NATO forces should be stationed permanently in eastern Europe to guard against potential aggressive moves by Russia, two former US policymakers have said in a report that could raise tensions with Moscow.
Just weeks ahead of a NATO summit in Warsaw, Nicholas Burns, a former US ambassador to the organisation, and Gen James Jones, a former supreme allied commander for Europe, have called for permanent air, sea and ground troops to be based in the Baltic States, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria.
NATO countries are already discussing plans to set up rotating forces of up to 4,000 troops in eastern Europe. The UK has promised to lead one of the battalions and will send up to 700 troops to the Baltics and Poland. Germany, Canada and the US will lead the other three battalions, while France is expected to contribute a 250-strong company to the UK-led force.
Defence ministers are expected to sign off the plans at a key NATO summit on 7 July. Moving more troops into eastern Europe goes some way to meeting the longstanding demand of members, such as Poland.
In a report for the Atlantic Council thinktank, the two former senior US policymakers argue for this NATO force to become permanent.