The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has sent 100 scientists and epidemiologists to Italy, along with eight medical teams to provide assistance in the country’s effort to stem the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
The personnel flew to Italy on nine Il-76 military transport aircraft, which took off from the military-run Chkalovsky Airport near Moscow.
In a statement on 22 March, the MoD said: ‘A group of some 100 people is ready for the flight, which consists of leading specialists of the Russian Defence Ministry in the field of virology and epidemiology, who have major international experience in fighting against the epidemic along with modern equipment for diagnosing and carrying out disinfection efforts.’
Following a conversation on 21 March with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conti, Russian President Vladimir Putin committed to sending personal protective equipment and mobile aerosol disinfection systems on Kamaz trucks, as well as other medical equipment and personnel.
The initial document focused more on creating the right partnerships and inspiring investment in defence than on any details of how future UK Armed Forces would be armed.
The first stage of developing a new UK Defence Industrial Strategy has highlighted failings in current structures with solutions expected to be proposed in next year’s full strategy.
Romania joined NATO more than two decades ago and the country is vital to the alliance’s geographic reach and its ability to supply Ukraine with weapons.
Although Trump’s geopolitics policy for Europe remains unclear, defence analysts from the US and Europe predict how his incoming administration would attempt to handle critical issues on the continent.
The UK budget announced in Parliament on 30 October was the first by a Labour government in 14 years which has also launched a review into defence procurement programmes.
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