23-05-2025
British paratroopers asked to show passports during Swedish Nato drill
British paratroopers were asked to show their passports during a Nato drill in Sweden.
The troops were on the strategic Baltic island of Gotland this week carrying out exercises as part of Swift Response 2025.
But their progress was delayed as the troops were immediately directed to a Border Control van to be processed as Britain is outside the Schengen Area.
Lt Col Chris Hitchins told Expressen, a Swedish news outlet: 'So I'm used to border control now. I did it in France last year, as well.
'Sometimes you have a bit of a mental pause, you go through those motions and then I'll put my helmet back on and I'll go into the trees and we'll be back in a tactical scenario.'
Troops were carrying out drills including seizing a 'tactical landing zone' from Swedish defenders. The US-led Nato exercise involved 100 British paratroopers dropping from a Royal Air Force Airbus A400M.
Speaking after the drill on Tuesday, one soldier told the outlet it had been a 'good, successful jump'.
It comes a year after the paratroopers had to undergo passport checks in France during a D-Day event.
French officials raised eyebrows by insisting on checking the paperwork of 400 troops landing in Normandy for the 80th anniversary commemoration.
US and Belgian troops involved in the drop were not checked, leading to accusation that the French were trying to make a point about the UK's decision to leave the EU.
Brig Mark Berry, the commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade, said at the time: 'It is something we haven't experienced before.
'But given the Royal welcome we have had from every other feature, it seems like a very small price to pay for coming to France.'
