Russia: NATO
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to move troops to the eastern border with Russia if required to repel a Russian attack.
Answered by Ministry of Defence
As part of NATO's focus on Deterrence and Defence of the Euro-Atlantic Area, NATO manages its Strategic, Operational and Tactical Plans across all domains to assure the Alliance's ability to respond to any threat that posed by Russia, including on NATO’s eastern flank. The UK has a predefined role in these plans, including the Forward deployment of our battlegroup in Estonia reinforced by a brigade held at readiness in the UK. The Forward Land Forces Battlegroup and Brigade at readiness undertakes sovereign and NATO Allied Land Command validation exercises before it is deployed to ensure it meets NATO operating standards expected to repel an attack from Russia.
In the event of an attack and where Article 5 is invoked, it is SACEUR has the operational permission to implement and execute all military measures necessary to restore and ensure the territorial integrity of the alliance.
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