Nato urged to station up to 25,000 troops in Baltic area

Baltic states are urging Nato to increase the number of troops earmarked to defend their corner of Europe against Russia to as many as 25,000 after secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg promised the "biggest overhaul ... since the Cold War".

- BEL TREW

Top of the agenda is Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Among the most rattled are Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, countries which have repeatedly and separately urged Nato to upgrade its presence in the Baltic region. This week, Estonia's prime minister Kaja Kallas told reporters the country could "be wiped off the map" under the current Nato strategy. The former Soviet state wants to move beyond the current Enhanced Forward Presence structure, a "tripwire" strategy that positions temporary rotating troops in the country to deter a Russian attack.

Under plans The Independent believes will be discussed at the summit beginning today, countries such as Estonia will urge Nato to significantly boost the number of troops in the Baltics but also those on standby in countries further west. It is hoped this could mean as many as 25,000 troops.

"We need a new, more robust posture that will significantly strengthen the deterrence and defence of the eastern flank," said Kyllike Sillaste-Elling, director-general of the Department for Nato and Transatlantic Relations at Estonia's foreign ministry. "In our case that includes establishing a division level structure in the country with full understanding that the forces will not necessarily be physically in place but will be earmarked for deployment to Estonia. That would need rigorous training and proper structure."