Baltics to ask NATO for thousands of troops

[Little Tich]

Source: Yahoo! News / AFP

Vilnius (AFP) - The Baltic states will formally ask NATO to deploy several thousand troops as a deterrent to Russia, Lithuania said Thursday, but the alliance gave no assurance that the request would be accepted.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at meeting of the alliance's foreign ministers in the Turkish city of Antalya that he was aware such a request was being made but emphasised it was too early to assess the demand.

"We are seeking a brigade-size unit so that every Baltic nation would have a battalion," military spokesman Lithuanian Captain Mindaugas Neimontas told AFP.

He said Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian generals would soon send a joint request to US General Philip Breedlove, NATO's top commander.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/baltics-ask-nato-thousands-troops-135444386.html

[swilton]

1. These states are Russophobic

I hope saner heads in NATO and the EU prevail...

[Bosonic]

2. or Russia Adjacent

But what do they know, eh?

[NuclearDem]

3. Given the history of Russia's relationship with the Baltics

their mistrust isn't entirely unwarranted.

[MBS]

5. " " " " n/t

[hack89]

6. After Crimea they have good reason to be. nt

[Xolodno]

4. Putin has been poking them with a stick...

...for awhile. If anything, encouraging for this to happen. It gives him what he wants...NATO and sponsoring countries expending resources preparing for something he probably doesn't have any intention of doing.