Nato approves rapid reaction force for early 2015

Nato member countries approved a new interim quick-reaction military force yesterday to protect themselves from Russia or other threats, the alliance’s chief said.

The initial unit, to be up and running in early 2015, will be supplanted the following year by a permanent force, Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said.

Foreign ministers from the 28 Nato members also approved maintaining measures through 2015 initiated to reassure Nato nations nearest Russia, Stoltenberg said. Such measures include stepped-up air patrols over the Baltic Sea and the continuous rotation of Nato military units in and out of countries like Poland and the Baltic republics.