Politics first, troops last

As the nation reels from the publication of the long-awaited Chilcot Report into the Iraq War, the news that hundreds of British troops are to be sent to the Estonian border as part of a show of strength by Nato will certainly give pause for thought.

David Cameron will use his final Nato summit in Warsaw today to announce that a 500-strong battalion will be deployed to Estonia, with 150 troops stationed in Poland on an “enduring basis”.

Defence is a matter that needs careful discussion in the aftermath of the Brexit vote, as Britain’s commitment to the safety of Europe remains of crucial importance.

There is no denying that Russia has become increasingly assertive and provocative in Crimea and Ukraine.

Nato has a clear role in ensuring the freedom and security of its members, and the UK must show it is still committed to the project as well as playing a leading role on the world stage.

But as the headlines continue to be dominated by the catalogue of failures which occurred in the build up to the 2003 war, it is worth remembering that the way forward must be through politics rather than boots on the ground.

When there starts to be a build up of troops around disputed borders, this can only serve to exacerbate tensions.

The only sure way to take the heat out of military build-ups is to find a political solution and although Nato has always been the body responsible for our and our allies’ defence, from now on political solutions might need a bit more work and thoughtful planning after the UK vote to leave the European Union.