Nato to strengthen presence on eastern flank - Stoltenberg

Nato will upgrade its battle groups on its eastern flank to brigade level, and will increase its high-readiness forces to 300,000 troops from the current number of 40,000, Jens Stoltenberg, Nato secretary-general, has said. Speaking at a press conference in Brussels on Monday, Stoltenberg also said the bloc was planning to boost its capacity to contain crisis and conflict situations by increasing the amounts of equipment and military supply inventories, strengthening air defence and command structures, and improving defence plans.