The United Kingdom has sent an elite Special Forces Unit to the Top End ahead of a massive multinational military exercise this month.

Last weekend, troops from 40 Commando, Royal Marines, touched down at Darwin Airport to take part in the Australian Army-led Exercise Predator’s Run.

Having travelled more than 14,000 kilometres, it is understood 40 Commando’s touchdown was preceded by an advanced party which arrived early to plan alongside local Australian Defence Force (ADF) units.

The Defence spokesman also confirmed personnel from the Philippine Army would participate in the exercise.

The Pentagon announced plans on Thursday to close 15 military bases in Europe in an effort to save around $500 million dollars a year. While there will only be a slight reduction in overall force levels, critics are concerned that this decision is coming at exactly the wrong time — when Europe is facing the prospect of further Russian aggression in Ukraine. Over the past 10 years, U.S. military presence in Europe has slowly declined, and the recent European Infrastructure Consolidation review is an attempt to accelerate the process in light of fiscal concerns. The closed bases will be returned to their host governments.

a small step in the right direction?