Hundreds of British Army soldiers have deployed to Estonia for a large-scale multinational training operation designed to strengthen NATO’s eastern defences and test allied readiness.
The deployment forms part of Exercise Hedgehog, a major military exercise involving over 13,000 troops from NATO countries. Running from 9 to 24 May, the operation is part of Operation Razoredge, a series of coordinated drills aimed at reinforcing NATO’s presence in northern Europe.
The British contingent, drawn from the 4th Light Brigade Combat Team, also known as ‘The Black Rats’, has successfully moved personnel and equipment across multiple borders using road, rail, sea, and air, a demonstration of the British Army’s rapid mobility and logistical reach.
Strategic Rehearsal
Speaking from Estonia, Brigadier Giles Harris, Deputy Commander of the Estonian Division, underscored the strategic significance of the deployment.
“Forty-eight hours ago, a multinational combat brigade was in the UK and France and at high readiness to deploy as part of NATO’s Forward Land Force,” he said. “In a full operational rehearsal, we are now here, rehearsing to defend Estonia under the command of the Estonian Division and NATO.”
The exercise serves as a key rehearsal for the Estonian National Defence Plan, with allied troops conducting joint operations to refine interoperability and tactical coordination under realistic combat conditions.
British Troops on the Move
Kingsman Amelia McCauley from the 1st Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, described the journey undertaken by British forces.
“We got a coach down from our base at Weeton Barracks in Preston to Dover, then took a ferry to France. After that, we travelled by coach to Paderborn in Germany and finally flew to Estonia. It took two days, but we’re here to help Estonia and give them the reassurance that, as part of NATO, we’re here and we’re not going anywhere.”
British forces will operate alongside the Estonian Defence League, a voluntary national defence organisation that plays a vital role in Estonia’s security framework. Other participating nations include the United States, France, and several NATO allies, all contributing to the combined exercise efforts.
Reassurance Through Readiness
Exercise Hedgehog not only tests rapid deployment capabilities and coordination across military branches and national borders but also sends a clear signal of deterrence and unity in the face of evolving regional threats.
As NATO continues to adapt to new security challenges, the British Army’s role in operations like this underscores the UK’s ongoing commitment to collective defence on Europe’s eastern flank.
