The United States have deployed 150 paratroopers to Lithuania to prepare for a military drill in the Baltic Sea next month. The move is a part of efforts by Washington to reassure its eastern European allies, which are worried by the situation in Ukraine.
The 150 US paratroopers belong to the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team based in Italy. A total of 600 US troops are to be deployed to Poland and the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania for infantry exercises. They are expected to remain in the region on rotation until the end of the year.
300 paratroopers arrived in Poland and Latvia last week. NATO also said it will triple its usual number of fighter jets patrolling over the Baltics next month to enhance its eastern European defences.
