Nato has been on high alert amidst tension between Russia and the Baltic states are rising. A number of approximately 300,000 ground troops were put on "high alert" for a faster response time if ever a combat situation arises.
Independent reports, 4,000 Nato troops was about to be stationed at the Russian border and the Baltic states last October. It is considered one of the biggest military tension since the Cold War, and troop members will come from allied countries. "We have seen Russia being much more active in many different ways," Jens Stoltenberg, Nato secretary general, said. "We have seen a more assertive Russia implementing a substantial military build-up over many years - tripling defence spending since 2000 in real terms; developing new military capabilities; exercising their forces and using military force against neighbours.
"We have also seen Russia using propaganda in Europe among Nato allies and that is exactly the reason why Nato is responding. We are responding with the biggest reinforcement of our collective defence since the end of the Cold War." The typical time for troops to be deployed is six months, but they want to shorten it to two months.
In 2014, Russia took over Crimea, and ex-Soviet countries like, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia fears the same strategy will be done to them. As a result, alliance's are preparing for the worst. A US think-tank believes that in a matter of hours, Russia could outnumber Nato's troops in the Baltic states.
Also, Russia has been moving its battleships toward the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas, according to The Times. Adding, Russian fighter jets having been flying over Nato's defence line in the Baltic states. One German pilot said that the Russian fighter jets are "armed to the teeth", carrying about six missiles up to ten. Beside this issue, Nato has been dealing with surveillance, hybrid warfare and cyberattacks done by Russia and other non-Nato states.
