The Nato alliance is considering establishing a rotational ground force in the Baltic states and possibly Poland, reflecting deepening concern among the alliance about Russian military assertiveness, US Defence Secretary Ash Carter said on Monday.
“That is one of the ideas that’s under discussion,” Carter told reporters flying with him from Washington to Stuttgart, Germany, where he is to preside on Tuesday at a ceremony installing a new commander of US European Command. Army General Curtis Scaparrotti is to replace Air Force General Philip Breedlove, who has frequently and publicly cautioned that Russia poses a potential threat to European stability.
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Carter said the allies are considering a rotational force of four battalions, which would mean about 4,000 troops. That would be in addition to a recently announced unilateral US decision to send a US armoured brigade of about 4,200 troops to Eastern Europe next February.
Carter said the idea of a separate Nato rotational ground force is likely to be further discussed at a Nato meeting in June.
Russia has accused the US and Nato of returning to a cold war mindset of mutual suspicion and military competition, even as it continues to buzz US ships and planes in the Baltics.
Speaking more broadly of US and Nato relations with Russia, Carter said Moscow has chosen to move away from integration with the West. “Therefore, we have no alternative but to do what we’re doing, which is stand strong,” by improving the US military posture in Europe and collaborating closely with Nato allies, he said.