10,000 UK personnel deployed overseas this Christmas

The Defence Secretary has visited British Army soldiers stationed in Estonia to thank them for their vital service during the festive season.

This Christmas, around 10,000 UK sailors, marines, soldiers, and aviators will spend the day deployed overseas, sacrificing time with their families and friends to keep the country safe.

UK Armed Forces personnel are involved in 60 operations across 44 countries, while hundreds more remain on duty at home to protect the nation’s skies, shores, and seas.

In Estonia, 900 British personnel are deployed to defend NATO’s eastern flank. They work alongside French and Estonian forces to deter aggression and uphold stability in eastern Europe.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

“In a world in which global insecurities are rising, we depend more and more on those who are willing to serve. And those who are willing to serve are supported by the families that stand with them and behind them.

“This Christmas, I pay special tribute to those 10,000 military personnel who are deployed overseas, many of them not seeing family and loved ones at this important time.

“It was an honour to spend time with some of those troops in Estonia, to serve them Christmas lunch and thank them for their commitment and professionalism. This week they will sacrifice what most of us take for granted, that special time with our families, to ensure that our nation is safe.

“Our British deployment in Estonia demonstrates our unshakeable commitment to NATO and the security of Europe, keeping us secure at home and strong abroad. Our presence here is a powerful message to our allies and adversaries: the UK stands ready to defend its allies and uphold our shared values, all year round.”

Commitment to Innovation

The Defence Secretary’s visit also focused on Project ASGARD, which will equip UK Armed Forces in Estonia with emerging technologies to enhance battlefield capability.

The programme harnesses artificial intelligence (AI), drones, and advanced sensors to improve information gathering and combat effectiveness, with continued development planned for 2025.

British personnel stationed in Estonia form a vital part of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence, which ensures a constant presence along the alliance’s eastern flank.

The UK recently signed a defence roadmap with Estonia, which includes the deployment of the UK’s cutting-edge Challenger 3 tanks and Boxer armoured vehicles, reinforcing NATO’s defences.

The UK is also leading the DIAMOND initiative, aimed at enhancing NATO’s integrated air and missile defence systems to operate more effectively across Europe.

Protecting the Nation

Paying tribute to those on duty over Christmas, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Chief of the Defence Staff, said:
“Thank you to all our Armed Forces personnel for your extraordinary hard work this year.

“From delivering the nuclear deterrent and policing NATO skies, to training Ukrainian recruits and protecting merchant shipping in the Red Sea, the Armed Forces have stepped up to deliver all that the nation asks of us.

“I am immensely grateful to those deployed away from home over the festive season and wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”

At home, Royal Air Force personnel remain on high alert to intercept hostile aircraft, with Typhoon jets ready to scramble from RAF Coningsby and RAF Lossiemouth. Behind the scenes, cyber specialists at the MOD’s digital HQ in Corsham are working around the clock to defend the UK against cyber threats.

The Royal Navy continues to protect UK seas, with nuclear submarines maintaining the nation’s 55-year-long nuclear deterrent patrol. Meanwhile, the Household Division of the British Army will continue their traditional duty of guarding royal palaces in London throughout the festive period.

Thanking the Troops

Speaking to soldiers at Tapa Army Base in Estonia, the Defence Secretary said:

“I wanted to say, above all, thank you. Thank you on behalf of all those back home who will never have the chance to say this to you for themselves. Thank you for your commitment to keeping our country safe.

“This is a really important deployment for us. What you’re doing here really matters. It matters for the security of Europe, and it matters to us all back home in Britain.

“We ask a lot of you all in the Armed Forces, not least the separation from your families and your friends and your loved ones. And at Christmas, that sense of separation can be especially strong.

“So thank you for your service. Thank you for your willingness to sacrifice what almost all of the rest of us take for granted. It’s an honour to be with you.”