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Britain to station troops in Baltic region 'to deter Russian aggression' Britain to station troops in Baltic region 'to deter Russian aggression'
(35 minutes later)
Britain is to station a “small number” of troops in the Baltic states in a further move to deter Russian aggression, the defence secretary, Michael Fallon, has said. Britain is to station troops in the Baltic states to shore up Nato’s eastern borders and deter Russian aggression, the UK defence secretary, Michael Fallon, has said.
Arriving for a meeting of Nato defence ministers in Brussels, Fallon said the deployment was intended to reassure former Soviet bloc members that the alliance will stand by them. Fallon announced the commitment upon arrival at the quarterly meeting of Nato defence ministers in Brussels. The deployment is intended to reassure former Soviet bloc members in light of increased tension between Russia and Ukraine.
“This is further reassurance for our allies on the eastern flank of Nato – for the Baltic states and for Poland,” he said. “That is part of our more persistent presence on the eastern side of Nato to respond to any further provocation and aggression.” “This is further reassurance for our allies on the eastern flank of Nato – for the Baltic states and for Poland,” said Fallon. “That is part of our more persistent presence on the eastern side of Nato to respond to any further provocation and aggression.”
Fallon said the British troops would be part of a new Nato training, evaluation and capacity-building mission in Poland and Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. “They will be part of a more persistent presence by Nato forces,” he added. Fallon said the British troops would be “part of a more persistent presence by Nato forces” in the region.
Fallon said the British troops would be part of a new Nato training, evaluation and capacity-building mission in Poland and Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
“They will be part of a more persistent presence by Nato forces,” he added. The troops will join German and US troops already there and the commitment will initially comprise about 100 troops.
The move comes against a backdrop of heightened tension between the west and Moscow, following Vladimir Putin’s decision to launch airstrikes in Syria.
The Russians insist they are targeting Isis, but western powers say they have largely hit mainstream opposition forces and are primarily designed to prop up the regime of Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad.
Related: 'More than 90%' of Russian airstrikes in Syria have not targeted Isis, US saysRelated: 'More than 90%' of Russian airstrikes in Syria have not targeted Isis, US says
The move comes against a backdrop of heightened tension between the west and Moscow following President Vladimir Putin’s decision to launch airstrikes in Syria.
Russia insists it is targeting Islamic State but western powers say they have largely hit mainstream opposition forces.
The west believes the airstrikes are primarily designed to prop up the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, who western countries insist must go as part of any political settlement of Syria’s four-year civil war.
“Russia is making a very serious situation in Syria much more dangerous,” Fallon said. “We will be calling on Russia specifically to stop propping up the Assad regime, to use their influence constructively to stop Assad bombing his own civilians and themselves to avoid the use of unguided munitions in areas that are not being controlled by Isil [Isis].”“Russia is making a very serious situation in Syria much more dangerous,” Fallon said. “We will be calling on Russia specifically to stop propping up the Assad regime, to use their influence constructively to stop Assad bombing his own civilians and themselves to avoid the use of unguided munitions in areas that are not being controlled by Isil [Isis].”
He added: “If Russia wants to help here, the single most helpful thing they can do is use their influence on Assad to stop barrel-bombing his own civilians, their children, his own cities and villages. That’s how Russia could help to resolve this conflict.” “If Russia wants to help here, the single most helpful thing they can do is use their influence on Assad to stop barrel-bombing his own civilians, their children, his own cities and villages. That’s how Russia could help to resolve this conflict.”
RAF Typhoon fighters are already deployed in eastern Europe as part of the Baltic Air Policing detachment and have been called into action in recent months. In June, Typhoons were scrambled from Amari air base in Estonia to intercept and shadow two Russian military aircraft over the Baltic Sea. RAF Typhoon fighters are already deployed in eastern Europe as part of the Baltic air policing detachment and in June they were scrambled from Amari airbase in Estonia to intercept and shadow two Russian military aircraft over the Baltic Sea.
The Financial Times reports that troops will be stationed in the area over the long-term, but the time frame will be left open-ended to avoid accusations that they are breaching an agreement, struck after the end of the cold war, not to have permanent troop placements in former eastern bloc nations.
In May, US air force general Philip Breedlove said Nato would have to consider permanently stationing troops in parts of eastern Europe as a result of the increased tension between Russia and Ukraine.