MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The United Kingdom will send another 1,000 troops and four RAF Typhoon jets to Eastern Europe to support NATO allies in the Baltics, British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said Thursday.
“This increase in the number of troops taking part in exercises provides additional reassurance and underlines how seriously we take our commitment to our allies especially on the northern and eastern flanks,” Fallon said, as quoted by The Telegraph.
Over the last months, NATO has boosted its military presence in the Baltics in connection with instability in eastern Ukraine. The alliance justified the measures with claims of NATO security.
In 2014, NATO rejected stationing permanent troops in Eastern Europe, but said it would ensure a constant military presence in the region by organizing military drills in the region. Over 2,200 British troops took part in exercises in Eastern Europe last year.
According to The Telegraph, 1,000 British soldiers and 200 vehicles will join the Polish army in September on a military drill named "Dragon Exercise."
Moscow has repeatedly expressed its concern about increased NATO military activities close to Russian borders.
