Nato increases military presence along eastern border amid Russian threat
Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says Russian aggression in Ukraine is the reason for increased Nato deployment
Nato is strengthening its military footprint along its eastern border immediately in response to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, the alliance’s chief said on Wednesday.
Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Nato’s air policing aircraft will fly more sorties over the Baltic region west of Ukraine, far from the tensions in the eastern part of the country. He said allied warships will also deploy to the Baltic Sea, the eastern Mediterranean and elsewhere if needed.
Nato’s supreme commander in Europe told reporters that ground forces could also be involved at some point, but gave no details.
“We fully endorse the actions the alliance has taken to reassure Nato members and to bolster Nato’s presence in the Baltic nation.”
Nato members Poland and the Baltic countries Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia have been wary following Russia’s annexation of the Ukrainian Crimean Peninsula, demanding a more robust military posture to counter neighbouring Russia.
Rasmussen said the new Nato deployments are about “deterrence and de-escalation” in the face of Russia’s aggressive behaviour in Ukraine, which is not a member of the 28-nation alliance.
The move was supported by the White House.
“We fully endorse the actions the alliance has taken to reassure Nato members and to bolster Nato’s presence in the Baltic nations,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said.
Nato estimates Russia has amassed some 40,000 troops on Ukraine’s eastern border and could invade if it wished. Fogh Rasmussen again urged Russia to pull those troops back.