This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36739781
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| UK troops to take on Nato duties in Poland and Estonia | UK troops to take on Nato duties in Poland and Estonia |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Hundreds of UK troops are to be sent to Poland and Estonia as part of the Nato response to concerns over Russia. | Hundreds of UK troops are to be sent to Poland and Estonia as part of the Nato response to concerns over Russia. |
| A 500-strong battalion will be deployed to Estonia and 150 troops will be based in Poland to "reassure" these countries, the defence secretary said. | |
| It is part of a Nato commitment made after Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 to have four new battalions on its eastern flank. | It is part of a Nato commitment made after Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 to have four new battalions on its eastern flank. |
| Michael Fallon said it aims to "deter Russia from any further aggression". | |
| Eastern Nato countries "feel enormous pressure from Russia doing large exercises on the border, flying over their airspace and so on," he said. | |
| The UK is also to take over the leadership of a standby force in 2017. | The UK is also to take over the leadership of a standby force in 2017. |
| Mr Cameron, who is due to announce the deployment at a Nato summit in Warsaw later, said: "This summit is a chance for us to reiterate our strong support for Ukraine and our other eastern allies to deter Russian aggression. | |
| "Actions speak louder than words and the UK is proud to be taking the lead role, deploying troops across Eastern Europe. | |
| "It is yet another example of the UK leading in Nato." | |
| Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says Russia's use of force against Ukraine "has really changed our security environment. Nato has to respond". | Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says Russia's use of force against Ukraine "has really changed our security environment. Nato has to respond". |
| Russia has held large military exercises near Ukraine's borders since the Crimea annexation in March 2014 and the uprising by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. | |
| Nato has also complained of aggressive behaviour by Russian warplanes in the Baltic region. | |
| Russia, meanwhile, objects to Nato operating close to its borders, seeing the alliance as an aggressor. | |
| Mr Fallon said Russia President Vladimir Putin was "trying to change international borders by force". | |
| "I think he is flexing his muscles," he said. | |
| "He wants Russia to be treated as the world power it used to be and that's why an alliance like Nato is very, very important, that we stand together." | |
| Spending commitment | Spending commitment |
| The UK leadership of Nato's Very High Readiness Joint Task Force will see 3,000 troops based in the UK and Germany join a 5,000-strong unit ready to move with as little as five days' notice. | The UK leadership of Nato's Very High Readiness Joint Task Force will see 3,000 troops based in the UK and Germany join a 5,000-strong unit ready to move with as little as five days' notice. |
| It will involve the 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade, an armoured infantry battle group from the 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment and a light infantry battle group from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards. | It will involve the 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade, an armoured infantry battle group from the 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment and a light infantry battle group from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards. |
| The prime minister is also to announce that Britain is to extend the deployment of four RAF Typhoon fighters with the Baltic Air Policing Mission. | The prime minister is also to announce that Britain is to extend the deployment of four RAF Typhoon fighters with the Baltic Air Policing Mission. |
| And Mr Cameron, who is to stand down in September following the UK vote to leave the EU, will use his final Nato summit to underline the government's continuing commitment to meet the alliance's target of spending 2% of GDP on defence. | And Mr Cameron, who is to stand down in September following the UK vote to leave the EU, will use his final Nato summit to underline the government's continuing commitment to meet the alliance's target of spending 2% of GDP on defence. |