NATO on Friday created a new “very high readiness force” of several thousand troops to deployed in eastern Europe, a clear signal by the international body that further Russian aggression in the region will not be tolerated.
At the organization’s summit in Wales, NATO approved plans for the new unit and issues a stern warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Should you even think of attacking one ally, you will be facing the whole alliance,” NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said as the summit concluded Friday.
The force will include ground troops, air and sea support and special operations units, NATO said, all ready to deploy “within a few days” whenever a threat arises.
Countering Russia’s continued aggression in eastern Ukraine has been a top priority at the gathering.
Russia and Ukraine reached another ceasefire agreement earlier this week, but NATO leaders have publicly doubted whether the deal will hold. Pro-Russian separatists have disregarded previous ceasefire agreements.
It’s not yet clear exactly where the new force will be stationed, but NATO leaders said Poland, Romania and Baltic nations are open to hosting the unit.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said his nation will provide up to 3,500 troops.
“We must be able to act more swiftly,” he said.
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.
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