Biden beefs up UK defence: US to send two new stealth fighter squadrons to Britain

RAF: Pilot explains capabilities of ‘stealth’ F35 fighter jet

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The announcement by the US President is coupled with the promise to send two extra navy destroyers to be based in Spain. The news comes as the NATO summit has also seen the approval of Finland and Sweden to join the alliance following initial opposition from Türkiye.

Speaking of the news whilst addressing NATO Secretary-Genera Jen Stoltenberg,  Mr Biden said: “‘We’re sending an unmistakable message in my view, and I think yours as well.

“NATO is strong, united and the steps we’re taking during this summit will kind of further augment our collective strengths.

“To that end, today I’m announcing the United States will enhance our force posture in Europe and respond to the changing security environment as well as strengthening our collective security.”

After already sending an extra 20,000 troops to Europe – bringing the total to 100,000 – Mr Biden announced two more squadrons of F-35 warplanes would be sent to Britain and the number of destroyers based in Spain would increase from four to six.

‘We’re sending an unmistakable message in my view, and I think yours as well,’ he told NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, ‘that NATO is strong, united and the steps we’re taking during this summit will kind of further augment our collective strengths.

Aside from the F-35’s and Destroyers to Spain, the US has also pledged it will send air defence equipment to Germany and Italy.

The US will also create a new permanent base in Poland.

Mr Biden said in a warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin: “We’re going to make sure that NATO is ready to meet the threats from all directions across every domain – land, air and the sea.

“At a moment when Putin has shattered peace in Europe and attacked the very, very tenets of rule-based order. The United States and are allies are going to step up.”

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has seen the alliance re-discover its importance following a period of doubt in previous years.

The Secretary-General said the NATO summit came at a time ‘in the midst of the most serious security crisis we have faced since the Second World War.’

Mr Stoltenberg also addressed the need for the alliance to consider non-military matters, focusing heavily on the environment during his opening speech.

Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Boris Johnson also used the summit to warn Putin the invasion of Ukraine would not divide NATO.

NATO has in fact seen its membership increase with the approval of Sweden and Finland joining the alliance, in spite of Türkiye raising initial concerns the two nations were harbouring terrorists, a claim acknowledged by Mr Stoltenberg.

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