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NATO is considering increasing its military presence in the Baltic states and Poland if Russia continues to send troops to Belarus for planned military exercises, the head of the alliance’s military committee said.
Russia has sent 30,000 troops to Belarus – located in northern Ukraine – for military exercises scheduled for this month, NATO said. Meanwhile, it is estimated that Russia has deployed over 100,000 more troops along the border with Ukraine.
The United States last week sent 3,000 additional troops to Romania and Poland to secure allies, while Germany has said it is considering increasing existing military deployments in Lithuania.
Further deployments by NATO allies are possible, said Rob Bauer, the Dutch admiral who heads the main body for NATO military strategy.
“Where we have troops all the time, in different countries – the debate on this issue is as a result of things that are currently happening. Yes, we are considering it as an option. “There may be changes in the future as a result of these developments,” Bauer told a news conference in Vilnius.
“It definitely depends on whether Russian troops in Belarus will stay in Belarus,” he added.
Moscow has said it has no plans to invade Ukraine, but could take unspecified military action if its security requirements are not met. Among Russia’s demands is that NATO never accept Ukraine, a demand which has been deemed unacceptable by NATO and the United States.
“If you look at the troop build-up, Russia may be able to carry out a serious invasion with enough troops,” he said. “at the end of this month,” Bauer said.
“We do not know if they will do such a thing or if that is their goal or not,” he added.
Belarus and Russia have said they will hold joint military exercises from February 10th to 20th.
Recent deployments on the Belarusian border include military medical units and other units that would be needed to support a military strike, Bauer said.
“If you are really considering the possibility of an invasion, you will need it more than just combat forces. This is what we are seeing more and more, of rallies along the border with Ukraine and on the border between Belarus and Ukraine. “This fact in itself is very disturbing,” he said.
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