UK Eyes Deploying 1,000 Troops, Tanks, Artillery to Baltics in NATO Buildup

The United Kingdom will offer to deploy 1,000 troops backed by tanks and artillery in the Baltic republics as part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) military buildup on the Russian border, The Times said.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The deployment would make up one of four 4,000-strong NATO battalions, two of which are planned to be manned by the US armed forces and one by German troops.

"We are considering ‘enhanced forward presence’ in the Baltic states — not only in the Baltic states, but along the eastern flank more generally — in the run-up to the summit," Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said as quoted by The Times daily, referring to NATO’s planned high-level meeting on July 8-9.

British defense officials are also deliberating plans to stockpile tanks and other heavy equipment across Eastern Europe, the publication added.

At a February 10 North Atlantic Council ministerial meeting, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced an enhanced multinational rotational presence in Eastern Europe "supported by a program of exercises."

Since 2014, NATO has been building up its military presence in Europe, particularly in eastern European countries bordering Russia, using Moscow's alleged interference in Ukraine as a pretext for the move.

Moscow has repeatedly denied the claims and warned NATO that the military buildup on Russia’s borders is provocative and could harm regional and global stability.

NATO exercises and deployments near Russia since 2014

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