‘We must recognise increasing Russian assertiveness’, Britain prime minister warns

BRITAIN will send 150 troops to Poland as part of a NATO deployment amid increasing concerns about Russian ‘aggressiveness’.

Britain will reportedly deploy 150 troops from the Light Dragoons regiment in Catterick, as well as a number of armoured vehicles, to Orzysz in northeast Poland in April 2017.

BRITAIN will send 150 troops to Poland as part of a NATO deployment to provide reassurance amid concerns of “increasing Russian aggressiveness”.

British Prime Minister Theresa May and Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo met at 10 Downing St on Monday. Poland is considered one of Britain’s strongest allies in the EU.

The two leaders said they agreed on the importance of maintaining sanctions against Russia for what Mr Szydlo called its “act of aggression against Ukraine.”

“We must recognise increasing Russian assertiveness, and I think it’s important we work together to deal with that,” Ms May said.

Britain promised Poland strong business, diplomatic and cultural ties — as well as a deployment of troops near the Russian border — as London tries to build goodwill with European allies before European Union exit talks.

Ms May will reportedly deploy 150 troops from the Light Dragoons regiment in Catterick, as well as a number of armoured vehicles, to Orzysz in northeast Poland in April 2017.

Orzysz is close to the border with the Russian exclave Kaliningrad — where senior Moscow officials last week said they would send nuclear-capable surface-to-air missiles with a range that could reach Berlin.

The Interfax news agency reported the Russian military has deployed state-of-the art anti-shipping missiles and put the Bastion missile launchers on duty in the Kaliningrad exclave that borders NATO members Poland and Lithuania. The Bastion made its combat debut in Syria earlier this month.

The Russian military launches a missile from a Bastion missile launcher in Syria in November 2016. The military has reportedly put Bastion missile-launchers on duty in the Kaliningrad exclave. Picture: Russian Defence Ministry Press Service/AP

The Bastion made its combat debut in Syria earlier this month. Picture: Russian Defence Ministry Press Service/AP

The number of British troops set for deployment to the region is small compared to Putin’s army but is intended to “reassure” Poland of the UK’s commitment to the NATO alliance.

It follows comments earlier this year by Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, who said sending troops to Poland would help to “deter Russia from any further aggression”.

NATO has criticised Russia’s deployment of anti-ship missiles in its westernmost Baltic region as “assertive military posturing,” and urged dialogue to cool escalating tensions.

NATO said in a statement to The Associated Press on Tuesday that the missile deployment near the alliance’s borders “does not help to lower tensions or restore predictability to our relations.” NATO called for more transparency on military activities “to avoid incidents and the risk of misunderstandings.”

Moscow has vigorously objected to the deployment of NATO’s military units near Russia’s borders. President Vladimir Putin said in remarks carried by Russian news agencies Monday night that Moscow would target NATO sites if it thinks they threaten Russia.

Ms May said before Monday’s meeting that she hoped Brexit would “serve as a catalyst to strengthen” the relationship between Poland and Britain.

— With AP

Originally published as ‘We must recognise increasing Russian assertiveness’, Britain prime minister warns