NATO aims to push its allies on October 26 to participate in its largest military build-up on Russia's borders since the Cold War as the coalition readies for an extended row with Moscow.
As Russian aircraft carrier proceed to Syria, defense ministers of the alliance seek to fulfill a promise of NATO leaders on July to send forces to the Baltic region and east Poland in early 2017, according to Reuters.
The United States aspires to get commitments from European nations to complete four groups consisting of about 4,000 troops.
The four groups, led by the United States, Germany, the U.K. and Canada, are set to be positioned in Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia. France, Italy, Denmark and other allies are expected to take part in this move.
But the alliance is still struggling to carry over a similar strategy in the Black Sea region where there is Russian military presence.
Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey are expected to later submit a plan to step up naval and air patrols in the area.
In recent weeks, Russia had its own shows of force, positioning missiles that can carry nuclear warheads to its Kaliningrad post on the Polish border and sending a fleet of aircraft carriers to the eastern Mediterranean, according to the Independent.
Russia's moves already seemed to have spread division among NATO members. Recently, Spain allowed refueling the Russian fleet at Ceuta, its north African naval base, despite being a signatory of an EU declaration condemning Russia's measures in Syria.
NATO's response is partly a result of Russia's occupation of Crimea in 2014, and an effort to reassure Europe's ex-Soviet states that fear Moscow could venture an identical tactic again.
EU leaders convened last week to consider new sanctions over Russia's bombing of civilian areas in Aleppo. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he worries the Russian carriers going to the Mediterranean might initiate fresh attacks on the Syrian city.
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