Nato force to bolster defence of Baltic allies

Nato approved wide-ranging plans to boost its defences in eastern Europe, aiming to reassure allies nervous about Russia’s intervention in Ukraine that the US-led alliance will shield them from any attack.

The plan, adopted at a summit in Wales, includes creating a “spearhead” rapid reaction force and pre-positioning supplies and equipment in east European countries so they can be reinforced within days.

The initiative was intended to provide assurances to former Soviet bloc states that have joined the alliance in the last 15 years, especially Poland and the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.