NATO Strengthens Forces In Eastern Europe Against Russia Risk

Source: REUTERS

By Adrian Croft and David Alexander
BRUSSELS Thu Feb 5, 2015 6:55pm GMT

(Reuters) - NATO defence ministers agreed on Thursday to set up a network of command centres in eastern Europe and more than double the size of its rapid reaction force to better protect the region in the event of any threat from Russia.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the measures,

part of the alliance's response to Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea, amounted to "the biggest reinforcement of our collective defence" since the end of the Cold War 25 years ago.

With East-West tensions running at their highest since the Cold War era, NATO has made clear it will not intervene in Ukraine but will bolster the defences of nervous eastern allies who were under Moscow's domination for four decades until 1989.

Ministers agreed to more than double the size of NATO's existing rapid reaction force to 30,000 soldiers from 13,000, led by a 5,000-strong "spearhead" force, part of which will be ready to move within 48 hours, according to Stoltenberg.

more...

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/02/05/uk-ukraine-crisis-nato-idUKKBN0L82KG20150205


Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/02/05/uk-ukraine-crisis-nato-idUKKBN0L82KG20150205