Days after Brexit, UK navy arrives in Belgium for war games

A military truck is unloed from a British naval vessel, taking part in U.S.-led war games, at Port of Antwerp in Antwerp, Belgium, Monday Feb. 3, 2020. Defender-Europe 2020 exercises will involve approximately 20,000 American troops; biggest deployment of U.S.-based soldiers to Europe in 25 years. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

 Britain may have just left European Union, but country’s navy was first to arrive for U.S.-led war games over next six months across Europe.

Royal Navy was busy Monday offloing heavy military vehicles in Belgian port of Antwerp. vehicles will be involved in Defender-Europe 2020 exercises, which will see biggest deployment of U.S. troops — some 20,000 personnel — to Europe in last 25 years. In all, around 37,000 soldiers from 18 countries, t all of whom are members of NATO military alliance, will be taking part.

war games are a test of U.S. military’s ability to pour thousands of troops and equipment into Europe alongside NATO allies and partners in times of crisis. Many of exercises will be held in countries neighboring Russia like Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

bulk of forces are deploying in February, with main exercises taking place in April and May. maneuvers wind up in August. Some of exercises will involve air-dropping soldiers to pre-positioned equipment or erecting temporary bridges for river crossings in combat-like conditions.

(Im Credit: AP)