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US seeks to store military weapons and vehicles in eastern European countries US seeks to store military weapons and vehicles in eastern European countries
(35 minutes later)
The US is poised to store battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and other heavy weapons for as many as 5,000 troops in several Baltic and eastern European countries, the New York Times reported on Saturday.The US is poised to store battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and other heavy weapons for as many as 5,000 troops in several Baltic and eastern European countries, the New York Times reported on Saturday.
The move is aimed at deterring any possible further Russian aggression in Europe, and sending a message to Russian president Vladimir Putin. Last year Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine, where fighting between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russia rebels continues.The move is aimed at deterring any possible further Russian aggression in Europe, and sending a message to Russian president Vladimir Putin. Last year Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine, where fighting between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russia rebels continues.
Russia has consistently denied supporting the rebels, physically or financially. On Saturday, Ukraine said six of its soldiers had been killed and 14 wounded in the past 24 hours in the east of the country, despite a supposed ceasefire in the region.Russia has consistently denied supporting the rebels, physically or financially. On Saturday, Ukraine said six of its soldiers had been killed and 14 wounded in the past 24 hours in the east of the country, despite a supposed ceasefire in the region.
Citing US and allied officials, the newspaper said that if approved the proposal would mark the first time since the cold war that Washington has stationed heavy military equipment in the newer Nato member states in eastern Europe that were once part of the Soviet sphere of influence.Citing US and allied officials, the newspaper said that if approved the proposal would mark the first time since the cold war that Washington has stationed heavy military equipment in the newer Nato member states in eastern Europe that were once part of the Soviet sphere of influence.
The Times said the proposal, from the Defense Department, still needed to be signed off by defense secretary Ash Carter.The Times said the proposal, from the Defense Department, still needed to be signed off by defense secretary Ash Carter.
Asked about the article, a Pentagon spokesman said no decision had been made about the equipment.
“Over the last few years, the United States military has increased the prepositioning of equipment for training and exercises with our Nato allies and partners,” Colonel Steve Warren said in a statement.
“The US military continues to review the best location to store these materials in consultation with our allies. At this time, we have made no decision about if or when to move to this equipment.”
The Times said that as it stood now, the proposal envisaged that “a company’s worth of equipment – enough for about 150 soldiers – would be stored in each of the three Baltic nations: Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Enough for a company or possibly a battalion – about 750 soldiers – would be located in Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and possibly Hungary.”
“This is a very meaningful shift in policy,” the paper quoted James G Stavridis as saying.“This is a very meaningful shift in policy,” the paper quoted James G Stavridis as saying.
Stavridis, a retired admiral and former supreme allied commander of Nato, added: “It provides a reasonable level of reassurance to jittery allies, although nothing is as good as troops stationed full-time on the ground, of course.”Stavridis, a retired admiral and former supreme allied commander of Nato, added: “It provides a reasonable level of reassurance to jittery allies, although nothing is as good as troops stationed full-time on the ground, of course.”