This week UK made official the fact that Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard MP was in the Falkland Islands to meet service personal, members of the Islands elected government, and also attend a Remembrance Day Service.
The officer in charge of the United Kingdom military in the Falklands has told Forces News that defense of the Islands is the “number one” priority. Brigadier Nick Sawyer, Commander British Forces South Atlantic Islands said Brexit will not compromise the defense of the British Overseas Territory, whatever the outcome of the UK's withdrawal from the European Union.
The new Commander British Forces South Atlantic Islands, (CBFSAI), is Brigadier Nick Sawyer. Brigadier Sawyer commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1994 and has served in many different countries, including the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan, Cyprus and Congo.
Falkland Islands will commemorate the 8th December 1914 Battle of the Falkland Islands with a talk on Wednesday and a full program next Saturday. This Wednesday at the Historic Dockyard Museum, David Bailey will be giving a talk on the Battle of Colonel, and of the Falkland Islands.
Falkland Islands lawmaker, MLA Mike Summers apologized on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defense (MoD) for the disruption that the flight diversion from Ascension Island had caused, but said he knew they were working hard to ensure proper arrangements were in place for the continuation of the air bridge with the UK.
The new Commander of British Forces South Atlantic Islands, Brigadier Baz Bennett OBE arrived in the Islands this week. Brigadier Bennett began his military career in 1991, commissioning into the Royal Artillery in the Army.
Falkland Islanders were able to enjoy a first class display of chopper capability when a military Chinook transported from Mount Pleasant to Stanley Airport the decommissioned Sea King Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopter donated to the Falkland Islands Museum and National Trust by the UK Ministry of Defense.
The Falkland Islands is one of Britain’s biggest military bases and as part of the UK was, “entitled to its cut of the defense budget,” Secretary of State for Defense Michael Fallon MP said on Tuesday as he visited the Falklands for the first time.
The Falkland Islands will commemorate this Tuesday 8th December, the naval engagements of 8th December 1914, one of the Royal Navy's greatest victories during the First World War, which resulted in the sinking of a German imperial squadron that threatened to capture the Islands.
The British government reaffirmed its support for the Falkland Islands and its right to self determination as part of the recently announced Strategic Defense and Security review 2015, which pledges an extra increase £12bn of spending on defense equipment - part of London's £178bn overall defense equipment and support budget during the next decade.