This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/25/us-to-deploy-marine-unit-in-bulgaria-as-part-of-effort-to-reassure-nato-allies

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
US to deploy marine unit in Bulgaria as part of effort to reassure Nato allies US to deploy marine unit in Bulgaria as part of effort to reassure Nato allies
(35 minutes later)
A Marine Corps unit equipped with tanks, light armoured vehicles and artillery will be sent to Bulgaria in September as part of US efforts to reassure Nato allies worried by Russia’s involvement in Ukraine.A Marine Corps unit equipped with tanks, light armoured vehicles and artillery will be sent to Bulgaria in September as part of US efforts to reassure Nato allies worried by Russia’s involvement in Ukraine.
Brig Gen Norman Cooling, the deputy commander of the US marines in Europe and Africa, said on Thursday that 155 troops equipped with four Abrams battle tanks, six light armoured vehicles and three howitzers were scheduled to be deployed at the Novo Selo training area by early September.Brig Gen Norman Cooling, the deputy commander of the US marines in Europe and Africa, said on Thursday that 155 troops equipped with four Abrams battle tanks, six light armoured vehicles and three howitzers were scheduled to be deployed at the Novo Selo training area by early September.
Related: Nato shows its teeth to Russia with elaborate Baltic training exerciseRelated: Nato shows its teeth to Russia with elaborate Baltic training exercise
He spoke as Nato defence ministers met in Brussels.He spoke as Nato defence ministers met in Brussels.
“It’s certainly our intent to convince the Russians and Mr Putin to refrain from aggression and return to the community of peaceful nations,” Cooling said.“It’s certainly our intent to convince the Russians and Mr Putin to refrain from aggression and return to the community of peaceful nations,” Cooling said.
The US defence secretary, Ash Carter, said this week that more US military equipment would be positioned in Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland and Germany as Nato seeks to bolster its forces in eastern Europe.The US defence secretary, Ash Carter, said this week that more US military equipment would be positioned in Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland and Germany as Nato seeks to bolster its forces in eastern Europe.
Cooling said that in addition to being a deterrent, the unit would train with Bulgarian, Romanian and other troops over the next 18 months to improve US forces’ ability to operate with counterparts using different equipment and methods.Cooling said that in addition to being a deterrent, the unit would train with Bulgarian, Romanian and other troops over the next 18 months to improve US forces’ ability to operate with counterparts using different equipment and methods.
“Ideally this culminates with integrated exercises with units from more and more allied nations that are able to call for fire from one another’s artillery, our tanks manoeuvre in support of their infantry units, and vice versa,” he said. “Ideally this culminates with integrated exercises, with units from more and more allied nations that are able to call for fire from one another’s artillery, our tanks manoeuvre in support of their infantry units, and vice versa,” he said.