{"id":55910,"date":"2026-01-16T02:04:05","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T07:04:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/the-troops-on-high-alert-to-fight-alongside-nato\/16\/01\/2026\/"},"modified":"2026-01-16T02:04:05","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T07:04:05","slug":"the-troops-on-high-alert-to-fight-alongside-nato","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/the-troops-on-high-alert-to-fight-alongside-nato\/16\/01\/2026\/","title":{"rendered":"The troops on high alert to fight alongside Nato"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Troops from the North West are on high alert to deploy to Nato countries in Eastern Europe if conflict in the region escalates.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The 1st Battalion of the Duke of Lancaster&#8217;s Regiment is serving as Nato&#8217;s Forward Land Forces Strategic Reserve (FLF), meaning that should the call come in, the battalion would be ready to fight in as little as 10 days alongside Nato forces from around the world.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Lt Rhuari Stewart, in command of an anti-tank unit, said the troops were not nervous.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;You take it in your stride, it&#8217;s part of being in the Army. There&#8217;s always a potential that something might happen,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Lt Rhuari Stewart says the troops are not nervous [BBC]<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Some of the troops from the regiment are already on the ground in Estonia, where British troops have command of Nato defences.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Meanwhile, at Weeton Barracks, Lancashire, troops from the Burma Brigade were getting hands-on experience with drones.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Their unmanned aerial technology varies in size from approximately a meter in length to being small enough to be fired out of a gun barrel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">2nd Lt Connor Flinter said: &#8220;It&#8217;s really useful because it enables us to use them in whatever environment we are in, whether urban or rural.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Several soldiers crowd around a small screen on a bag on the ground. Several boots can be seen to the right of the picture\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/bfpZBwzfTzWFWXV13oyqgQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/bbc_us_articles_995\/b1fc5bbfcae8f458dd5e59e8539647d1\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>A group of soldiers gets familiar with drone technology [BBC]<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Some of regiment are heading to France in February for Exercise Gaulish &#8211; an integration with French forces on a training exercise at CENZUB, a purpose built small town used for military training.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Stewart said exercises with different countries were vital to ensure troops can work together on the battlefield: &#8220;We&#8217;re learning how they fight, learning their weapon systems, their kit and their technology.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Flinter said it had been interesting to see how the French approached difficult scenarios: &#8220;They most predominantly use vehicles, whereas we are light infantry on our feet, and try and be a bit more sneaky,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"A man holding a rifle peers around a corner outside several buildings. A tank can be seen on the road ahead of him.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/65U3EBT.KK5WMwu40Bp1Rw--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/bbc_us_articles_995\/de109c5128ba0a1147093cbfb0760f0e\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>UK Troops training at CENZUB, a purpose built town for military exercises [Ministry of Defence]<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">If successful, some troops from the regiment may be deployed into French units in Romania.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The battalion was given the role of FLF during the summer when it was first introduced, and will remain on high alert for at least three years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Stewart said: &#8220;Whilst we might not speak the same language, we all share that same ethos, there&#8217;s a lot of things in common between us, and I think that&#8217;s what&#8217;s so special about Nato.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>Listen to the best of <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/sounds\/curation\/p0cjdttt?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Byahoo.north.america%5D-%5Blink%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><em>BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds<\/em><\/a><em> and follow BBC Lancashire on <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BBCLancashire\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Facebook;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><em>Facebook<\/em><\/a><em>, <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/bbclancashire\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:X;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><em>X<\/em><\/a><em> and <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bbclancashire\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Instagram;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><em>Instagram<\/em><\/a><em>. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">Related internet links<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/articles\/troops-high-alert-fight-alongside-063116152.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Troops from the North West are on high alert to deploy to Nato countries in Eastern Europe if conflict in the region<br \/><button class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/the-troops-on-high-alert-to-fight-alongside-nato\/16\/01\/2026\/\">Read More &rsaquo;<\/a><\/button><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":55911,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/1WQyho.4GW5nFtbH.1EUCw--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyMDA7aD02NzU7Y2Y9d2VicA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/bbc_us_articles_995\/15955d178c38e6b2926b675523584dfb","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55910"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55910"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55910\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/55911"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55910"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55910"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55910"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}