British troops to be sent to Baltic states on long-term deployment after Russian jets intercepted
Nato forces have been intercepting Russian jets in the region
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Your support makes all the difference.Michael Fallon is to announce a “long-term” deployment of UK troops to the Baltic region as tensions continue to rise over Russia's intervention in Syria and the crisis in Ukraine.
The Defence Secretary will detail the commitment when Nato defence ministers meet in Brussels today, where they are expected to discuss the conflicts raging in both countries.
“We are expecting to announce a long-term presence in the Baltic states,” a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said.
RAF fighter jets are already deployed in the region as part of the Baltic Air Policing force and have been called into action in recent months as Nato allies continue to intercept Russian jets.
In June, Typhoons were scrambled from Estonia to intercept and shadow two Russian military aircraft over the Baltic Sea.
After visiting the Amari air base, Mr Fallon said: “I am hugely proud to see the men and women of the RAF continuing their watch over our allies on the eastern borders of the Nato alliance. Our ongoing presence here sends a clear message that we will stand with our eastern European partners.
“The UK has a pivotal role to play in ensuring global security, and if we fail to defend our allies as well as ourselves, we risk encouraging adventurism and instability elsewhere in the world.”
A report by a London-based thinktank accused Russia of risking military escalation with Cold War-style "brinkmanship" in a report last year.
The European Leadership Network (ELN) examined 39 military encounters between Russian planes and boats, and Nato forces and allies, to conclude that the “highly disturbing” violations of national airspace had caused several incidents where military confrontation or the loss of life was narrowly avoided.
Tensions were inflamed earlier this week after Nato accused Russian jets of entering Turkish air space in two separate incidents that "did not look like an accident" to the secretary-general.
The Kremlin said the planes had been approaching a Syrian base over the nearby border in bad weather, as part of Russia's bombing campaign, but the US said it was "greatly concerned".
A statement from the alliance's North Atlantic Council condemend the incursion and said allies "noted the extreme danger of such irresponsible behaviour (and) call on the Russian Federation to cease and desist, and immediately explain these violations".
Jens Stoltenberg, Nato's secretary-general, said today: “In Syria, we have seen a troubling escalation of Russian military activities.
"We will assess the latest developments and their implications for the security of the alliance. This is particularly relevant in view of the recent violations of Nato's airspace by Russian aircraft."
Additional reporting by PA
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