NATO will deploy an additional 4,000 troops to the Baltic region before May 2017.

(Baonghean.vn) - On September 18, Petr Pavel, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, announced that NATO plans to establish four battalions with a total of 4,000 soldiers in the Baltic region before May 2017.

Illustration photo: Sputnik

Pavel's statement comes after a meeting of NATO leaders in Split, Croatia, this weekend.

The Wall Street Journal quoted Pavel as saying: "The purpose of these four military groups in the Baltic region is not solely training. These forces also serve as a deterrent and, if necessary, will participate as a combat force. The principles for deploying these forces will vary depending on the situation."

In addition, Mr. Pavel also stated that the deployment would begin before May 2017.

Recently, NATO has increased its military presence in Europe, particularly in Eastern European countries, since the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis, citing intervention in the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine.

At the NATO summit in Warsaw on July 8th, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that NATO would strengthen its presence in Eastern Europe through the rotational deployment of four battalions in Poland and the Baltic states. Specifically, the US will lead troops in Poland, while the UK will lead a battalion in Estonia, and Germany and Canada will be responsible for Lithuania and Latvia, respectively.

Thanh Hien

(According to Sputnik)