Britain to send warships to Baltic Sea

According to British Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon, Great Britain will send five warships to the Baltic Sea, as NATO prepares to discuss additional capacities for Eastern Europe.

"Increasing our NATO deployment sends a strong message to our enemies that we are ready to respond to any threat and defend our Allies," Fallon said in a statement on February 10, 2016.

"2016 will see a particular focus on the Baltic region with our ships sent there as part of the Maritime Group, the Mine Counter Measure Group and the BALTOPS exercise," he added.

The United Kingdom announced the plans on the eve of the meeting of NATO defence ministers starting in Brussels on Wednesday. NATO ministers intend to approve the plans of enhancing the Alliance's military presence in Eastern Europe amid fears of increased aggression from the Kremlin. 

Earlier this month, the United States stated plans to increase its defence budget for Europe fourfold.

Lithuanian officials told BNS Lithuania that this would be the first time an agreement on the necessity of the forward presence measures has been realised in NATO documents.

They added that specific capabilities will be finalised at a later date. 

In response to the increased Russian aggression, an extra company of U.S. Army troops has been deployed in Lithuania along with military equipment.

A small NATO headquarters has also been established. 

Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia want an international battalion stationed in each of their territories, while neighbouring Poland also seeks additional NATO capacities. 

Other Western allies have agreed to send rotational forces. However, proposals to set up permanent bases have so far secured no support amid fears of the Russian reaction.

Moscow maintains that the additional NATO infrastructure at its borders is a threat, and has pledged to take reactionary measures.