MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Washington’s plans to station military hardware in a number of European countries were announced by US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter on Tuesday.
Carter told reporters that the equipment will include Abrams battle tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles and self-propelled howitzers and will enable richer training and more mobility for NATO forces in Europe.
"We intend to temporarily place this equipment, which we are calling the European Activity Set, in Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Poland. The prepositioning of equipment for training and exercises with our NATO Allies and Partners is consistent with the NATO-Russia Founding Act."
The Russian Foreign Ministry has argued that prepositioning amounts to permanent stationing of substantial combat forces near its border.
Russia’s relations with NATO deteriorated sharply amid the crisis in Ukraine with the alliance accusing Moscow of meddling in Ukraine’s internal affairs. Russia has repeatedly denied the claims and has expressed concerns over the buildup of NATO forces along its western border, stressing that it could destabilize the region.
Speaking in Europe on Tuesday, Carter said that while the United States does not seek a renewed Cold War with Russia it will nonetheless stand by its NATO allies.
