New Delhi: Over 1,000 British soldiers joined in a major military exercise in the Balkans, alongside other NATO allies. The deployment is one of the largest in the region this year and underscores the UK’s commitment to the security of Eastern Europe, a UK government release stated.
The three-month-long Operation Chelonia will see 18 different activities take place across the region. One of the key exercises involves the amphibious landing of UK troops in Kosovo, using a world-leading motorised floating platform called Mexeflote. This landing took place near Pasha Liman Naval Base in Southern Albania and involved the Strategic Reserve Force (SRF), a 600-strong unit held at readiness to deploy at two weeks’ notice. The SRF is currently led by the 1st Battalion of the Royal Yorkshire Regiment.
The Mexeflote, a modular platform that can dock onto ships and ferry heavy military equipment, played a crucial role in the operation. It transported 26,000 linear metres of vehicles and equipment from the UK to the Albanian beach.
The Royal Air Force has been conducting training exercises in the region to ensure the continued security of both the UK and its allies. Other nations participating in the exercises include Serbia, Romania, Kosovo, Georgia, Croatia, and Moldova.