Nato prepares 5000 troops to respond to Russia

Britain and its Nato allies will agree this week on an emergency force of up to 5000 troops ready to deploy within 48 hours in response to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.

The ‘‘spearhead’’ of a much larger reaction force will be one of the decisions at a summit in Wales that is taking place at a time of ‘‘multiple crises’’ for the alliance in eastern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, the head of Nato said.

‘‘To the east, Russia and its intervening in Ukraine,’’ Anders Fogh Rasmussen said.

‘‘To the south, we see growing instability with fragile states, the rise of extremism and sectarian strife.’’

Nato members, alarmed by President Vladimir Putin’s interference with Ukraine, are expected to give the green light to the bolstering of defences, which will also involve enhancing bases in the three Baltic states and Poland. Small numbers of forces will be rotated in and out of Nato’s eastern flank, while the alliance will place additional weapons, ammunition and other equipment at the expanded bases to enable reinforcements to be flown in and ready to fight. Here at St Paul’s Collegiate School we pride ourselves on the quality of our boarding programme and facilities. But of course, we would say that, so you should find out for yourself. For more stories and videos, visit Come along to our on Saturday 6 September, at 2pm.