British troops train on Faroe Islands with Danish forces in Lion Protector exercise
Royal Marines carried out amphibious landings and interception drills with Danish troops on the Faroe Islands, the first British exercise there since the Second World War, as part of the JEF's Lion Protector. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting framed it as a response to rising Russian threats.
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The story, neutrally told
British troops have carried out an exercise on the Faroe Islands for the first time since the Second World War, as part of the Joint Expeditionary Force's Lion Protector operation. GB NewsR “For the first time since the Second World War, British troops have conducted a land exercise on the Faroe Islands” Read at GB News ↗ The IndependentLC “Royal Marines trained alongside Danish troops on the Faroe Islands, executing amphibious landings and interception manoeuvres during their first exercise in the territory since World War Two.” Read at The Independent ↗ GB News reports that hundreds of personnel from the UK's Special Operations Maritime Task Group took part alongside Danish counterparts in late September, practising amphibious landings and vertical ascent training. GB NewsR “Hundreds of personnel from the UK's Special Operations Maritime Task Group took part in the drills alongside Danish counterparts during late September”“The Faroe Islands drills encompassed amphibious landings and vertical ascent training.” Read at GB News ↗ According to GB News, Royal Marines practised intercepting vessels of Russia's shadow fleet, the civilian tankers used to ship sanctioned oil, and rehearsed defending undersea energy and data cables. GB NewsR “The exercises saw Royal Marines practise intercepting vessels belonging to Russia's shadow fleet”“They also rehearsed defending vital undersea cables that carry energy and data between Britain and the rest of Europe.” Read at GB News ↗
It is the first time British forces have operated on land in the archipelago since they occupied it during Operation Valentine in the Second World War. GB NewsR “It marks the first time British forces have operated on land in the archipelago since they occupied it during Operation Valentine in the Second World War.” Read at GB News ↗ The Faroes drills are the latest stage of Lion Protector, which began in August with a simulated multinational maritime escort mission along the Baltic Sea in which a Danish ship ferried military equipment to Latvia; Nordic, Baltic and Dutch JEF members took part, and GB News says Ukraine participated in the training for the first time. GB NewsR “Lion Protector, launched in August, simulated a multinational maritime escort mission spanning the full length of the Baltic Sea, during which a Danish ship ferried military equipment to Latvia.”“Ukraine participated in the allied training programme for the first time.” Read at GB News ↗ The IndependentLC “It involved various JEF members, including Nordic states, Baltic nations, and the Netherlands.” Read at The Independent ↗ Defence Secretary Wes Streeting, speaking ahead of a JEF defence ministers' summit in Keflavik, Iceland, described the drills as "all about strengthening our deterrence towards Russia" and said the exercises included work on "further interdictions of Russian shadow fleet vessels". GB NewsR “described the drills as "all about strengthening our deterrence towards Russia"”“working together on exercising for further interdictions of Russian shadow fleet vessels” Read at GB News ↗
Streeting told The Telegraph that Russia is becoming "more reckless and less discreet", citing the mapping of undersea cables and what he called "totally outrageous hostile action in Estonia, in Germany". GB NewsR “Mr Streeting pointed to what he called "totally outrageous hostile action in Estonia, in Germany"”“So the Russians are becoming more reckless and less discreet as they do so.” Read at GB News ↗ In a statement quoted by The Independent, Streeting called the North Atlantic, High North and Baltic "the frontline of the UK's security" and said recent JEF exercises, from amphibious landings on the Faroes to a standing headquarters north of the Arctic Circle, show Britain working with allies to strengthen NATO's defence of the region. The IndependentLC “The North Atlantic, High North, and Baltic are the frontline of the UK's security, which is why British leadership of the Joint Expeditionary Force is so vital to our defence.”“to deploying a standing headquarters north of the Arctic Circle” Read at The Independent ↗ The Keflavik summit brings together defence ministers of the JEF's northern European states with representatives from Ukraine and Canada; Canada's application to join is a key item, alongside support for Ukraine, countering hybrid threats and industry co-operation. GB NewsR “Canada's bid to join the UK-led coalition is expected to be a key agenda item” Read at GB News ↗ The IndependentLC “Talks are expected to focus on support for Ukraine, countering hybrid threats and industry co-operation.” Read at The Independent ↗
The meeting follows a new UK sanctions package covering 23 individuals and entities with asset freezes and travel bans, and trade sanctions on eight ships linked to Russia's shadow fleet. The IndependentLC “Some 23 individuals and entities will be subject to asset freezes and travel bans, while eight ships linked to Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" will be subject to trade sanctions.” Read at The Independent ↗ GB News adds that Royal Marines boarded and seized the shadow fleet vessel Smyrtos in the English Channel in June, and that the Foreign Office said on Thursday the Kremlin was building a "dangerous new shadow fleet" to circumvent British sanctions. GB NewsR “In June, Royal Marines boarded and seized the shadow fleet vessel Smyrtos in the English Channel.”“the Foreign Office said the Kremlin was building a "dangerous new shadow fleet" to circumvent British sanctions.” Read at GB News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Frames the exercise as one part of a wider allied effort against Russian threats, setting it beside the Keflavik summit and a new sanctions package.
- Emphasis
- JEF co-operation, sanctions on 23 individuals and entities and eight ships, support for Ukraine and Canada's application.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the shadow fleet seizure of the Smyrtos, the undersea cable drills, the Special Operations Maritime Task Group or Operation Valentine.
- Charged language
- “so-called "shadow fleet"”“frontline of the UK's security”
- For example
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“British service personnel have taken part in a major joint military exercise against a backdrop of steadily rising tensions with Russia.” — The Independent
“The meeting follows a fresh package of UK sanctions targeting the Kremlin's war chest” — The Independent
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Leads on the historic first British land exercise on the Faroes since WW2 and ties it to confronting Russia's shadow fleet, with extensive Streeting quotes warning the public about Russia.
- Emphasis
- Shadow fleet interdiction, undersea cable defence, Streeting's warnings, the Smyrtos seizure and a possible further tanker seizures.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the new UK sanctions package of 23 individuals and entities and eight ships.
- Charged language
- “escalating Russian aggression”“totally outrageous hostile action”“dangerous new shadow fleet”
What every side reports
- British troops, Royal Marines with Danish forces, exercised on the Faroe Islands for the first time since the Second World War.
- The drills included amphibious landings and were part of the JEF's Lion Protector, which began with a Baltic escort rehearsal in August.
- Defence Secretary Wes Streeting is attending a JEF meeting in Keflavik, Iceland, with Ukraine and Canada represented and Canada's application on the agenda.
Where accounts differ
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Purpose and emphasis of the exercise
- Left
- The Independent presents it as a JEF exercise in a context of rising tensions, placing it alongside new UK sanctions and Ukraine support.
- Right
- GB News presents it as a response to "escalating Russian aggression", centred on rehearsing interceptions of shadow fleet vessels and suggesting Britain may seize more tankers.
Faroe Islands place
Host territory of the drills, where Royal Marines trained with Danish troops; the coverage gives no statement from Faroese or Danish officials.
“Royal Marines trained alongside Danish troops on the Faroe Islands” — The Independent
Operation Lion Protector event
Described as the JEF's multinational exercise series, launched in August with a Baltic maritime escort rehearsal and extended to the Faroes.
“Lion Protector, launched in August, simulated a multinational maritime escort mission” — GB News
Royal Marines organisation
Royal Marines practised amphibious landings and interceptions on the Faroes; GB News notes they seized the Smyrtos in June.
“In June, Royal Marines boarded and seized the shadow fleet vessel Smyrtos in the English Channel.” — GB News
Left1 article
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British troops join allies for major military exercise countering Russian threats
Neutral Reports the exercise as part of allied JEF activity alongside the Keflavik summit and new sanctions, mostly in official statements.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
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GB NewsR ·
Britain leads training for first time since WW2 in European attempt to combat Russian shadow fleet
Alarmist Presents the drills as a milestone response to escalating Russian aggression, foregrounding shadow fleet interdiction and Streeting's warnings.
- 2 Oct 08:49 First GB NewsR Britain leads training for first time since WW2 in European attempt to combat Russian shadow fleet
- 2 Oct 09:36 +47m The IndependentLC British troops join allies for major military exercise countering Russian threats
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.