every year, the battle group coming through Estonia will come and do winter camp to practise.

“This year is colder than it’s been for the last couple of years. Things are still working, and so far, so good.”

He added: “We work well together, we’re enjoying each other’s company, and I think whilst we remain together as an alliance, we are strong and ready to go.”

Meanwhile, Janek Baiduza, a company commander in the Estonian Defence Forces, said the exercise is helpful for foreign troops to get used to the teeth-chattering climate.

He said: “This winter camp is perfect… It’s colder than usual, challenging.

“The main reason is to exchange experiences, maybe for foreign and other countries who are participating in winter camp, they can get a lot of experience, fighting in these conditions.”