NEW YORK, June 14. /TASS/. The Pentagon is considering plans to store heavy weapons in Eastern Europe for as many as 5,000 troops, The New York Times has reported.
The report said citing sources close to US and allied officials that "in a significant move to deter possible Russian aggression in Europe, the Pentagon is poised to store battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and other heavy weapons in several Baltic and Eastern European countries."
Washington is discussing the particular possibility with its allies, but no decisions have been taken so far. The proposal "falls short of permanently assigning United States troops to the Baltics," the report says.
The Pentagon has taken no final decision on storing heavy weapons in Eastern Europe, spokesman Col Steve Warren told TASS on Saturday.
"Over the last few years, the United States military has increased the prepositioning of equipment for training and exercises with our NATO Allies and Partners. The U.S. military continues to review the best location to store these materials in consultation with our allies. At this time, we have made no decision about if or when to move to this equipment," Warren said.
The Pentagon spokesman commented on a report by The New York Times on plans of the United States to store heavy weapons in Eastern Europe.
The report said citing sources close to US and allied officials that "in a significant move to deter possible Russian aggression in Europe, the Pentagon is poised to store battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and other heavy weapons in several Baltic and Eastern European countries."
Washington and its allies consider this measure as a step in response to events in Ukraine. The US equipment could be stored on allied bases, namely in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and possibly Hungary.
The US is discussing the particular possibility with its allies, but no decisions have been taken so far. The proposal "falls short of permanently assigning United States troops to the Baltics," the report says.