AROUND 120 UK troops have arrived in Estonia as part of one of the biggest British deploy-ments to Eastern Europe in decades.

Soldiers arrived at Amari airbase last week.

They were welcomed by Estonia’s Defence Minister, having flown from RAF Brize Norton by Voyager aircraft.

The 120 soldiers are fundamental to setting up a UK headquarters in the country before the rest of the UK deployment arrives next month, increasing the total number of troops in Estonia to around 800.

The UK is taking a leading role in NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence, alongside several other contributing nations.

The deployments are designed to assure NATO allies of the mutual commitment to collective European security.

Working alongside the UK forces this year will be French personnel, and from next year, Danish partners. All are there at the request of the Estonian Government.

The UK-led Estonia Battlegroup is one of four NATO multinational deployments to the eastern part of the Alliance.

Other nations are deploying to Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, the last of which will include 150 UK personnel, on a persistent, rotational basis.

Diary dates

Tuesday, The Royal Naval Association meets at20.00hrs at Feversham Street Sea Cadets Headquarters.

Monday, The Royal British Legion, Thornton Branch, meets at 19.45hrs at Thornton Conservative Club,

Tuesday, The Yorkshire Volunteers Association meets at 19.30hrs at Keighley Drill Hall, The Royal British Legion, Bradford Central Branch, meets at 14.00hrs at City Hall.