HMS Elizabeth leads 19 NATO warships & 5,000 troops in Black Sea military exercise in show of strength against Putin

 VLADMIR Putin was sent a stark message by British forces after HMS Queen Elizabeth led a series of war games ahead of a trip to the Black Sea.

The huge £3 billion aircraft carrier was joined in Portugal by 19 NATO warships from the US and eight other allied nations for operation Steadfast Defender on Friday.

HMS Queen Elizabeth led an army of warships in Portugal
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HMS Queen Elizabeth led an army of warships in PortugalCredit: PA
It was joined by 19 NATO warships and eight other allied nations
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It was joined by 19 NATO warships and eight other allied nationsCredit: PA

The exercise, which is expected to last until June 22, included submarines, destroyers and frigates and was backed by immense aerial support from the RAF's brand new F-35B Lightning stealth fighters.

It aims to test the Alliance’s readiness and military mobility, with forces deploying across land and sea.

Commodore Steve Moorhouse, the ship's commanding officer and captain, called it "a hugely powerful statement."

"It shows that we are a global navy and wanting to be back out there,"he said.

His words echoed a new show of strength as Putin prepares to meet Joe Biden in showdown talks later this month.

The exercise, which took place off the coast of Portugal, is expected to last until June 22
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The exercise, which took place off the coast of Portugal, is expected to last until June 22Credit: PA
The fleet included submarines, destroyers and frigates
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The fleet included submarines, destroyers and frigatesCredit: PA
Commodore Steve Moorhouse, called it 'a hugely powerful statement'
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Commodore Steve Moorhouse, called it 'a hugely powerful statement'Credit: PA

In April, it was reported that Putin had blocked all foreign warships from reaching the country via the Black Sea.

It materialised as he piled more troops on the border for military drills as he threatened warfare.

Moscow closed part of the Kerch Strait - which separates Crimea in the west from Russia in the east - after US President Biden threatened to send two Navy battleships to the region but then called them off.

The Kremlin had earlier warned US warships to stay well away from the region “for their own good”, calling their potential deployment in the Black Sea a provocation.

Nato chiefs- who were ones of those critical - have since launched a massive spending initiative after Russia annexed the Crimea from Ukraine in 2018 with the aim of detering Putin from incurring any further into Europe. 

However, they insisted that the new military exercises involving 9000 troops in Portugal are not aimed at Russia specifically.

It comes as a fresh warning to Putin ahead of his talks with Joe Biden later this month
It comes as a fresh warning to Putin ahead of his talks with Joe Biden later this month
On the agenda will be the ongoing situation in Ukraine where tanks and troops line the border
On the agenda will be the ongoing situation in Ukraine where tanks and troops line the border

The alliance's secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg says the exercises send an important message to any potential enemy that: 'Nato is ready.'

'Nato is there to defend all our allies, and this exercise sends a message about our ability to transport a large number of troops, equipment across the Atlantic, across Europe and also to project maritime power,' he said aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth.  

The latest operation coincides with HMS Queen Elizabeth's maiden voyage that will see her visit 40 countries over the next six months.

She will exercise with naval vessels from the United States, Singapore, Japan, and South Korea along the seven month voyage.

This journey will take her past Russia's black sea amid fears Putin may be preparing for another land grab from Ukraine.

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The new threat to Russia emerged as Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab prepares to make his own policies regarding Putin's 'aggressive behaviour' during a Nato summit later today.  

"From Russia's aggressive behaviour towards Ukraine to Lukashenko's assault on civil aviation, democratic values are under attack," Mr Raab told The Telegraph ahead of the meeting.

"As one of the biggest contributors to Nato, UK support for the transatlantic alliance is unwavering. "We will work with Allies and partners to defend our allies and our values."

Previously, US President Biden has also spoken of his "unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity" as he looks to protect those at threat from Russia.It prompted him to schedule the summit with Putin which will take place in Geneva.

Biden told reporters: "It's time to remind everybody who we are."

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