Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

World

Central European NATO members to send troops to Baltics

-

Four central European states said Wednesday they would send troops to three Baltic NATO allies starting next year as tensions with their Soviet-era master Russia rise to levels not seen since the Cold War.

The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia said they would fine-tune quarterly rotational deployments of 600 troops to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in time for a key NATO summit in Warsaw this July.

"We would like to start on January 1, 2017," Czech Defence Minister Martin Stropnicky said following talks with his central European counterparts.

Each country will provide 150 soldiers for a period of three months.

NATO and the Baltic states will decide where exactly the mainly ground troops will be deployed following the July summit.

Stropnicky said the move is designed to help "Baltic allies and friends who have security concerns".

Spooked by Russia's 2014 annexation of the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine, formerly Soviet-ruled Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are seeking international battalions of up to 1,000 troops in each of their territories.

NATO and the United States said this spring that they will switch their defence doctrine from assurance to deterrence in eastern Europe in response to a "resurgent and aggressive Russia".

Four central European states said Wednesday they would send troops to three Baltic NATO allies starting next year as tensions with their Soviet-era master Russia rise to levels not seen since the Cold War.

The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia said they would fine-tune quarterly rotational deployments of 600 troops to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in time for a key NATO summit in Warsaw this July.

“We would like to start on January 1, 2017,” Czech Defence Minister Martin Stropnicky said following talks with his central European counterparts.

Each country will provide 150 soldiers for a period of three months.

NATO and the Baltic states will decide where exactly the mainly ground troops will be deployed following the July summit.

Stropnicky said the move is designed to help “Baltic allies and friends who have security concerns”.

Spooked by Russia’s 2014 annexation of the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine, formerly Soviet-ruled Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are seeking international battalions of up to 1,000 troops in each of their territories.

NATO and the United States said this spring that they will switch their defence doctrine from assurance to deterrence in eastern Europe in response to a “resurgent and aggressive Russia”.

AFP
Written By

With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

You may also like:

Social Media

Wanna buy some ignorance? You’re in luck.

Business

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said the carrier was reviewing recent incidents and would redouble safety initiatives as needed - Copyright AFP Logan CyrusUnited...

World

US President Joe Biden speaks during a reception honoring Women's History Month at the White House - Copyright AFP Brendan SMIALOWSKIDanny KEMPUS President Joe...

Business

A Milei marks 100 days in office, thousands protest his austerity measures - Copyright AFP Luis ROBAYOLeila MACORArgentina’s President Javier Milei has slashed public...