{"id":50130,"date":"2014-11-12T16:42:10","date_gmt":"2014-11-12T16:42:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=2c47a8d8d2413cbe899d8b3afeb11a96"},"modified":"2014-11-12T16:42:10","modified_gmt":"2014-11-12T16:42:10","slug":"news-story-defence-secretary-meets-with-nordic-baltic-defence-ministers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=50130","title":{"rendered":"News story: Defence Secretary meets with Nordic-Baltic defence ministers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The group, known as the Northern Group, provides a key forum for discussion of common threats and security issues of particular interest to the Nordic-Baltic region. <\/p>\n

Tomorrow\u2019s meeting comes at a time of increased Russian military activity with more than 100 intercepts recorded in European airspace so far this year \u2013 3 times the total in 2013.<\/p>\n

Discussions are expected to include a focus on European security challenges and how the Northern Group, which meets twice a year at defence minister level, can better co-operate to strengthen this.<\/p>\n

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:<\/p>\n

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The Northern Group provides a key platform to help shape and deliver Europe\u2019s and NATO<\/abbr>\u2019s response to the security implications of Russia\u2019s indefensible actions in Ukraine and whose incursions of European air and sea space have increased.<\/p>\n

It is absolutely vital that like-minded countries come together to discuss how we face such issues and other matters of shared interest and I look forward to doing so tomorrow.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

En route to Oslo Michael Fallon has visited RAF Lossiemouth<\/a> today to view the fighters and crews which defend UK airspace and have intercepted Russian aircraft over the North Sea in recent weeks. <\/p>\n

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\"Wing<\/div>
Wing Commander Sutton, Officer Commandng 1 Squadron, briefing Defence Secretary Michael Fallon [Picture: Corporal Trish James RAF, Crown copyright]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Making the visit to the Typhoon Quick Reaction Alert he added:<\/p>\n

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State-of-the-art Typhoon fighter jets and their RAF crews at Lossiemouth work around the clock patrolling the skies above and around the UK and intercepting unidentified aircraft.<\/p>\n

I was delighted to meet air and ground crew delivering this vital capability and see for myself the first-class kit they operate and the highly professional way in which they do so.<\/p>\n

No less important is the work which goes on at Lossiemouth to prepare the crews for their vital and varied work, especially in the campaign against ISIL<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The UK is already playing a central role in NATO<\/abbr>\u2019s immediate assurance measures, underlined by its summer deployment of RAF Typhoon aircraft<\/a> to Lithuania for the Baltic air policing mission and participation in military exercises across the Baltic States and eastern Europe.<\/p>\n

Although sitting outside of NATO<\/abbr>, the Northern Group is due to discuss how it can best help deliver the measures agreed at the NATO<\/abbr> Summit Wales<\/a> earlier this year. <\/p>\n

These include:<\/p>\n