NATO used a summit meeting in Wales this week to underscore its pledge to defend its eastern flank. The alliance announced plans for a force of up to 5,000 troops that could mobilize within 48 hours to repel aggression against any of its members. The so-called spearhead force is sure to ease fears in Poland and the Baltics, since NATO's existing "rapid" response team can take months.
Russia's War Against Ukraine
Bloomberg: NATO tiptoes around Ukraine in Eastern Europe buildup
Members of Lithuania Riflemen's Union march near Pabrade, Lithuania, on July 19, 2014.
