NATO’s top military commander says the alliance must consider permanently stationing troops in parts of Eastern Europe as a result of tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove said on May 6 that the issue will be discussed by NATO commanders, defense ministers, and foreign ministers in the run-up to a summit in Wales in early September.
NATO’s short-term agreements to rotate land, sea, and air forces in places like the Baltics, Romania, and Poland are expiring at the end of 2014.
The alliance has deployed additional forces in the Baltics and Poland in response to Russia’s annexation of the Crimea peninsula and the deployment of tens of thousands of Russian troops on Russia’s border with Ukraine.
NATO officials have said recently that Russia can no longer be viewed as a potential partner but rather must be seen as an adversary.
U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove said on May 6 that the issue will be discussed by NATO commanders, defense ministers, and foreign ministers in the run-up to a summit in Wales in early September.
NATO’s short-term agreements to rotate land, sea, and air forces in places like the Baltics, Romania, and Poland are expiring at the end of 2014.
The alliance has deployed additional forces in the Baltics and Poland in response to Russia’s annexation of the Crimea peninsula and the deployment of tens of thousands of Russian troops on Russia’s border with Ukraine.
NATO officials have said recently that Russia can no longer be viewed as a potential partner but rather must be seen as an adversary.