The U.S. still takes the lead, and NATO is reminding Putin that it exists. “The United States and the United Kingdom support a troop buildup in Eastern Europe; France, Spain and Italy oppose it, with Germany, eager to avoid provocation of Russia, undecided.”
NATO Plans New Bases in Eastern Europe
“”UPI | Aug 27, 2014
BRUSSELS — The head of NATO said new bases in Eastern Europe will be built to counter potential conflict with Russia.
Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the NATO summit next week in Cardiff, Wales, would overcome divisions within the 28-nation mutual security organization and establish opportunities to deploy troops and equipment near the Russian border.
Poland and the three Baltic countries formerly part of the Soviet Union — Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia — have been especially vocal about the anxiety as a potential target for Russian involvement, in light of Russia’s recent annexation of Crimea, and its perceived role in helping militants in Ukraine’s breakaway eastern provinces.
According to Rasmussen:
“We will adopt what we call a readiness action plan with the aim to be able to act swiftly in this completely new security environment in Europe. We have something already called the NATO response force whose purpose is to be able to be deployed rapidly if needed. Now it’s our intention to develop what I would call a spearhead within that response force at very, very, high readiness. In order to be able to provide such rapid reinforcements you also need some reception facilities in host nations. So it will involve the pre-positioning of supplies, of equipment, preparation of infrastructure, bases, headquarters. The bottom line is you will in the future see a more visible NATO presence in the east.”””
They need to hurry before Putin grabs all he wants, which is what he is doing now. While this future buildup is all good, NATO needs to act and call him out now! The troops and equipment are there to deploy now. And I hear nothing of that occurring. No leadership. On another note, those on this thread who are concerned about any nuclear conflict are misguided—never happen from Russia.