A rift appears to be growing in Europe as NATO announced it was considering putting more troops into the Baltic region to increase pressure on Russia, while at the same time Federica Mogherini, the EU's Foreign Affairs chief advocated rapprochement with Russia.
NATO
has been ramping up its operations in the Baltic States as well as in
Eastern Europe, since the Ukraine crisis began. Now it is being reported
that it is considering different ways of increasing its military
presence in Eastern Europe to put further pressure on Russia,
despite previous denials that it would do this.
"Claims that NATO is building bases around Russia are… groundless," NATO states on its website.
"Outside the territory of NATO nations, NATO only maintains a significant military presence in three places: Kosovo, Afghanistan, and at sea off the Horn of Africa.
"With respect to the
permanent stationing of US and other Allied forces on the territory
of other Allies in Europe, NATO has full abided by the commitments made
in the NATO-Russia Founding Act. There has been no permanent stationing
of additional combat forces on the territory of other allies; and total
force levels have, in fact, been substantially reduced since the end
of the Cold War."
