Sir Keir Starmer has thanked British troops for “everything they do for our country” as the Prime Minister wraps up his trip to Norway and Estonia.
Addressing the servicemen and woman, he said: “Thank you for everything you do for our country, thank you for everything you do for Nato, thank you for keeping our world a safer place.”
He was speaking to sailors aboard HMS Iron Duke, a Type 23 frigate which left Portsmouth almost two months ago and has been patrolling the North and Baltic Seas.
It comes at the end of a whirlwind two-day trip to Norway and Estonia, his final overseas visit this year.
Keir Starmer spoke to the troops on HMS Iron Duke
GB News
Met by Captain David Armstrong, he toured the ship, shared tea and mince pies with troops in the mess, awarded medals and addressed the sailors, alongside Estonian President Alar Karis.
Over a proper cup of tea (hard to come by in Estonia) the Captain told GB News that it “gives them a boost” to have the Prime Minister visit their ship.
Sir Keir Starmer has come in for flak for his jet-setting habits since he came to office just five months ago.
But sailors GB News talked to were very happy to see him.
They spoke about military exercises and operations they conduct with our JEF allies in the freezing waters in the North Sea and the Baltic.
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Sailors GB News talked to were very happy to see him
GB News
The Prime Minister has been at the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) Summit in Tallinn, Estonia, today and yesterday.
The defence and security coalition of 10 countries: UK, Scandinavian and Baltic states, is 10 years old and exists separately to Nato, but can complement it.
They carry out joint exercises and can be scrambled at short notic and potentially deployed anywhere in the world they are needed.
At the moment, allies are closely monitoring Russian and Chinese ships.
Recently two undersea cables were severed and a the crew of a Chinese boat nearby at the time is suspected of sabotage.
They spoke about military exercises and operations they conduct with our JEF allies in the freezing waters in the North Sea and the Baltic
GB News
The JEF summit comes “in a more volatile world”, the PM said today. There is huge concern in Europe about Ukraine and Russia, and what happens when Donald Trump returns to the White House in January.
Today the UK announced further sanctions on Russia and £35million in emergency support for Ukraine during winter.
UK, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Finland and Estonia have also agreed a new partnership to challenge suspected suspected shadow vessels along the Baltic route.
Tonight Starmer will be back home in London. The men and women of the Iron Duke will still be sailing through the bitter Baltic.
But, weather permitting, they hope to make it home for Christmas.
