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Russia To Boost Troop Numbers Along European Borders
Russia says it will increase troop numbers along its borders with Europe in response to NATO's growing presence in the region.
The country's defence ministry aims to have three new divisions formed by the end of the year, with each containing 10,000 personnel, according to state media.
Two new divisions are planned for the western border and one for the southern border.
NATO says it could establish a continuous rotation of up to 4,000 troops in the Baltic states
It comes after NATO said it could establish a continuous rotation of up to 4,000 troops in the Baltic states and possibly Poland to counter concerns about Russia in the wake of its annexation of Crimea.
The US, meanwhile, said this will be separate from the decision to send a US armoured brigade of around 4,200 troops to Eastern Europe next February.
US Defence Secretary Ash Carter said Moscow is "going backward in time" with warlike actions that compel a US military build-up on NATO's eastern flank. He said:
"We do not seek a cold - let alone a hot - war with Russia. We do not seek to make Russia an enemy. But make no mistake, we will defend our allies, the rules-based international order, and the positive future it affords us."
"Most disturbing," Mr Carter said, is loose talk by Russia about using nuclear weapons. He added:
"Moscow's nuclear sabre-rattling raises troubling questions about Russia's leaders' commitment to strategic stability, their respect for norms against the use of nuclear weapons, and whether they respect the profound caution that nuclear-age leaders showed with regard to brandishing nuclear weapons."
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